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What does 870 Hz sound like?
870 Hz is a midrange frequency. It is a clear midrange tone, close to where the human ear does most of its work for speech and melody.
A 870 Hz sound wave completes 870 cycles every second, so one cycle lasts 1.15 ms. In air at 20 °C, where sound travels at about 343 m/s, each wave is 39.4 cm (1.29 ft) long; in water it stretches to 1.70 m because sound moves about 4.3 times faster there.
Musically, 870 Hz is 20 cents below A5 (880 Hz) in standard A440 tuning. Doubling it to 1,740 Hz raises the pitch by one octave; halving it to 435 Hz lowers it by one.
Wavelength of 870 Hz in different materials
| Medium | Speed of sound | Wavelength |
|---|---|---|
| Air (20 °C) | 343 m/s | 39.4 cm |
| Fresh water | 1,481 m/s | 1.70 m |
| Seawater | 1,500 m/s | 1.72 m |
| Helium | 1,007 m/s | 1.16 m |
| Steel | 5,960 m/s | 6.85 m |
| Glass | 5,640 m/s | 6.48 m |
Harmonics and octaves
Real instruments playing 870 Hz also produce harmonics at whole-number multiples of the fundamental. Their relative strength gives each instrument its timbre.
Which animals can hear 870 Hz?
Can hear it
Humans, Dogs, Cats, Horses, Cows, Sheep, Pigs, Goats, Rabbits, Rats, Gerbils, Guinea pigs, Hedgehogs, Raccoons, Ferrets, Opossums, Chinchillas, Elephants, Bottlenose dolphins, Chickens, Canaries, Budgerigars (parakeets), Cockatiels, Owls, Bullfrogs, Tree frogs, Goldfish, Catfish, Tuna
Cannot hear it
Instruments and voices that can play 870 Hz
- Piano (88 keys)
- Guitar (standard tuning)
- Violin
- Viola
- Cello
- Harp
- Flute
- Piccolo
- Clarinet (B♭, sounding)
- Oboe
- Trumpet (B♭, sounding)
- Mezzo-soprano voice
- Soprano voice
Frequently asked questions
What does 870 Hz sound like?
It is a clear midrange tone, close to where the human ear does most of its work for speech and melody.
Can humans hear 870 Hz?
Yes. 870 Hz is inside the typical human hearing range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
What musical note is 870 Hz?
870 Hz is 20 cents below A5, which is 880 Hz in standard A440 tuning.
What is the wavelength of 870 Hz?
About 39.4 cm in air at 20 °C and 1.70 m in water.
Can dogs hear 870 Hz?
Yes – dogs hear roughly 67 Hz to 45,000 Hz.