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What does 885 Hz sound like?
885 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 885 Hz sound wave completes 885 cycles every second, so one cycle lasts 1.13 ms. In air at 20 °C, where sound travels at about 343 m/s, each wave is 38.8 cm (1.27 ft) long; in water it stretches to 1.67 m because sound moves about 4.3 times faster there.
Musically, 885 Hz is 10 cents above A5 (880 Hz) in standard A440 tuning. Doubling it to 1,770 Hz raises the pitch by one octave; halving it to 442.5 Hz lowers it by one.
Wavelength of 885 Hz in different materials
| Medium | Speed of sound | Wavelength |
|---|---|---|
| Air (20 °C) | 343 m/s | 38.8 cm |
| Fresh water | 1,481 m/s | 1.67 m |
| Seawater | 1,500 m/s | 1.69 m |
| Helium | 1,007 m/s | 1.14 m |
| Steel | 5,960 m/s | 6.73 m |
| Glass | 5,640 m/s | 6.37 m |
Harmonics and octaves
Real instruments playing 885 Hz also produce harmonics at whole-number multiples of the fundamental. Their relative strength gives each instrument its timbre.
| Harmonic | Frequency | Nearest note |
|---|---|---|
| 1× (fundamental) | 885 Hz | A5 |
| 2× | 1.77 kHz | A6 |
| 3× | 2.655 kHz | E7 |
| 4× | 3.54 kHz | A7 |
| 5× | 4.425 kHz | C♯8 |
| 6× | 5.31 kHz | E8 |
| 7× | 6.195 kHz | G8 |
| 8× | 7.08 kHz | A8 |
Which animals can hear 885 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 885 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 885 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 885 Hz?
Yes. 885 Hz is inside the typical human hearing range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
What musical note is 885 Hz?
885 Hz is 10 cents above A5, which is 880 Hz in standard A440 tuning.
What is the wavelength of 885 Hz?
About 38.8 cm in air at 20 °C and 1.67 m in water.
Can dogs hear 885 Hz?
Yes – dogs hear roughly 67 Hz to 45,000 Hz.