SOUND & PRACTICE / A BINAWAVE GUIDE
Solfeggio frequencies
Turn numbers such as 528 Hz, 396 Hz and 639 Hz into a listening experience. Understanding pitch and beat rate makes it easier to choose a sound you enjoy.
What are solfeggio frequencies?
Solfeggio frequencies is a name used for particular frequencies, including 528 Hz, in music and listening practices associated with meditation and relaxation. You may encounter them within a musical composition or as individual tones.
Hertz (Hz) means cycles per second. A 528 Hz tone vibrates 528 times each second. Lower numbers mean lower pitch; higher numbers mean higher pitch. Start by treating the number as a description of the sound you hear.
Compare a few tones at a similarly low, comfortable volume. Noticing how your listening experience compares with your expectations is part of discovering your preferences.
Solfeggio base tones available in Binawave
Binawave pairs its 174, 396, 528, 639 and 963 Hz tones with themes such as rest, self-kindness and connection. Explore the imagery behind each tone and ways to bring it into everyday life. These additional tones are available with Premium.
| Frequency | Character & uses |
|---|---|
| 174 Hz | Ease and deep rest A tone inspired by the quiet of night. Use it as a backdrop for unwinding at the end of the day and gently noticing sensations in your body. Layer rain for a quiet moment of rest. |
| 396 Hz | Reassurance and inner steadiness The image of a mental shield: a calm space within yourself. Make a little distance from the day's activity, notice how you feel, or take a moment before moving on. |
| 528 Hz | Warmth and self-kindness A heart-themed tone that invites an image of warmth. Make time to appreciate yourself, or attend to the movement of your chest and abdomen in breathing meditation. Add an ambient sound you enjoy. |
| 639 Hz | Connection and harmony A tone themed around connection and gentle communication. Try it during a pause before a conversation or as a background for reflecting on gratitude toward someone you care about. |
| 963 Hz | Intuition and inner awareness A tone themed around inspiration and noticing your inner experience. Explore it during meditation that observes thoughts, or a quiet pause before putting an idea into words. |
These themes are imagery for choosing sounds in Binawave. Start with your mood or the kind of time you would like to make, and discover a sound you enjoy.
A separate 432 Hz base tone is also available. In music tuned to 432 Hz, that number refers to a tuning reference. Playing an individual 432 Hz tone uses the number in a different way.
How is 528 Hz different from a binaural beat?
528 Hz describes a tone's pitch. A binaural beat frequency describes the difference between the tones delivered to your two ears. In Binawave, you choose these separately.
A 528 Hz base tone paired with Theta mode creates a 4 Hz difference. Distinguish the pitch you hear from the rate of the perceived beat.
Keep the mode fixed while comparing base tones. Then keep the base tone fixed while changing modes. This makes each setting easier to explore.
Explore how binaural beats work →A study of 528 Hz music with nine participants
In a 2018 study by Akimoto and colleagues, nine healthy adults listened to differently tuned piano music for five minutes on separate days. “528 Hz music” meant a composition tuned to a scale that included 528 Hz.
The researchers measured mood and salivary biomarkers before and after listening. In the 528 Hz condition, tension–anxiety scores fell, and a reduction in cortisol was among the reported changes. This small study explored responses to music through several measurements.
The experiment used piano music, rather than Binawave's individual tones or binaural beats. Knowing what was played helps put the findings in context while exploring the relationship between sound and mood.
Bring a solfeggio tone into your meditation routine
- Choose a pitch.Start with a tone that interests you and a low, comfortable volume through stereo headphones.
- Build your background.Gently layer rain, waves or another ambient sound you enjoy.
- Spend five minutes noticing.Let the sound stay in the background as you attend to breathing or sensations in your body.
Afterwards, notice one preference to explore next time: a different pitch or a quieter background layer. Let your sound routine develop around what you enjoy.
Read the mindfulness and meditation guide →Reference
The study summary is based on the original methods and results. The tone list and setting example describe Binawave features.
Akimoto et al. (2018) · Study of 528 Hz musicMAKE SPACE FOR YOURSELF
Make a little time for yourself.
Explore binaural beats and ambient sounds on iPhone and iPad. Free download with in-app purchases.