We already know that every sound has a different frequency, but how do you differentiate them on the scale of high, middle, and low-frequency noise? People who are curious about the difference between sounds with different frequencies and how they make them should read this article.
In this article, we will discuss the difference between high, middle, and low-frequency noise.
What are Sound Frequencies?
Sound waves repeat themselves at a specific frequency. Pitch is the subjective response of the human ear to frequency, and you’ve probably talked about frequency without even realizing it.
For instance, a truck engine has a lower pitch than a bicycle horn, and a dog’s growl has a lower pitch than a bird’s chirp. It’s through the pitch that we’re able to discern the various tones and their differences in frequencies.
There are a number of different frequencies that can be found in a bird’s song. The bark of a dog, on the other hand, has a frequency of about 1,000 Hz. Sound waves from these two sources oscillate or change the pitch on a regular basis. This is what causes the difference in pitch.
But let’s not get too carried away with the “irregular” behavior of sound waves. That kind of misbehavior belongs in a classroom, not a restaurant.
What Is the Best Way to Recognize High, Middle, and Low-Frequency Noise
While discussing it, we talk about sound in terms of high and low-frequency waves. It is the number of times a second that sound waves complete a cycle that our ears perceive as sound, and this number is called frequency.
The higher the Hertz (Hz) value, the higher the frequency of the sound is measured in terms of cycles per second. Sounds with a low-frequency range from 500 Hz to 2000 Hz, whereas high-frequency sounds range from 2000 Hz and up.
Human ears are capable of hearing sounds with frequencies ranging from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, depending on the listener. Sound in the higher frequency range is typically more difficult for people with hearing loss. Speech is typically in the range of 100 to 8000 Hz. When the frequency of speech rises above 3000-4000 Hz, people may have difficulty understanding it.
In general, there are three types of sound waves:
Type 1: Noise of high-Frequency Sound
There is a wide range of audible sounds in the range of 2000 Hz. They are known as high-frequency sounds. Using the term “presence,” we refer to the sound’s ability to bring the spoken word to life. Things make it sound more genuine and authentic. Crashing cymbals and the sound of birds chirping can be heard at a frequency of 10,000Hz.
Anyone who hears anything above 20,000 Hz is said to be in the ultrasound range. You might recognize the word ultrasound from its use in the medical field, but these high-frequency waves aren’t just the work of modern technology.
Type 2: Noise of mid-level frequency
It’s easy to tell middle-frequency sounds apart from high-frequency sounds because they fall between 500 and 2000 Hz. Often, sounds in this range create muffled or horn-like noises.
Type 3: Noise with a low sound frequency
The human ear perceives low-frequency sound waves as “lower.” More low-frequency sounds are produced when the bass on your stereo is turned up. It’s as if you can feel these “groans” as well as hear them.
Frequency Differences: Low vs High-Frequency Sound
If we talk about low frequency vs high-frequency waves then we can say that organs, tubas, pianos, and cellos all have the lowest note in the 5-70 Hz frequency range, and that is low.
A piano’s middle C note, located in the treble clef, has a frequency of about 500 Hz, which is considered a medium sound frequency. Moreover, 2100 Hz is a high-frequency range.
Moreover, a standard piano’s highest note is just stuck at 4000. There are two ways to increase the treble on your stereo: increase bass and decrease treble or vice versa. Bass increases low-frequency sounds, while treble increases high-frequency sounds.
Low-Frequency Sound Examples
There is a wide range of artificial sources that control low-frequency noise, such as road vehicles and aircraft, industrial machinery, artillery and mining explosions, wind turbines, compressors, and ventilation or air-conditioning equipment.
High-Frequency Sound Example
High-frequency sounds include bass drums, thunder, high-pitched whistles, squeals, and the voice of a child.
Frequently Asked Question
Is It Difficult to Define Low-Frequency Sound?
Many people who are sensitive to the effects of low-frequency noise, which is defined as frequencies ranging from 10 Hz to 200 Hz, are severely harmed by it.
Is High Frequency Audible or Not?
A high-frequency sound has a frequency of 2,000 Hz or greater. Decibels are used to quantify intensity (dB). The decibel level of a high-intensity sound is high. The decibel level of a low-intensity (soft) sound is low.
Bottom Line
After measuring the high and low-frequency waves, you may now know the difference between high, middle, and low-frequency noise. Low-frequency noises have a frequency of 500 Hz or less, high-frequency noises have a frequency greater than 2000 Hz, and a mid-frequency sound wave occurs between 500 and 2000 Hz.
