How to use the tone generator
- Turn your device volume down, then press Play (or Space).
- Set the frequency by typing it, dragging the slider, using the step buttons or picking a preset. The ½ × and 2 × buttons move one octave down or up.
- Choose a waveform. Sine is a pure tone; the others add overtones.
- Raise the volume slowly until you hear the tone clearly. Move Balance to send it to the left or right side only.
What you can do with it
- Test speakers and headphones: sweep slowly from low to high with a sine wave and listen for the point where the sound fades, crackles or distorts. Turn Balance fully left and right to check each side.
- Find rattles and buzzes: play low tones between about 30 and 150 Hz and move slowly. Loose panels, shelves and car trims buzz at particular frequencies.
- Tune an instrument: use the note presets or type the note’s frequency (see the table below).
- Check your hearing range: play 8 kHz, 15 kHz and higher at a low, comfortable volume to see where you stop hearing. This is a rough check, not a medical hearing test; an audiologist can test your hearing properly.
- Match a ringing in the ears: some people with tinnitus use a tone generator to describe its pitch to a doctor. Keep the volume low.
Common note frequencies
| Note | Frequency | Where you meet it |
|---|---|---|
| E2 | 82.41 Hz | Guitar, low E string |
| A2 | 110 Hz | Guitar, A string |
| D3 | 146.83 Hz | Guitar, D string |
| G3 | 196 Hz | Guitar, G string; violin, lowest string |
| B3 | 246.94 Hz | Guitar, B string |
| C4 (middle C) | 261.63 Hz | Piano, middle of the keyboard |
| E4 | 329.63 Hz | Guitar, high E string |
| A4 | 440 Hz | Standard tuning pitch for orchestras and tuners |
These use standard tuning with A4 at 440 Hz. Each octave up doubles the frequency, so A5 is 880 Hz and A3 is 220 Hz.
Listening safely
- Start every tone at a low volume, especially with headphones.
- Stop if a tone feels uncomfortable, and take breaks: steady tones are tiring to listen to.
- Don’t play loud high tones for long through small speakers or tweeters; they can overheat.
- Square and sawtooth waves sound louder than a sine wave at the same setting.
To check each speaker with voices and sweeps instead, use the speaker test. To check a microphone, try the mic test.
Is this tool private?
Yes. The tones are made by your browser on your device. Nothing is recorded or uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
What frequencies can people hear?
The usual range quoted for human hearing is about 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (20 kHz). The top of that range drops with age and with noise exposure, so many adults can’t hear the highest tones at all. Below about 20 Hz, sound is felt more than heard. Your speakers or headphones also set limits: if a tone sounds silent, the device may simply not be able to play it.
Why can’t I hear low tones on my laptop or phone?
Small speakers can’t move enough air to play deep bass, so most laptop and phone speakers fade out somewhere below about 100–200 Hz. What you hear at low settings may be the overtones, not the tone itself. Use headphones or proper speakers to hear low frequencies, or a subwoofer for the very lowest.
Is a tone generator safe for my ears and speakers?
Start at a low volume and turn it up slowly. Steady tones can sound quiet while still being loud, and high frequencies in particular can be uncomfortable or harmful at high volume. Small tweeters can be damaged by long, loud high tones, and square and sawtooth waves carry more energy than sine waves. The page limits its own output level, but your device volume still matters.
What is the difference between sine, square, triangle and sawtooth waves?
A sine wave is a pure tone with no overtones, which is best for testing speakers and hearing. A triangle wave adds soft overtones, a square wave adds stronger ones and sounds hollow and buzzy, and a sawtooth wave contains every overtone and sounds bright and harsh. The same frequency therefore sounds different on each.
Can I use it to tune an instrument?
Yes. Play the note you need, such as A4 at 440 Hz for an orchestra or E2 at 82.41 Hz for a guitar’s low string, and tune until the beating between the tone and your instrument slows and stops. The note name shown under the frequency tells you which note you are hearing and how far off it is in cents.
Can I share or save a tone?
Yes. The page address updates as you change the frequency and waveform, so you can bookmark it or press Copy link to this tone and send it to someone. Opening the link sets the same tone; it starts when you press Play.