396 Hz is the first of the six original Solfeggio numbers and is often described as a tone for letting go. This page separates what 396 Hz is as a sound, what is tradition and what is research, and how we use it.
Hear 396 Hz first. Play 396 Hz in the Frequency Lab (free, no sign-up), and compare it with the other eight tones.
What 396 Hz is (by calculation)
| Item | 396 Hz |
|---|---|
| Nearest piano note (A = 440 Hz) | 18 cents above G4 (392.00 Hz) |
| One cycle | about 2.53 ms (396 cycles per second) |
| Wavelength in air (20 °C) | about 0.87 m |
| Overtones (2x, 3x) | 792 Hz, 1188 Hz |
| Where it sits | middle range |
396 Hz has two clean relationships with its neighbours in the list: 396:528 is exactly 3:4, a perfect fourth, and 396 Hz is about 18 cents above G4. Against 417 Hz it is only 89 cents apart, a little less than a semitone, so the two sound rough together (details in 396 Hz vs 417 Hz).
Distance to the other Solfeggio frequencies
100 cents is one semitone. Many of these distances fall between the intervals of ordinary music, which is one reason Solfeggio combinations sound unusual.
| Other tone | Distance | Nearest musical interval |
|---|---|---|
| 174 Hz | 1424 cents | 1 octave(s) + 224 cents |
| 285 Hz | 569 cents | tritone (31 cents narrower) |
| 417 Hz | 89 cents | minor 2nd (11 cents narrower) |
| 528 Hz | 498 cents | perfect 4th (almost exactly) |
| 639 Hz | 828 cents | minor 6th (28 cents wider) |
| 741 Hz | 1085 cents | major 7th (15 cents narrower) |
| 852 Hz | 1326 cents | 1 octave(s) + 126 cents |
| 963 Hz | 1538 cents | 1 octave(s) + 338 cents |
Where the number came from
The Solfeggio system became widely known after Leonard Horowitz’s 1999 book, which describes Joseph Puleo deriving 396, 417, 528, 639, 741 and 852 from verse numbers in the Book of Numbers. That account comes from the system’s proponents; no independent historical source has been found. 174, 285 and 963 Hz were added later. The often-repeated link to medieval Gregorian chant does not hold: there was no hertz unit and no fixed pitch standard in the Middle Ages, and the hymn Ut queant laxis gave us the syllables do-re-mi, not frequencies.
What research says (as of October 2026)
No peer-reviewed study testing the effects of 396 Hz in people was found. Among the nine Solfeggio frequencies only 528 Hz has human studies, and those are small (the 528 Hz research summary). The descriptive names attached to 396 Hz come from the tradition and from listeners’ accounts.
How we use it
We use it in several 8-hour and 1-hour sleep tracks and in sequences such as 528 → 432 → 396 → 174 Hz. As a low-middle tone it carries reasonably well on small speakers, unlike 174 Hz.
As of October 2026, 29 of this channel’s published videos use 396 Hz (15 long-form). Some of the long ones:
- Ultimate Deep Sleep · 528 → 432 → 396 → 174 Hz Descent (8 Hours, Black Screen) (488 min)
- 396Hz 8 Hour Sleep (480 min)
- Lantern River Night — 8 Hours Deep Sleep · 396Hz (480 min)
- 8 Hours Deep Sleep Music (480 min)
- 174Hz Deep Sleep 8 Hours · Black Tortoise of the North (480 min)
- 396Hz Japanese Zen Meditation Music (60 min)
None of these tracks plays a bare 396 Hz sine wave for its whole length; the tone is wrapped in overtones and layered with other sounds so it can be listened to for a long time.
Listening notes
- Start quietly. Pure tones reach the ear more strongly than music at the same level.
- Pure tones are for checking a pitch; for relaxing, a composed track is a better fit.
- This page does not promise any physical or mental effect. If you have health concerns, please see a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
Do 396 Hz and 528 Hz go together?
Yes. Their ratio is exactly 3:4 (a perfect fourth), so they sound consonant together or in sequence.
Is 396 Hz on the piano?
Nearly: it is about 18 cents above G4 (392 Hz), close enough that it sounds like a slightly sharp G.
396 Hz or 417 Hz?
There is no measured basis for choosing one. Play both in the Lab; together they beat at 21 Hz and sound rough.
Related
This article does not guarantee any medical or health benefit and is not a substitute for professional medical care. If you have any health concerns, please consult a physician or other qualified professional.
