Online Tone Generator

Play a pure tone at any frequency, sweep a range or download it as WAV. Start with the volume low.

A4 ±0 cents

Turn your device volume down before you press Play. Very low and very high tones are hard to hear, so it is easy to set them dangerously loud for your ears and speakers.

WAV length

How to generate a tone

Three steps, in the browser.

Set the frequency

Type a frequency from 1 to 20000 Hz, drag the slider, use ±1 Hz and the octave buttons, or pick a common frequency.

Choose the sound

Pick the wave (sine is a pure tone), play it in both ears or one, and set the volume. Space plays and stops; the arrow keys change the frequency.

Play, sweep or save

Press Play, run a sweep from one frequency to another, download up to 60 seconds as WAV, or copy a link that opens this tone.

Common frequencies

What people use the presets for.

40 Hz	40 Hz: deep bass, a common subwoofer and speaker test.
60 Hz	60 Hz: the low end of most small speakers and headphones.
432 Hz	432 Hz: the alternative concert pitch some musicians tune to.
440 Hz	440 Hz: A4, the standard tuning pitch for instruments.
528 Hz	528 Hz: popular in meditation and sound-healing playlists.
1000 Hz	1000 Hz: the standard test tone for audio levels and hearing checks.
20–20 000 Hz	The range of human hearing; with age the top usually drops well below 20 000 Hz. A sweep lets you find where it stops.

What the tone generator does

Any frequency

From 1 to 20000 Hz, to 0.01 Hz, with a log slider that gives the bass as much room as the treble.

The note it is

The nearest musical note and how many cents off it is, so you can tune by ear or check an instrument.

Four waves

Sine for a pure tone, square, sawtooth and triangle for richer sounds, at a matched loudness.

One ear at a time

Play in the left, the right or both channels: check your headphones or compare your ears.

Sweeps

Glide from one frequency to another over the seconds you choose, to find a speaker's or your hearing's limits.

WAV and links

Download the tone or the sweep as WAV (up to 60 s), or share a link that opens the same frequency and wave.

Tone generator FAQ

Frequencies, waves, hearing and safety.

How do I play a 440 Hz tone?

Press 440 Hz in the common frequencies (or type 440) and press Play. 440 Hz is A4, the standard pitch instruments are tuned to.

What is the difference between sine, square, sawtooth and triangle waves?

A sine wave is a single pure frequency. Square and sawtooth waves add many overtones and sound buzzy; a triangle wave adds fewer and sounds softer. For tests and hearing checks, use sine.

Can I test my hearing with it?

You can get an idea: play a sweep or step through high frequencies and note where you stop hearing them, in each ear with Left and Right. It is not a medical hearing test; see a professional if you are worried.

How do I test my subwoofer or speakers?

Start low (40 or 60 Hz) at a low volume, then run a sweep from 20 Hz upwards and listen for where the sound starts, rattles or drops out.

Can I download the tone?

Yes. Choose a length up to 60 seconds and press Download tone or Download sweep: you get a WAV file with the same frequency, wave, volume and channel.

Can I share a specific frequency?

Yes. Copy link to this tone gives an address with the frequency (and the wave) in it; opening it sets the same tone, ready to play.

Why can't I hear very low or very high tones?

Human hearing covers roughly 20 to 20 000 Hz, and most adults hear much less at the top. Small speakers also cannot play deep bass. Do not turn the volume up to compensate.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes, in any modern browser. On an iPhone (iOS 16.4 or later) the tone also plays with the silent switch on; a phone speaker cannot reproduce deep bass, so use headphones for low frequencies.