Calculate the frequency of the beat produced by the interference of two waves of slightly different frequencies.
Wave Parameters
Hz
Hz
Beat Results
Enter parameters to calculate
About this calculator
Quick Reference
f₁Frequency of the first wave
f₂Frequency of the second wave
T_beat1 / f_beat (time between beats)
Overview
A beat is an interference pattern between two sounds of slightly different frequencies, perceived as a periodic variation in volume whose rate is the difference of the two frequencies.
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Pro Tips
The beat frequency is the absolute difference between the two frequencies: f_beat = |f₁ - f₂|.
Beats are used by musicians to tune instruments by ear.
If the frequencies are too far apart, you will hear two distinct tones rather than a single pulsating beat.
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Fun Facts
"Piano tuners use beats to perfectly align the three strings of a single note."
"Binaural beats are a perception of sound created by the brain when two different frequencies are presented to each ear."
"The beat frequency for tuning a guitar is often less than 10 Hz."
