Binaural beats frequencies
The reference chart — five bands, the brain states they mirror, what people use them for. And unlike every other chart on the internet: each row is playable. Headphones on.
| Band | Beat range | Mirrors (EEG state) | Typical use | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta | 1–4 Hz | deep, dreamless sleep; physical recovery | sleep sessions, late wind-down | |
| Theta | 4–8 Hz | drowsiness, meditation, memory consolidation | falling asleep, breathwork, deep relaxation | |
| Alpha | 8–12 Hz | relaxed wakefulness, calm attention | reading, light focus, breaks between work blocks | |
| Beta | 14–30 Hz | alert, engaged, analytical thinking | deep work, studying, problem-solving | |
| Gamma | ~30–80 Hz | attention, memory binding, perception | the 40 Hz research-inspired sessions |
Tap a frequency, then add a noise bed from the home player or the focus page — the beat keeps playing while you browse the site. Volume for the whole mix is in the bar below.
How to read this chart honestly
The "mirrors" column describes your brain's own EEG rhythms — that part is solid neuroscience. The leap — "listening to a 6 Hz beat puts your brain into a 6 Hz state" — is the entrainment hypothesis, and the evidence for it is real but modest: EEG studies show small shifts toward the beat frequency, and behavioral effects are inconsistent across studies. Treat the chart as a well-informed menu of things to try, not a control panel for your brain. The reliable wins remain distraction-masking (add a noise bed) and ritual — same sound, same task, every day.
Go deeper
- What are binaural beats? — the mechanism behind the chart
- Binaural beats for sleep — delta & theta in practice
- 40 Hz gamma — why that row exploded in popularity
- The focus generator — all presets + Pomodoro timer
Frequently asked questions
Which binaural beat frequency is best for studying?
Beta range, typically 14-20 Hz — associated with alert, engaged thinking. Our Deep Work preset uses 16 Hz. If beta feels edgy or tiring, drop to alpha (10 Hz) for calmer, longer sessions. There is no magic number: pick by how you want to feel, and keep what works for you.
Which frequency should I use for sleep?
Delta (1-4 Hz) mirrors deep-sleep brain rhythms — our Deep Sleep preset uses 2.5 Hz. Theta (4-8 Hz) suits the drifting-off phase. Practical tip: use the beat for the first 20-30 minutes with a sleep timer, layered under brown noise.
What is the carrier frequency, and does it matter?
The carrier is the actual tone you hear (we use 220 Hz in the left ear; the right ear gets 220 Hz + the beat frequency). Research suggests the binaural illusion is strongest with carriers below about 1000 Hz; beyond that, the exact carrier is mostly a comfort choice. We chose 220 Hz because it sits low and unobtrusive under a noise bed.
Can I combine two beat frequencies at once?
You can, but there is no evidence it helps — and layering multiple beats tends to sound muddy. A cleaner combo: one beat frequency + one noise color. The noise does the distraction-masking; the beat sets the texture.
Why do different sites give different frequency ranges?
Band boundaries (where theta ends and alpha begins, say) are conventions, not laws of nature — EEG researchers themselves use slightly different cutoffs. The ranges in our chart are the most common ones. Nothing magical happens at a boundary; 7.5 Hz and 8.5 Hz feel practically identical.