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Tinnitus Frequency Matcher

Slowly tune a tone until its pitch matches the ringing, buzzing, or hissing you hear, then read its frequency in hertz and the nearest musical note. Many people find it interesting to put a number to their tinnitus.

This is a self-exploration aid, not a medical test, measurement, or treatment. Real tinnitus pitch-matching is done by an audiologist with calibrated equipment. This tool can’t diagnose, measure, or treat tinnitus. Keep the volume low, and don’t dwell on the sound — focusing on tinnitus can make it feel worse, so use this briefly. If your tinnitus is new, in one ear only, pulsing in time with your heartbeat, or distressing, please see a doctor or audiologist.

Tune the tone

4000Hz
≈ B7
100 Hz1 kHz4 kHz16 kHz

Keep this low — just loud enough to compare. There’s no need to hear it loudly.

Your match

When the tone sits at the same pitch as your tinnitus, lock it in to see the details. Don’t worry about being exact — tinnitus is hard to match and often sits between a pure tone and a hiss.

Typical tinnitus pitch

Most tinnitus is high-pitched, very often in the 4–8 kHz range, though it can be anywhere and may be a tone, a hiss, a buzz, or several sounds at once. Where yours falls says nothing about how serious it is.

Using This Tool Safely

Read this first. Tinnitus is the perception of sound — ringing, buzzing, hissing, humming — with no external source. This tool simply lets you tune a tone to compare against it, for your own curiosity. It is not a hearing test, not a diagnosis, not a measurement, and not a treatment. It cannot tell you why you have tinnitus or what to do about it. For that, see a doctor or audiologist — especially if your tinnitus is recent, only in one ear, pulsing with your heartbeat, paired with hearing loss or dizziness, or is upsetting you.

A note on how you use it: paying close attention to tinnitus tends to make it more noticeable and more bothersome. Matching the pitch once out of curiosity is fine; repeatedly hunting for it or playing matching tones for long stretches can backfire. Keep sessions short, keep the volume low, and if it increases your distress, stop and step away.

Why a clinic does it differently

In an audiology clinic, pitch matching is done in a quiet, sound-treated room with calibrated headphones, careful level control, and techniques to avoid common errors (people frequently match an octave away from their true tinnitus pitch). Your browser, your speakers or headphones, your volume, and room noise all affect what you hear here — so treat any number you get as a rough, personal impression rather than a clinical result.

Frequently Asked Questions

What frequency is tinnitus usually?
It varies a lot, but tinnitus is most often high-pitched — commonly around 4–8 kHz, and frequently near a region of hearing loss. It can also be low or mid-pitched, and some people hear noise (a hiss or buzz) rather than a clear tone. There is no "normal" pitch.
Can this tool diagnose or treat my tinnitus?
No. It only plays a tone you can tune. It can’t diagnose the cause, measure your tinnitus clinically, or treat it. If tinnitus bothers you, see an audiologist or doctor — there are real strategies (sound therapy, counselling, addressing hearing loss) that a professional can guide.
My tinnitus is a hiss, not a tone — what do I do?
A pure tone won’t match a hiss or buzz well. You can still find the rough region where the tone feels "closest," but accept that noise-like tinnitus doesn’t have a single pitch. That’s normal and not a sign of anything.
Why might I match the wrong octave?
Octave confusion is extremely common in tinnitus matching, even in clinics — a tone one octave above or below can feel like the same pitch. Try the octave buttons to check: if 4 kHz and 8 kHz both feel close, your true match may be ambiguous. Don’t over-interpret the exact number.
Is it safe to listen to these tones?
At a low volume, yes. Don’t turn it up loud, and don’t use it for long periods — both to protect your hearing and because dwelling on tinnitus can make it more intrusive. If listening increases your distress, stop.
Will matching my tinnitus make it worse?
A brief, curious check is generally fine. The thing to avoid is fixating — repeatedly checking or listening can train your attention onto the tinnitus and make it feel louder. Use this once or occasionally, not as a habit.
Is my matched frequency stored or sent anywhere?
No data is sent anywhere. If you lock in a match, the frequency may be saved only in your own browser (local storage) so you can compare next time; you can clear it any time with the Clear button. Nothing is uploaded, and the tool never uses your microphone.