Tinnitus Frequency Matcher

Tune a gentle tone until it matches the pitch of your ringing, verify the octave, and walk away with a number - for your audiologist, for choosing a masking sound, or just for knowing your tinnitus better than it knows you.

4,000 Hz

near B7 · most tonal tinnitus sits between 3,000-8,000 Hz

200 Hz2 kHz16 kHz
15%

Keep it at or just below the loudness of your tinnitus - matching works best quiet.

What to do with your frequency

Bring it to an audiologist. Pitch matching is part of a standard tinnitus assessment; arriving with a self-measured estimate saves time and gives the clinician a cross-check. Tinnitus that is sudden, one-sided, pulsing, or paired with hearing loss or dizziness warrants a prompt appointment regardless of any number.

Tune your masking. The goal of masking is to blend with the tinnitus, not bury it - set a broadband sound at or just below the tinnitus loudness. Colors with energy near your matched frequency work best: high-pitched tinnitus (the common kind) blends well with white or gray noise; rarer low-pitch tinnitus pairs better with pink or brown. The full masking-and-habituation approach is in the tinnitus relief guide.

This is not a medical device. It measures a perception; it diagnoses nothing and treats nothing. It exists because knowing your frequency is genuinely useful - and because measuring the sound often makes it feel smaller.

Tinnitus Frequency FAQ

How do I find my tinnitus frequency?

Adjust a pure tone until its pitch matches the ringing you hear - most tonal tinnitus sits between 3 and 8 kHz. Then run an octave check: tinnitus matching is notoriously prone to octave confusion, so compare your match against the tone an octave below and pick whichever is truly closer. Audiologists follow essentially this procedure, with the added step of matching loudness too.

Why does my tinnitus frequency matter?

Three uses: it gives your audiologist a concrete starting point for assessment; it guides masking (broadband noise with energy around your frequency blends with the tinnitus most effectively); and it is the input for notched sound therapy, an experimental approach that filters your frequency out of music or noise. It also simply helps to name the thing - many people find measuring it reduces its menace.

What is notched sound therapy?

Listening to music or noise with a narrow band around your tinnitus frequency removed, on the theory that the brain regions over-representing that frequency calm down with sustained notched input. Small studies show modest benefits for some people with tonal tinnitus under ~8 kHz; larger trials are mixed. Harmless to try with any EQ and your matched frequency, but treat it as an experiment, not a treatment.

Is this a medical test?

No - it is a self-measurement tool. It does not diagnose anything, and tinnitus with sudden onset, in one ear only, pulsing with your heartbeat, or accompanied by hearing loss or dizziness deserves prompt professional evaluation. Bring your matched frequency to the appointment; it is useful information either way.

Why does my tinnitus pitch seem to change?

Common and normal: tinnitus loudness and pitch fluctuate with stress, sleep, caffeine, noise exposure, and even jaw or neck position. Some people have multiple tones. Match on a typical day, and expect the number to be an approximation - audiology research finds test-retest variability of matching to be substantial even in clinics.