Multiple Tone Generator: Play Multi-Frequency Sounds Online

Free Online Multiple Tone Generator

Our multi-tone generator lets you play multiple frequencies at the same time—perfect for exploring harmonics, testing speaker response, creating chords, and hearing acoustic interference patterns.

How to Use This Tool

1. Add Tones: Click "Add Tone" to create additional oscillators (up to 8 simultaneous tones)
2. Set Frequencies: Enter any frequency between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz for each tone
3. Choose Waveforms: Select sine, square, sawtooth, or triangle waves
4. Adjust Volume/Pan: Control individual volume and left/right stereo positioning
5. Toggle On/Off: Enable or disable individual tones, or use "Play All" / "Stop All"

Why Use Multiple Tones?

1. Explore Harmonic Relationships

Musical intervals are defined by frequency ratios:

Interval	Ratio	Example Frequencies
Octave	2:1	220 Hz + 440 Hz
Perfect Fifth	3:2	220 Hz + 330 Hz
Perfect Fourth	4:3	220 Hz + 293.33 Hz
Major Third	5:4	220 Hz + 275 Hz

When you play these ratios, you hear consonant (pleasing) sounds. Try them!

2. Hear Beating Frequencies

When two frequencies are very close together, they create a "beating" effect—the volume oscillates at the difference frequency.

Try this:

• Tone 1: 440 Hz
• Tone 2: 442 Hz
• Result: You hear a 2 Hz "wah-wah" pulsing

This is called acoustic beating and it's how musicians tune by ear. When the beating slows to zero, the pitches are matched.

3. Test Speaker/Headphone Response

Play multiple frequencies across the spectrum to identify:

• Dead spots: Frequencies where your speakers don't respond well
• Resonances: Frequencies where your room or speakers boost the sound
• Crossover issues: Where your subwoofer and main speakers overlap

4. Create Chords and Tone Clusters

Build any chord by combining the right frequencies:

Chord	Notes	Frequencies (A root)
A Major	A-C#-E	220 - 277.18 - 329.63 Hz
A Minor	A-C-E	220 - 261.63 - 329.63 Hz
A7	A-C#-E-G	220 - 277.18 - 329.63 - 392 Hz

Understanding Waveforms

Each waveform has a different harmonic content:

Waveform	Harmonics	Sound Character	Use Case
Sine	Fundamental only	Pure, clean, simple	Tuning, testing, pure tones
Square	Odd harmonics (1, 3, 5...)	Hollow, woody, buzzy	Retro synths, testing
Sawtooth	All harmonics	Bright, brassy, rich	Lead synths, full spectrum test
Triangle	Weak odd harmonics	Soft, flute-like	Mellow tones

Acoustic Phenomena to Explore

Constructive and Destructive Interference

When two sound waves meet:

• Same phase (peaks align): Waves add together → louder sound
• Opposite phase (peak meets trough): Waves cancel → quieter sound

Try playing two tones at the same frequency and adjusting pan:

• Both centered → loudest
• One left, one right → normal stereo
• Headphones reveal phase effects more clearly

Combination Tones

When you play two loud tones together, your ear/brain can perceive additional "phantom" tones:

• Difference tone: f1 - f2 (e.g., 440 Hz + 550 Hz → 110 Hz phantom)
• Summation tone: f1 + f2 (harder to hear)

These are called Tartini tones after the violinist who documented them.

The Octave Illusion

Play one frequency and its octave (double the frequency):

• 220 Hz + 440 Hz → Sound "fuses" into a richer single tone
• The higher octave reinforces the lower fundamental

This is why orchestras sound rich—all instruments playing the same note are at different octaves!

Practical Applications

For Musicians

• Chord Theory: Hear the exact frequencies that make up intervals and chords
• Intonation Training: Learn to recognize when notes are sharp or flat
• Tuning Reference: Use multiple pure tones as drone references

For Audio Engineers

• Speaker Testing: Sweep through frequencies to find response problems
• Room Acoustics: Identify standing waves and null points
• Phase Testing: Check left/right channel alignment

For Students & Teachers

• Physics Demonstrations: Visualize (and hear) wave interference
• Music Theory: Teach consonance, dissonance, and the harmonic series
• Hearing Education: Demonstrate frequency perception

The Harmonic Series

Every musical note contains a fundamental frequency plus overtones:

Harmonic	Multiple	Note (if A2 = 110 Hz)	Frequency
1st (Fundamental)	1×	A2	110 Hz
2nd	2×	A3	220 Hz
3rd	3×	E4	330 Hz
4th	4×	A4	440 Hz
5th	5×	C#5	550 Hz
6th	6×	E5	660 Hz

Try playing these frequencies together—this is how a natural brass instrument creates its timbre!

FAQ

How many tones can I play at once?

Our generator supports up to 8 simultaneous tones. This is limited to prevent browser performance issues and audio clipping.

Why does it sound harsh with many tones?

Adding multiple frequencies increases total volume. Use the Master Volume control to reduce overall level, and consider lowering individual tone volumes.

What's the difference between this and a chord on a piano?

A piano note contains the fundamental plus natural harmonics from the vibrating string. Our generator plays pure sine waves by default (single frequency each). Use sawtooth for a closer approximation to real instrument timbre.

Can I save my tone combinations?

Currently, presets are built-in. Use the "Presets" buttons to quickly load common combinations. You can note down your custom frequencies to recreate them later.

Why do some frequency combinations sound good and others don't?

Consonant (pleasant) combinations have simple frequency ratios (2:1, 3:2, 4:3). Dissonant (tense) combinations have complex ratios. This is the foundation of music theory!

Is this the same as binaural beats?

No. Binaural beats require headphones and play slightly different frequencies in each ear—the "beat" is perceived in your brain. Our multi-tone generator plays all frequencies through both channels (or with pan control), so you hear actual acoustic interference.

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Related Tools

• Binaural Beats Generator – Create brainwave entrainment tones
• Tone Generator – Simple single-frequency generator
• Frequency Chart – See note frequencies for all instruments
• Piano Frequencies – Every note on the piano keyboard
• Shepard Tone – The infinite rising/falling pitch illusion
• Circle of Fifths – Explore harmonic relationships visually