Want to drift off quickly into a deep, restful slumber? It’s time to tune in to a specific frequency for the ultimate pre-bed chill out. Discover why 432Hz frequency music is good for sleep…
You probably listen to music to put you in a certain mood: funky tracks to get ready for a night out, perhaps some classical while cooking dinner, or chill out tunes for an evening at home with friends. But do you listen to it to help you sleep? A new study has shown that listening to music tuned at a specific frequency can help fill you with such a sense of peace – in just two minutes – that you’re guaranteed to have a better night’s sleep. The specific frequency in question is 432Hz, which also happens to be the frequency at which the earth beats – but why is 432Hz music good for sleep?
What is 432Hz frequency?
Music at 432Hz frequency vibrates at the same rhythm as the earth. This is called the Shumann Resonance, after German physicist Winfried Otto Schumann who in 1952 documented the frequency of electromagnetic waves that pulse from the Earth. ‘Sound is a vibration in the air that we call a frequency, which we measure in Hertz. These vibrations travel in waves causing changes in pressure. This is what the ear picks up,’ explains musician John Leicester, Denise’s husband.
‘The faster the vibration, the higher the frequency and therefore the higher the sound or note you hear. It takes around 1000 vibrations to make up just 1Hz. Older people tend to find it harder to hear the higher frequencies.’ In general, most humans can hear from around 20-2000-Hz. However, there are many more frequencies below and above this, some of which animals and insects can detect.
What are the benefits of 432Hz frequency music?
A recent study, carried out in the US and UK by Dr Zulia Frost, Dr Lesley Parkinson and Dr Cori Carter, looked at the work of sound therapist, singer and healer, Denise Leicester. Denise had noticed healing benefits in her clients who listened to her 432 Love album, created in collaboration with composer Tom Simenauer. Denise refers to her music as ‘soul medicine’, as it has been found to be so healing for body and mind. The tracks combine singing, Sanskrit syllables and instruments. Denise also uses them as part of her one-to-one treatments, which include sound healing with gongs, as well as yoga and aromatherapy.
‘Sound is one of our primal senses. It’s the first to be developed in the womb and the last lost at death. It has the power to relax, alert, soothe, inform and transport us,’ says Denise. ‘The original aim of the research was to show the health benefits of this music, but what also came out of the study was that certain tracks had a very profound effect on the brain that also helped with sleep.’
Research into 432Hz music:
In the study, two 432Hz tracks in particular on Denise’s album proved most beneficial for sleep: Being Held and Being Loved. In addition to the snooze benefits, Being Loved was also beneficial for improving connections to others and relaxing in times of stress and conflict, while Being Held helped reduce stress, improve immunity, balance hormones and helped people during times of bereavement.
The researchers measured the activity of live blood cells, cellular stress, cardio-vascular function, autonomic stress response, blood pressure, heart rate, pulse and brain wave activity. ‘The results showed that listening to music at 432Hz helped rebalance the body and brain,’ says Dr Frost. ‘It promoted calming brain waves, activated blood cells for enhanced oxygenation and cleansing, while lowering blood pressure, heart rate and stress. It also improved the function of the liver and gall bladder in participants.’
Why is 432Hz frequency music good for sleep?
After participants listened to 432Hz frequency music, researches noticed an increase primarily in delta and theta brain waves during sleep. ‘These are typically associated with relaxation – a dream-like state and sleep,’ says Dr Frost. Your brain has four different patterns: beta (aroused, alert), alpha (relaxed), theta (when in deep sleep and meditation) and delta (trance like).
‘Most of us live mainly in a beta brainwave state, which is useful for focusing and concentrating during the day, but staying in beta can lead to anxiety and stress,’ says Dr Frost. ‘When you sleep, your body repairs itself. The 432Hz music, which is at the top end of the theta range and at the start of the alpha range, helps lower your fight-or-flight stress response and activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for relaxation, sleep and digestion. Thanks to these findings, we can conclude that 432Hz music certainly is good for sleep.’
432Hz verses 440Hz
It’s known that 432Hz is optimum for good health in humans and in all of nature. Ancient Tibetan, Greek and Egyptian music was all tuned at 432Hz, but most modern, commercial music is at 440Hz, which has no healing benefits. ‘The research showed benefits were being seen within two minutes, and dramatic improvements within 10 minutes,’ says Denise. ‘The beauty of listening to music is that you don’t have to do anything. It’s like going into a deep, meditative state without having to meditate. The music has an instant effect on your brain and body.’
How to create 432Hz music
To create 432Hz music, you need to use instruments and voices all attuned to that frequency. ‘When Asha, one of our musicians, plays the cello, she has a 432Hz crystal singing bowl playing,’ says Denise. ‘She attunes her cello to the same frequency as the bowl and can then check this on the computer. Here, you can set any frequency, to make sure it’s exactly the same. We do this with all our instruments.
‘Regular instruments are attuned to 440Hz. Wind and string instruments are easier to attune. However, you couldn’t change a piano to 432Hz as the notes are set. This means you can’t just change any piece of music into 432Hz unless you re-record it, using 432 instruments and sounds. That’s what we do.’
So, it’s safe to say that popping on your headphones and tuning in to some 432Hzfrequency music before bed is one of the best things you can do for a good night’s sleep!
Best sounds for sleep
Alongside 432Hz frequency music, there are plenty of other sounds that can help to promote good sleep. Plus, many of them naturally feature 432Hz frequency vibrations…
Music by Mozart
He composed in the 432Hz frequency, so why not try Music For The Mozart Effect: Vol. 2 Heal The Body – Music For Rest And Relaxation
(£14.46).
Nature sounds
Trees, plants, flowers and greenery naturally resonate at 432Hz. Try Help Me Sleep, Vol. IV: Relaxing Classical Piano Music with Nature Sounds for a Good Night’s Sleep 432Hz (£7.99).
Running water
Listen to the soothing sound of lapping waves, cascading waterfalls and whirling rivers at bedtime can induce a calm state. Try the Rain Rain App (free, available on the App Store, Google Play and Amazon), which features a range of natural sounds, including thunderstorms, waterfalls and ocean waves.
Words: Eva Gizowska | Images: Shutterstock
