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Sub-bass sounds are the deep, low-register pitches below approximately 70 Hz (C♯₂ in scientific pitch notation) and extending downward to include the lowest frequency humans can hear, approximately 20 Hz (E₀).

In this range, human hearing is less sensitive, so these notes tend to be felt more than heard. The low E-string on a bass guitar is usually tuned to 41.2 Hz, while the lowest note on a standard piano is A at 27.5 Hz. Sound reinforcement systems and PA systems often use one or more subwoofer loudspeakers to amplify sounds in the sub-bass range. Sounds below sub-bass are infrasound.

Hearing and usage

20 Hz is considered the normal low-frequency limit of human hearing. When pure sine waves are reproduced under ideal conditions and at very high decibels, a human listener will be able to identify tones as low as 12 Hz (G_–1). Audio tracks known as bass tests use sub-bass frequencies which are used to test or to demonstrate the capabilities of audio equipment. High-end subwoofers can accurately reproduce sound to about 18 Hz ±2 dB.

Sub-bass energy is popular in dance music, where the low frequencies involve energy from the kick drum (bass drum), the bass guitar and electronic synthesizers and drum machines. Particular genres such as house music, drum and bass and dubstep often feature a bassline that consists mainly of sub-bass frequencies. Much experimental music uses sub-bass, in particular drone music, where the majority of the sound can often be in the sub-bass range. Often, hip hop and rap songs feature prevalent sub-bass. The pedal keyboard range on pipe organs also often extends into the sub-bass range; the bottom note of a 16′ stop is typically tuned to 32 Hz (C₁), a 32′ stop at 16 Hz (C₀).

References

1. Fink, Robert (2018). "Below 100 Hz: Toward a Musicology of Bass Culture". In Latour, Melinda; Fink, Robert; Wallmark, Zachary (eds.). The Relentless Pursuit of Tone: Timbre in Popular Music. Oxford University Press. pp. 92–93. ISBN 978-0199985258. Many sound engineers start talking about "sub-bass" around 70 Hz, ; at the bottom of the sub-bass register, around 30 Hz
2. "Interactive Frequency Chart". Independent Recording Network. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
3. Olson, Harry F. (1967). Music, Physics and Engineering. Dover Publications. p. 249. ISBN 0-486-21769-8.
4. "VTF-15H Subwoofer". Hsu Research. Retrieved March 9, 2012.

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v t e Bass (sound)
Instruments	Acoustic bass guitar Bass (voice type) Bass clarinet Bass drum Bass guitar Bass pedals Bass saxophone Bass synthesizer Bass trombone Bassoon Contrabassoon Contrabass trombone Double bass Euphonium Guitarrón Keyboard bass Octobass Pedal keyboard Tuba Washtub bass
Performance/ notation	Alternate bass Bass clef Bass effects Bass chorus Fuzz bass Bass note Bassline Basso continuo Burden Figured bass Unfigured bass Partimento Jazz bass Lament bass Ostinato Slap bass Walkdown Walking bass
Sound reproduction	Bass amplifier Low-frequency effects Sub-bass Subwoofer Woofer

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