Did you know that even individuals who are profoundly deaf can experience and enjoy music?
That is because so much of music is not heard but felt. Anyone who has installed a subwoofer in their car or stood outside a noisy club has experienced this. Bass is less of a sound than a feeling – and it feels good!
But why can humans feel heavy bass, and why can’t we feel all music? There is a scientific explanation for this phenomenon, and it’s fascinating!
If you’ve ever been able to feel bass, read on to learn more about the science of sound waves!
What Is Sound?
Have you ever noticed that some sound is visible? Imagine banging on a gong with a mallet. Can you picture the gong continuing to vibrate for a long time?
All sound begins with movement, and movement involves energy. Any drummer who has played a rock and roll set can tell you that it’s sweaty business!
This energy causes air particles to vibrate. That is what is happening when the skin of a drum jumps or when a gong visibly rings, when the vibrating particles are together, sound forms.
Sound Waves
Sound waves can travel through solids, liquids, and gasses. The air all around us is a gas, and that’s how most sounds that we hear travel. The sound wave is a manifestation of energy – from the drummer to the drum to the air.
Our ears detect sound waves as they travel through the air. This is because the vibrating air particles are causing a physical vibration in your eardrum. Large vibrations create loud sounds, while smaller vibrations create quiet sounds.
Your eardrum then sends a signal to your brain. This is what allows you to hear both noise and music.
Acoustics
The acoustics of a space can also affect the way that sound waves reach us. Think about how sound quality changes in a room with wooden floors compared to a room that is carpeted. Hard surfaces reflect sound, while soft surfaces absorb sound.
Engineers who study sound know how to manipulate space to make music sound great. They design recording studios and music venues with the movement of sound waves in mind. They design theatres and opera houses to reflect the sound of the human voice.
Pitch
Vibration can also affect the human’s perception of pitch. We hear high-pitched sounds when vibrations are very quick. We hear Low-pitched sounds when vibrations are slower.
The human ear has limits, however. Very low pitched noises, including many bass waves, are too low for us to perceive with our ear alone. When the body compensates for this, it seems as if we are “feeling” sound.
Why Do We Feel Bass?
While humans have a narrow hearing range, the human body is smart and can compensate. When our eardrums cannot fully perceive a very low pitch, our skeletal system will try to compensate. This is part of the reason why we can feel bass using speakers and subwoofers but not using most headphones.
Subwoofers
Bass frequencies are low and slow. They are slow enough that the human nervous system can pick up on them, even if the eardrum cannot. They are also large waves, which means they are loud.
When you stand next to a subwoofer, your body is processing these large, slow, low-frequency sound waves in the only way it knows how. It translates the vibrations into resonance in your body.
Often, this means feeling the vibrations of these frequencies in your chest cavity. This is where these frequencies are the most resonant. They stimulate your heartbeat and can make you feel exhilarated!
Don’t forget that sound waves are a manifestation of the energy that goes into creating vibrations. If you have ever looked into purchasing a subwoofer, you know that they have a very high wattage! Bass sounds require more energy, and subwoofers need a lot of energy to function.
This energy makes the sound waves even larger and encourages your body to find some way to “hear” them. When we hear and feel sound at these frequencies, it takes our whole body to process all of that energy.
Ultimately, we’re not really hearing bass or feeling it. We’re just processing it! It is the closest humans can get to being able to feel the music!
Infrasound
Some frequencies are just too low for humans to process. We may be able to hear them, but our bodies don’t have the capacity to make sense of them in a pleasant way. If we are exposed to these frequencies, called infrasound, it can cause anxiety, depression, and physical shivering.
Whales use infrasound frequencies to communicate with one another across vast oceans. Think how much energy it must take to produce a sound low enough to travel miles through the water!
A lot of natural phenomena create infrasound. This includes volcanic eruptions, storms, waterfalls, and waves.
The majority of infrasound encountered by humans is manmade. Causes include industrial machinery and some sources of radiation. Too much exposure is harmful and can lead to health problems.
Hearing Without Hearing
Why can deaf individuals experience music? They feel the vibrations, just like hearing individuals do when they stand near a subwoofer.
Depending on the level of hearing loss, their eardrums may or may not be processing the sound waves. Instead, their nervous system and skeletal system compensates.
The combination of these vibrations with song lyrics (either read or interpreted using sign language) makes music accessible. There are deaf musicians, dancers, and even composers.
Bass Is Sound in Motion
If you love to feel bass in your chest, you have your body to thank. The human body’s ability to compensate for our narrow range of hearing has lead to an incredible sensory experience. Now you understand how the most moving music physically moves you!
If you enjoyed this article, you’re going to love the rest of the Komfy Audio blog. Check it out to learn more about the science of sound.