What is Green Noise?

Some say green is the color of nature, new beginnings, energy, and life itself. But what you might not know is that the color green can help you sleep—in audio form at least! How? Well, green noise is a variation of white noise found in the middle of the frequency spectrum, but it’s got more to it than just a change of color. In fact, it’s what some people consider, “the background noise of the world”!

As for what it sounds like? Think of it as sounding somewhere between ocean waves, a fan, television static, and a crowd of cheering sports fans. Better yet, it’s also a technique that has upsides beyond just your bedtime. Here’s what else you should know and why green noise is great for sleeping.

So what exactly is green noise?

Different types of noise have different colors and properties attached to them: white noise, pink noise, brown noise, black noise, blue noise, you get the idea. Green noise is another one of these types, and a distinct one at that. Many of the sound frequencies associated with real-world nature, like waterfalls and rivers, are used within green noise. Green isn’t just the color of nature—it’s the sound of nature, too, even though “green noise” isn’t technically an official term. Its frequency range is also not particularly high, at only about 500 hz, and its positioning at the center of the frequency is what causes those nature-like sounds. It's one of the top soothing sleep sounds.

What else is green noise used for?

Because it reminds you of that soothing feeling of hearing waves crash on the beach, or a waterfall, it can be used as a sleep aid. Not only can green noise help you get a better night’s sleep, it can also be helpful when you need to get things done—particularly if you’ve got a pile-up of work tasks, or you have a huge essay to write for school the next day. Green noise is great for blocking outside noise that may distract you, also known as “sound masking”. This type of noise has also been used by some digital communications professionals to test audio circuits and communication channels.

What are the benefits of green noise for sleep?

Green noise can help provide a calming, more relaxed feeling right as you’re about to go to sleep. Putting on green noise in the background is especially good for those who prefer having some ambient sounds in the background at bedtime, even if that’s just the sound of a fan. Since it’s also only around 500 hz or so, green noise has relatively few waveform vibrations per second. As such, this frequency is low enough that it’s unlikely to be too loud for your ears while you drift off to sleep—the louder the frequencies, the more sensitive we are to them. In other words, green noise is perhaps the most relaxing of the sound colors!