A drone is a sustained, continuous tone that provides a stable harmonic foundation. Unlike melody, which moves through different pitches, a drone maintains one or more constant frequencies. The sound may contain subtle variations (overtones, slight modulation), but the fundamental pitch remains steady.

Drones have been used in meditation and contemplative practice for thousands of years, from Indian tanpura to Tibetan chanting to Gregorian organum. The continuous nature creates a stable field of sound that supports focused attention and relaxation.

The tanpura (or tambura) is a traditional Indian string instrument that produces a continuous drone. It typically has 4-5 strings tuned to the tonic (Sa) and fifth (Pa), played in a continuous cycle. The characteristic "singing" quality comes from a curved bridge that creates rich overtones.

OmTones recreates this sound digitally using the "Fifth (Sa-Pa)" drone type, which layers the root note with a perfect fifth above. Enable Just Intonation for the pure 3:2 ratio of traditional tuning, and use Evolution Mode to approximate the natural variation of a physical tanpura.

Pure (Single): A single sustained note - the simplest form, focusing on one frequency and its natural overtones. Good for minimalist practice.

Fifth (Sa-Pa): Root plus perfect fifth (3:2 ratio). The most consonant interval after the octave. Traditional tanpura tuning. Creates the characteristic "Om" quality.

Octave: Root doubled at the octave (2:1 ratio). Fuller, richer sound while maintaining harmonic simplicity.

Major/Minor Chords: Three-note chords providing brighter (major) or more contemplative (minor) character.

Suspended Chords: Replace the third with 2nd or 4th, creating open, ambiguous harmonies popular in ambient music.

Modal Drones: Based on ancient Greek and church modes - Dorian (bittersweet), Phrygian (exotic), Lydian (bright, floating), Mixolydian (bluesy).

Evolution Mode creates subtle, continuous parameter drift so the drone never exactly repeats. Filter cutoff, modulation depth, and detune amounts slowly wander within musical ranges.

This prevents listener fatigue during long sessions - when a sound is too static, the brain habituates and it fades from awareness. Evolution keeps the sound "alive" and interesting while remaining non-distracting.

It's inspired by Brian Eno's generative music principles: systems that create music that is "as ignorable as it is interesting."

Solfeggio frequencies are specific tones (174, 285, 396, 417, 528, 639, 741, 852, 963 Hz) claimed to have healing properties. They're associated with medieval chant, though this connection is disputed by historians.

The evidence: Some research suggests certain frequencies may affect mood and physiology. A 2018 study found 528 Hz reduced stress markers compared to controls. However, claims of "DNA repair" or specific healing effects lack strong scientific support.

Our approach: We offer Solfeggio frequencies as options for those who find them helpful, while being transparent about the limited evidence. Many practitioners report subjective benefits regardless of the specific mechanism - and the placebo effect is itself a real physiological phenomenon.

440 Hz is the modern international standard for tuning (A4 = 440 Hz), established in 1955. Most contemporary music uses this reference pitch.

432 Hz (sometimes called "Verdi tuning") is slightly lower. Giuseppe Verdi advocated for it in the 19th century, and some musicians claim it sounds "warmer," more "natural," or more "in tune with the universe."

The science: Claims of special healing properties lack rigorous scientific support. The difference (8 Hz lower) is subtle but audible. Some listeners subjectively prefer 432 Hz for relaxation - personal preference is valid regardless of whether claimed mechanisms are accurate.

We also offer 415 Hz (Baroque tuning) for those interested in historical pitch standards.

Just intonation uses pure mathematical frequency ratios derived from the harmonic series:

- Perfect fifth = 3:2 (instead of equal temperament's 2^(7/12):1)
- Major third = 5:4 (instead of 2^(4/12):1)
- Perfect fourth = 4:3

These pure ratios create intervals without "beating" or wavering. For drone music, where intervals are sustained rather than passing quickly, just intonation can sound more stable and resonant.

The tradeoff: Just intonation only works well in one key. This is perfect for drones (which stay on one root note) but problematic for music that changes keys. Most Indian classical music and some world music traditions use just intonation; most Western music since the 18th century uses equal temperament.

528 Hz is one of the Solfeggio frequencies, corresponding to "Mi" on the scale. It's been called the "love frequency," "miracle tone," or "DNA repair frequency" by various proponents.

The claims: Some assert that 528 Hz resonates with water and DNA, promotes healing, and was used to bless water in ancient cultures. The "DNA repair" claim originated from a book by Dr. Leonard Horowitz.

The reality: While some studies show subtle physiological effects from certain frequencies, claims of DNA repair are not supported by peer-reviewed research. The frequency doesn't have special mathematical properties beyond being an integer.

That said, 528 Hz is approximately between C5 and C#5 in 440 Hz tuning - a pleasant, mid-range frequency that many find agreeable for meditation. Subjective benefits may occur regardless of mechanism.

Duration depends on your purpose and experience level:

For meditation: 15-45 minutes is common. Research suggests the "relaxation response" takes about 10-15 minutes to fully engage. Experienced meditators often sit for 30-60 minutes or longer.

For sleep: 30-60 minutes with the sleep timer is typical. This provides support during the sleep onset period without running all night (unless you want continuous masking).

For yoga/creative work: Sessions can last hours. Use Evolution Mode to prevent monotony.

Starting out: Begin with 10-15 minute sessions. If you find yourself getting restless, that's normal - gradually increase duration as you become comfortable.

Both work well, with different advantages:

Headphones:

- Reveal subtle stereo details and detuning effects
- Provide better isolation from external sounds
- Good for focused meditation and sleep
- Work well in shared spaces

Speakers:

- Allow sound to fill a room
- Create more enveloping physical experience
- Better for movement practices (yoga)
- Essential for low frequencies (C2, D2) - phone speakers and earbuds can't reproduce deep bass

For the deepest bass notes, you'll need good speakers or a subwoofer to hear the full sound.

Choose based on your purpose and physical setup:

For relaxation/sleep (C2, D2): Very low frequencies create a deeply grounding, calming presence. Requires good speakers to hear properly.

For meditation (C3, D3): Mid-range tones are clear and focused without being either too heavy or too bright. The classic tanpura range.

For alertness/focus (A3, C4): Higher tones create more energized, awake states. Good for creative work where you want presence without drowsiness.

For humming/chanting: Match the drone to your natural humming pitch. Most voices are comfortable in the D3-G3 range.

Yes - many people use drones as background audio for focused work. Unlike music with lyrics or strong melodic content, drones don't compete for cognitive resources.

Tips for work use:

- Keep volume low - the sound should be present but not intrusive
- Use higher root notes (A3, C4) for more alert energy
- Enable Evolution Mode to prevent the sound from becoming "invisible"
- Try the Focus preset as a starting point
- Roll off high frequencies if the sound feels too bright/distracting

Mobile browsers require user interaction before playing audio (to prevent auto-playing ads). Make sure you're tapping the "Play" button rather than expecting automatic playback.

Also check that:

- Your phone isn't on silent/vibrate mode
- Volume is turned up
- Browser permissions allow audio playback
- You're using a recent browser version (Chrome, Safari, Firefox)

Note on bass: Phone speakers cannot reproduce low frequencies (C2, D2). You'll need headphones or external speakers to hear these notes properly.

OmTones uses the Web Audio API to synthesize sounds in real-time directly in your browser. No sounds are pre-recorded - everything is generated mathematically based on your parameter settings.

Key components include:

- Oscillators: Multiple waveform generators (sine, triangle, sawtooth) create the base tones
- Gain nodes: Control volume and mixing of oscillator layers
- Filter: Low-pass filter shapes the harmonic content
- LFO: Low-frequency oscillator creates subtle modulation
- Convolver: Adds reverb for spatial quality
- Analyser: Powers the waveform visualization

Sine waves are pure tones with no harmonics - smooth and mellow sounding. The fundamental building block of all sound.

Triangle waves contain odd harmonics (3rd, 5th, 7th, etc.) at decreasing amplitudes. Slightly brighter than sine, but still warm and soft.

Sawtooth waves contain all harmonics (2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.), creating the brightest, most complex timbre. Rich and slightly buzzy - closer to mechanical instruments like tanpura or bowed strings.

OmTones lets you mix these three oscillator types to create custom timbres. The default (70% sine, 30% triangle) provides warmth with subtle brightness.

The Detune parameter slightly shifts the pitch of some oscillators, measured in cents (1 cent = 1/100th of a semitone).

When oscillators are slightly detuned from each other, they create slow "beating" patterns as their waves go in and out of phase. This creates a shimmering, chorus-like effect that:

- Makes the sound feel wider and more enveloping
- Adds movement and life to a static tone
- Approximates the natural variation of acoustic instruments
- Can encourage entrainment to very low frequency oscillations

Higher detune values create faster, more noticeable beating. Lower values are subtle. Zero detune creates a "cleaner" but potentially more static sound.