What Are Noise Colors?

“There Are Different Colors of Noise That Emphasize Different Frequencies over Others, ” Explains Barbara Shinn-Cunningham, Phd, Cowan Professor of Auditory Neuroscience and Director of the Neuroscience Institute at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. “They Have Energy in Different Parts of the Spectrum. ” Or, as the American Academy of Audiology (Aaa) Puts It, “Noise Colors Refer to the Frequency and Amplitude of That Noise. ”

Green Noise May Help You Sleep Better

Green Noise Isn’t as Well Defined as Many Other Noise Colors Such as White Noise. Some Experts Believe It’s a Variation of White Noise (Though with a Narrower Frequency Range) or Brown Noise (But Higher in Pitch). Others Claim It Mimics Sounds Often Found in the Natural World Such as the Sound of Ocean Waves or a Waterfall. Listen to Green Noise Here.

Noise Comes in Many Colors, with Different Benefits

Over the Year's, Researchers Have Found That Certain Sounds Can Have an Effect on Our Mood, Mindset, Brainpower and More. Read on for the Details.

White Noise Improves Focus

This Noise Is a Mixture of All the Audible Frequencies of Sound That Humans Can Hear. Some People Find White Noise Helps Them Sleep Better. in Addition, There’s Some Evidence That Exposure to White Noise Could Be Beneficial for Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd). the Key? Keeping the Volume Low. Another Study in the Journal Scientific Reports Found That Subjects Who Listened to Low Levels of White Noise (Similar to the Noise You’d Hear Sitting in a Library) Were Less Stressed and Scored Better on Tests of Creativity and Focus Than Those Who Listened to Louder White Noise (Say, Sitting in a Café). Listen to White Noise Here.

Pink Noise Eases Tinnitus

Pink Noise Contains All the Frequencies Humans Can Hear, but Compared to White Noise, Pink Noise Has More Power in the Lower Frequencies Than the Higher Ones, Which Could Make It Soothing, According to the Aaa. Pink Noise — Which Can Include the Sounds of a Human Heartbeat or Steady Rain — Has Also Been Found to Relieve Tinnitus, or Ringing in the Ears. (Click Through for a Simple Stretching Routine That Eases Tinnitus.)

Other Sounds Making Noise Online

Brown Noise Is Having a Moment: #Brownnoise Has 129.6 Million Views on Tiktok. This Sound Is Lower (Or Deeper) in Frequency Than White and Pink Noise Are, and Changes in Its Sound Signal Can Occur Randomly from One Moment to the Next. in This Case, the Name Doesn’t Refer to the Color but to Brownian Motion (Named After Scottish Botanist Robert Brown), the Random Movement of Particles That Bump into Each Other When They’re Placed in Liquids. You Might Hear Brown Noise in the Distant Sound of Rolling Thunder. Listen to Brown Noise Here and Click Through for More Potential Benefits of Brown Noise.

How to Put Colored Noise to Use in Your Life

First, Keep in Mind: “Any Frequency of Noise Can Be Helpful If You Want to Focus in on Certain Things or Ignore Things That Are Distracting, ” Says Dr. Shinn-Cunningham. “Different People React Differently to This Because They’re More or Less Susceptible to Distractions. There’s a Huge Variation in How People Respond to Sounds. ” So What May Be Soothing to You May Be Irritating to Other Members of Your Household.

Green Noise: Can It Help You Sleep Better?

By James H. Sterling

• Oct 8, 2026 • 6 min read

Green Noise: Can It Help You Sleep Better?

Direct Answer • Key Takeaway

You’re Probably Familiar with the Concept of White Noise and Its Ability to Mask or Drown out Unwanted Sounds in Your Environment. Think of the Gentle Whirring of a Fan or the Fuzzy Sound from a Staticky Radio — That’s What White Noise Sounds Like. but It’s Not the Only “Noise Color” on the Block: Now Tiktok Is Buzzing About Green Noise and Its Powers to Promote of Relaxation and Better Sleep. Scroll on to Learn More About This Latest Trend and to Find out What Noise Colors Can Do for You.

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.

Tags: green noise benefits