Frequently asked questions

Music tuned to 432 Hz is known for its soothing effects on the nervous system: a sense of relaxation, slower breathing, better readiness for sleep. Several pilot studies report a measurable decrease in heart rate and blood pressure compared to 440 Hz, but sample sizes remain limited and researchers call for larger clinical trials. 432 Hz is best seen as a complementary wellness tool, not a validated medical treatment.

440 Hz is the international tuning standard used by most modern orchestras and instruments since the 20th century. 432 Hz is an alternative tuning, slightly lower in pitch, often described by listeners as warmer, rounder, and more conducive to relaxation. The difference mainly comes down to the reference pitch of the note A (A4): an 8 Hz gap, imperceptible on its own but one that changes the overall color of a piece.

Some studies, notably among patients with sleep disorders, observed an improvement in sleep quality after listening to 432 Hz music, whereas 440 Hz showed no notable effect. That's why Mathyas VJ's library offers a dedicated "Sleep" category, best listened to in the evening in a calm environment, as a complement to — not a replacement for — good sleep hygiene.

Listening to 432 Hz music is associated by many listeners with a sense of calm and a slower heart rate, two mechanisms central to stress regulation. The library includes a "Relaxation" category composed specifically for that purpose. In case of persistent or disabling anxiety, these compositions are a complement and do not replace appropriate therapeutic support.

In 1881, Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi campaigned for the adoption of A tuned to 432 Hz, which he called the "scientific tuning fork". He was concerned about the steadily rising tuning pitch in orchestras of the time, a source of excessive vocal fatigue for singers. This standard also made C5 vibrate at exactly 256 Hz, a power of two often cited as a mark of mathematical "naturalness". Italy adopted it in 1884 for its military bands, before 440 Hz became the international standard over the course of the 20th century.

444 Hz is another alternative tuning, higher-pitched than the 440 Hz standard, sometimes associated with a sense of energy and mental clarity rather than the deep relaxation sought with 432 Hz. Mathyas VJ composes in both frequencies depending on each track's intention: 432 Hz for calm and sleep, 444 Hz for vitality and focus.

432 Hz is a global tuning (it shifts the reference pitch of the entire scale), while 528 Hz belongs to the "Solfeggio frequencies", a series of nine frequencies each associated with a specific intention in certain music therapy traditions — 528 Hz being often nicknamed the "love frequency" or "repair frequency". The two approaches aren't mutually exclusive: a composition can be tuned to 432 Hz while also incorporating harmonic elements linked to Solfeggio.

Mathyas VJ's library mainly offers two therapeutic tunings: 432 Hz, for deep relaxation, sleep, and stress management, and 444 Hz, for energy and mental clarity. Each track is categorized by intention (relaxation, sleep, pain, energy) to help you choose the frequency suited to your current need rather than a single number.

Soft music, at a slow tempo and without abrupt volume changes, can help soothe a baby — the 432 Hz compositions in the "Relaxation" category work well for this, played at a very low volume. That said, an infant's crying is primarily a signal of a need (hunger, diaper, tiredness, discomfort, pain): music is a soothing accompaniment, not a response to that need. For unusual, prolonged, or unexplained crying, consult a pediatrician.

Some users report relief from tension-related headaches after regularly listening to 432 Hz music, likely linked to the muscular and nervous relaxation it encourages. Music therapy can therefore be a useful addition to a stress-management routine. That said, it does not replace medical advice: frequent or intense headaches should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

Music therapy is a discipline that uses sound and music in a structured way to support physical, emotional, and mental well-being. It has roots in antiquity — Pythagoras already explored the mathematical dimension of the "music of the spheres" — and took shape as a modern discipline in the 20th century. Mathyas VJ follows a "receptive" approach: the listener experiences compositions designed for a precise intention, without actively performing music themselves.