We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Science

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is the Brown Note?

Michael Pollick
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 15,278
Share

If your musical tastes extend to potential bouts of "involuntary gastrointestinal motility", a concert featuring the brown note may be just the ticket. According to an urban legend, the brown note is an ultra-low or infrasonic frequency which resonates with a person's gastrointestinal tract, causing an uncontrollable loss of bowel control. In theory, several thousand attendees of a performance would defecate simultaneously, creating a medical emergency of epic proportions and eliminating any chances of adding a second show.

The actual note or frequency connected with the note phenomenon is a matter of debate. Humans cannot hear frequencies below 20 Hertz (Hz), but they can feel physical effects from exposure to infrasonic frequencies played at high decibel levels, similar to feeling the pressure of subwoofer speakers in an expensive car stereo system or standing close to an oversized speaker at a rock concert.

The belief is that the note is achieved between 5 Hz and 9Hz, which would allegedly cause one's intestinal tract to resonate in the same way a thin crystal glass would resonate and ultimately shatter whenever an amplified soprano's voice was directed at it. In the case of the brown note, however, the results would be much harder to sweep away.

Several experiments and semi-scientific investigations have been conducted on the phenomenon over the years, mostly confirming its status as little more than an urban legend. When the brown note was performed in concert by musician Ben Folds, there were no reported incidents of involuntary defecation. An investigation by the television program MythBusters also failed to duplicate the effect, although volunteers did experience other symptoms while subjected to infrasonic frequencies.

The brown note is sometimes mentioned as a potential weapon of mass embarrassment in comic books and cartoons, but thankfully the note cannot be transmitted effectively over standard television or radio speakers. Arguably, the sustained effects of mass defecation would create serious health and environmental concerns, but the chances of a true criminal mastermind successfully broadcasting the note are slim to none. At best, a weaponized infrasonic sound generator might cause soldiers on a battlefield to become temporarily disoriented or unable to communicate.

This is not to suggest that the use of infrasonic frequencies is completely harmless, but the technology required to generate and broadcast a sustained brown note is generally not available to the general public. One might have to question the motives of anyone who did make the effort to obtain such a system, anyway. There's much more to life than generating involuntary gastrointestinal motility by way of massive subwoofers, isn't there?

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Michael Pollick
By Michael Pollick
As a frequent contributor to WiseGeek, Michael Pollick uses his passion for research and writing to cover a wide range of topics. His curiosity drives him to study subjects in-depth, resulting in informative and engaging articles. Prior to becoming a professional writer, Michael honed his skills as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.
Discussion Comments
By anon170462 — On Apr 26, 2011

"One might have to question the motives of anyone who did make the effort to obtain such a system, anyway."

Why is that? The motive is obviously making other people suffer, either for fun or money. You got a problem with that? It's the American way!

By Denha — On Jan 22, 2011

I have never heard of the brown note, though considering some speaker systems out there I almost believe in it. Either way, it would be likely to be the very opposite of an enjoyable experience if it really were possible.

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
As a frequent contributor to WiseGeek, Michael Pollick uses his passion for research and writing to cover a wide range...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-brown-note.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.