Schumann Resonance Harmonics: 7.8, 14, 20, 27 and 33 Hz

When people talk about the Schumann resonance, they almost always mean 7.83 Hz. Yet that’s only the first “note” in a series. The Earth also resonates on other frequencies, called harmonics. Here’s what they are and what they mean.

A quick reminder: where does the Schumann resonance come from?

Between the Earth’s surface and the ionosphere, 60 to 90 km (37 to 56 miles) up, a vast cavity forms. Lightning — around fifty strikes per second worldwide — emits electromagnetic waves into it. Some frequencies reinforce each other as they travel around the planet: these are the Schumann resonances. To understand the phenomenon in full, read our article Schumann Resonance: Everything You Need to Know About the 7.83 Hz Frequency.

The frequencies in the series

Just as a guitar string vibrates on its fundamental note and on higher notes, the Earth–ionosphere cavity resonates in several modes. The average observed values are:

• 1st mode (fundamental): about 7.8 Hz
• 2nd mode: about 14.3 Hz
• 3rd mode: about 20.8 Hz
• 4th mode: about 27.3 Hz
• 5th mode: about 33.8 Hz

Higher modes exist but become weaker and weaker. Notice that the gap between two modes is about 6.5 Hz: they’re not exact multiples of 7.83, because of the properties of the ionosphere.

Why do these frequencies vary?

All these values are averages. They shift slightly depending on:

• global thunderstorm activity, stronger in the afternoon over tropical continents;
• the day-night cycle, which changes the height of the ionosphere;
• solar activity: flares and geomagnetic storms disturb the ionosphere.

Monitoring stations publish spectrograms where you can see these bands undulate over the hours. The spectacular “spikes” that sometimes circulate on social media usually correspond to variations in intensity or to interference, not to a change in the Earth’s frequency.

Harmonics and brain waves

The Schumann harmonics span a range that overlaps several families of brain waves: 7.8 Hz at the theta-alpha border, 14 and 20 Hz in the beta range, 27 and 33 Hz toward gamma. This parallel is often mentioned in wellness circles, even though no direct link has been demonstrated.

Can you use the harmonics in meditation?

The vast majority of practitioners use the fundamental, 7.83 Hz, the symbol of the Earth’s frequency. Some also explore the harmonics, for example 14.3 Hz for moments of focus, or 20.8 Hz. These uses are a matter of personal experimentation.

With a programmable sacred frequency generator, you can set each of these values precisely: type 1, 4, ., 3 then OK for 14.3 Hz, or return to the fundamental with 7, ., 8, 3, OK. The generator emits these low frequencies silently through its built-in coils. To get started, see our user guide.

In summary

• The Schumann resonance is a series: about 7.8, 14.3, 20.8, 27.3 and 33.8 Hz.
• 7.83 Hz is the fundamental mode, the strongest and best known.
• These frequencies vary slightly with thunderstorms, time of day and solar activity.
• A programmable generator lets you explore them precisely.

Further reading

• Schumann Resonance: Everything You Need to Know About the 7.83 Hz Frequency
• Brain Waves: Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta and Gamma Explained Simply
• What Is a Hertz? Understanding Frequencies Simply