Highpitched

Highpitched, often written as high-pitched, is an adjective used to describe sounds or tones with relatively high frequency. In common usage, a high-pitched sound lies in the upper portion of the audible spectrum, typically above about 2,000 Hz, though the precise boundary varies with listener age and auditory health. The term can also describe voices, instruments, or electronic signals that emphasize high-frequency components.

In acoustics, pitch corresponds to frequency: higher frequencies produce sounds perceived as higher pitch. Human hearing ranges roughly from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, with the upper limit diminishing with age and noise exposure. Consequently, what seems high-pitched to a young listener may be less so to someone older. High-pitched sounds have shorter wavelengths and often carry more energy at higher harmonics, which affects timbre and detectability in noisy environments.

In music and speech, high-pitched elements include the upper registers of instruments (e.g., violin and flute) and young or feminine voices. Alarms, notifications, and electronic interfaces frequently use high-pitched tones to grab attention. However, persistent high-pitched sounds can be annoying or harmful, contributing to listener fatigue or hearing damage with sufficient exposure.

Outside human perception, many animals rely on ultrasonic or high-frequency vocalizations for navigation, mating, or echolocation.

Etymology: from the combination of 'high' and 'pitched', where 'pitch' refers to perceived frequency. See also pitch, frequency, harmonics, psychoacoustics.