Contemplative Prayer with Gregorian Chant
Contemplative Prayer with Gregorian Chant: how it sounds
How Contemplative Prayer with Gregorian Chant is built: layered binaural beats from 8 to 10 Hz on carriers from 184 to 555 Hz, session by session, with the research behind the method and an honest summary of the evidence.
How this course sounds — the science
Every session is a layered binaural program: several tone pairs, one tone of each pair per ear, over a soft noise bed. The numbers below come straight from the session designs.
The course in numbers
- Beats from 8 to 10 Hz, covering the alpha bands.
- Carrier tones from 184 to 555 Hz.
- Up to 3 tone pairs sound at once.
- Tone level changes by -5.6 dB per octave of carrier, so the higher tones sit quieter.
- Noise bed: brown, independent in each ear. Its level and brightness move on a slow 10-second cycle.
Tuning and carriers
The Tuning setting in the editor re-pitches the carrier tones and never the beats.
- Standard: carriers from 180 to 550 Hz, as designed.
- A=432 Hz: every carrier 31.8 cents lower, from 176.7 to 540 Hz.
- Solfeggio: carriers snap to 174, 285, 528 Hz inside their own range; the lowest and highest carriers keep their pitch.
Tunings and tones are offered as sound to explore, with no promise of effects. Read what the research says about frequencies.
The method
The sessions use the layered binaural method described in our research note. We measured a reference set of guided programs and generate every bed from those statistics, never from a recording.
- Carrier–beat ordering: slow beats ride on low carriers and faster beats on higher ones, and each tone's level falls with carrier frequency (stacking and level).
- Each phase moves the stack to a new band and crossfades smoothly into it (beats by stage).
- A noise bed shaped to the measured spectrum keeps the tones soft and masks small sounds around you (noise).
- The voice sits about 12 dB above the bed, and gentle mastering leaves the stereo beats intact (how your audio is made).
Session by session
Contemplative Prayer 1 · Arriving in God's Presence · 20 min
| Phase | Minutes | Band | Beats (Hz) | Carriers (Hz) | Tone pairs | Noise (dBFS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrive | 1.7 | alpha | 10 | 185, 275, 455 | 3 | -40 |
| Settle | 3.4 | alpha | 9 | 184, 274, 454 | 3 | -40 |
| Be Still | 8.4 | alpha | 8 | 184, 274, 454 | 3 | -40 |
| Rest in Presence | 5 | alpha | 8 | 184, 274, 454 | 3 | -40 |
| Close | 1.5 | alpha | 10 | 185, 275, 455 | 3 | -40 |
Contemplative Prayer 2 · The Jesus Prayer · 20 min
| Phase | Minutes | Band | Beats (Hz) | Carriers (Hz) | Tone pairs | Noise (dBFS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrive | 1.7 | alpha | 10 | 193, 287, 475 | 3 | -40 |
| Settle | 3.1 | alpha | 9 | 192, 286, 474 | 3 | -40 |
| The Prayer | 9.2 | alpha | 8 | 192, 286, 474 | 3 | -40 |
| Rest in the Name | 4.6 | alpha | 8 | 192, 286, 474 | 3 | -40 |
| Close | 1.5 | alpha | 10 | 193, 287, 475 | 3 | -40 |
Contemplative Prayer 3 · Lectio Divina · 20 min
| Phase | Minutes | Band | Beats (Hz) | Carriers (Hz) | Tone pairs | Noise (dBFS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrive | 1.7 | alpha | 10 | 201, 299, 495 | 3 | -40 |
| Settle | 2.3 | alpha | 9 | 200, 298, 494 | 3 | -40 |
| Read (Lectio) | 3.8 | alpha | 8.5 | 200, 298, 494 | 3 | -40 |
| Reflect (Meditatio) | 3.8 | alpha | 8.5 | 200, 298, 494 | 3 | -40 |
| Respond (Oratio) | 2.3 | alpha | 8 | 200, 298, 494 | 3 | -40 |
| Rest (Contemplatio) | 4.6 | alpha | 8 | 200, 298, 494 | 3 | -40 |
| Close | 1.5 | alpha | 10 | 201, 299, 495 | 3 | -40 |
Contemplative Prayer 4 · The Examen · 20 min
| Phase | Minutes | Band | Beats (Hz) | Carriers (Hz) | Tone pairs | Noise (dBFS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrive | 1.7 | alpha | 10 | 209, 311, 515 | 3 | -40 |
| Settle | 2.2 | alpha | 9 | 208, 310, 514 | 3 | -40 |
| Ask for Light | 1.7 | alpha | 8.5 | 208, 310, 514 | 3 | -40 |
| Give Thanks | 2.8 | alpha | 8.5 | 208, 310, 514 | 3 | -40 |
| Review the Day | 4.7 | alpha | 8 | 208, 310, 514 | 3 | -40 |
| Mercy | 2.8 | alpha | 8 | 208, 310, 514 | 3 | -40 |
| Look to Tomorrow | 2.6 | alpha | 8.5 | 208, 310, 514 | 3 | -40 |
| Close | 1.5 | alpha | 10 | 209, 311, 515 | 3 | -40 |
Contemplative Prayer 5 · Gratitude and the Magnificat · 20 min
| Phase | Minutes | Band | Beats (Hz) | Carriers (Hz) | Tone pairs | Noise (dBFS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrive | 1.7 | alpha | 10 | 217, 323, 535 | 3 | -40 |
| Settle | 2.1 | alpha | 9 | 216, 322, 534 | 3 | -40 |
| Give Thanks | 5.2 | alpha | 8.5 | 216, 322, 534 | 3 | -40 |
| The Magnificat | 4.5 | alpha | 8.5 | 216, 322, 534 | 3 | -40 |
| Rest in Thanks | 5.2 | alpha | 8 | 216, 322, 534 | 3 | -40 |
| Close | 1.5 | alpha | 10 | 217, 323, 535 | 3 | -40 |
Contemplative Prayer 6 · Resting in Silence · 20 min
| Phase | Minutes | Band | Beats (Hz) | Carriers (Hz) | Tone pairs | Noise (dBFS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrive | 1.7 | alpha | 10 | 225, 335, 555 | 3 | -40 |
| Settle | 1.9 | alpha | 9 | 224, 334, 554 | 3 | -40 |
| Silence | 7.5 | alpha | 8.5 | 224, 334, 554 | 3 | -40 |
| Deeper Silence | 7.5 | alpha | 8 | 224, 334, 554 | 3 | -40 |
| Close | 1.5 | alpha | 10 | 225, 335, 555 | 3 | -40 |
What you'll practise
- Stillness — Sitting upright and quiet, with the breath slow and natural, before God.
- The Jesus Prayer — One short prayer repeated with the breath, then silently.
- Lectio Divina — Slow prayer with a short passage: read, reflect, respond, rest.
- The Examen — An evening look back over the day: light, thanks, review, mercy, tomorrow.
- Gratitude — Naming gifts, and praying Mary's song of thanks from the Gospel of Luke.
- Silence — One word held lightly, and long wordless silence.
