How Fast Is Sound in Bone?

Sound travels at 4,080 m/s through human bone — over 10× faster than in air. This is why you hear your own voice differently than others do; conduction through your skull bones gives it a richer, lower quality.

Bone conduction works by vibrating the skull directly — the inner ear interprets these vibrations the same as airborne sound. Beethoven used a bite-stick on his piano to compose after going deaf.

• 10× faster than sound in air
• Why your recorded voice sounds wrong