# The best sounds in the world. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 30, 2009, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766 "2009-07-30T12:15:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/1 "2009-07-30T12:15:30Z")
I live in a drought-ridden area, but tonight there is the most delightful sound of rain pattering down on my tin roof. It’s noisy, but it’s great. But I still reckon the BEST sound in the world is that of the blackbirds in the early morn, just before dawn when they start twittering and singing their sexy dance-songs come the springtime. That’s just such an enlivening thing for me, I can’t quite describe it. Oh, and when you hear a wee baby gives a hearty belly-chuckle…that is just grouse. 😛 What’s your best sounds in the world? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/2 "2009-07-30T12:27:55Z")
There’s this little trilling thing that my tiny gray cat does as she bonks me for face squeezes. It’s the most awesome little sound evah. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/3 "2009-07-30T12:30:14Z")
Wind blowing through a pine forest in the mountains. A fighter jet making a low-altitude pass in full afterburner. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/4 "2009-07-30T12:39:32Z")
A fastball squarely impacting a catcher’s mitt. There are “swishes” and then there’s when a basketball goes in so fast and cleanly that it actually “pops” the net. The sound of an older, big block muscle car as it’s given gas and reaches down to grab another gear. Water in a mountain stream as it gurgles over the rocks. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/5 "2009-07-30T12:55:42Z")
My bicycle used to have knobby all-terrain tires, and I loved the whine they made when I rode it hard. I have standard treads now, and they don’t whine. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/6 "2009-07-30T12:56:46Z")
“I’m all right!” after a huge crash in the other room. Lazy ocean waves lapping the shore. The zipper coming down on a tight party dress. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/7 "2009-07-30T13:00:33Z")
Ditto the rain on the roof sound. The deep, relaxed sleep breathing of my daughters when I check on them before I go to bed. The white noise of the bay waves lapping at the beach as I fall asleep at our vacation house. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/8 "2009-07-30T13:08:13Z")
Anchor chains, plane motors, and train whistles? ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/9 "2009-07-30T13:13:15Z")
[ul] [li]A cat’s purr is tops, along with a friendly meow or two.[/li][li]The sound of walking through fallen leaves.[/li][li]Add me to the “rain on the tin roof” crowd. Almost as good is this sound in a camp tent when it’s raining outside, but you’re still dry and secure.[/li][li]As I kid I enjoyed the sound of scissors cutting through paper, but I only enjoyed this sound if someone else was doing it. It wasn’t as satisfying if I was the one doing the cutting. Must be related to the phenomenon that you can’t tickle yourself.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/10 "2009-07-30T13:22:18Z")
The sound of a can of Forex being opened. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/11 "2009-07-30T14:21:59Z")
I also love baby giggles. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/12 "2009-07-30T14:47:35Z")
There’s a sound that good, powdery fresh snow makes under your skis. You can’t hear it if it’s crowded - you have to be alone on the side of a mountain somewhere. It’s similar to the sound of well-worn leather creaking, but muffled, and deeper somehow. In fact, that’s another good one. The creaky little sounds a leather saddle makes when you’re riding a horse. I like the noises around here in the summertime - the droning cicadas in the heat of the afternoon, and the tree frogs chirping when the sun is gone. I also love listening to a mockingbird running through his repertoire from up in a tree. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/13 "2009-07-30T14:52:47Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > I live in a drought-ridden area, but tonight there is the most delightful sound of rain pattering down on my tin roof. It’s noisy, but it’s great. > > But I still reckon the BEST sound in the world is that of the blackbirds in the early morn, just before dawn when they start twittering and singing their sexy dance-songs come the springtime. That’s just such an enlivening thing for me, I can’t quite describe it. > > Oh, and when you hear a wee baby gives a hearty belly-chuckle…that is just grouse. 😛 > > What’s your best sounds in the world? I’m re-reading _Bill Bryson Down Under_ Just got past the Melbourne bit so I feel for you man,enjoy the rain and then set off for Uluru and The Devils Marbles ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/14 "2009-07-30T14:55:54Z")
A train whistle at night, echoing off in the distance. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/15 "2009-07-30T15:11:22Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > I also love baby giggles. I like baby belly-laughs, too. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/16 "2009-07-30T15:22:10Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > I like baby belly-laughs, too. Content baby sounds are one of the best sounds in the world but, of course, the opposite of that is the worst sound in the world. They are extremists. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/17 "2009-07-30T15:23:08Z")
I love the sound of a ZX Spectrum loading up… instantly takes me back to being 8 years old 🙂 And the gentle “slap slap slap” of calm water against the hull of an open canoe. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/18 "2009-07-30T15:23:22Z")
The sound of my sweetie’s breathing as she drifts off to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/19 "2009-07-30T15:25:32Z")
The sound of bubbles popping on the surface of the water right after you fill the tub for a long bath. ---
**Author:** ![Sudo\_Intellectual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sudo\_Intellectual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudo_Intellectual)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/20 "2009-07-30T15:28:35Z")
I love long rolling thunder claps, the kind that echo through the house, the sound of a match being struck / lit, the ding of the oven timer when you are making fresh chocolate chip cookies [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766.md?page=2)