The Definitive EQ Cheat Sheet for Mixing

Muddy bass line? Snare not cutting through the mix? Harsh cymbals? For engineers and producers, these are all problems that can drive us crazy, but with a little equalization, they can be fixed, avoided or downright eliminated in your mixes. EQ can do wonderful things for the different elements of a song. It can make them stand out, provide a subtle backdrop or invoke the entire vibe of a track. Whether utilized for mixing live performances (FOH) or in the studio, crafting and sonically carving the sound of your tracks is key to achieving a balanced, impactful mix.

While there’s no right or wrong way to EQ an instrument, everyone needs a little help, or even a starting point, from time to time. So, we’ve put together the following EQ tips and charts to help you get on the way to fixing, enhancing and even redefining the sound of your tracks.

Table of Contents

How to Use the EQ Chart
   Kick Drum EQ Cheat Sheet
   Snare Drum EQ Cheat Sheet
   Rack/Floor Tom EQ Cheat Sheet
   Drum Overhead EQ Cheat Sheet
   Electric Guitar EQ Cheat Sheet
   Electric Bass EQ Cheat Sheet
   Acoustic Guitar EQ Cheat Sheet
   Vocal EQ Cheat Sheet
   Acoustic Piano EQ Cheat Sheet
   Synthesizers EQ Cheat Sheet
   Horns EQ Cheat Sheet
   Strings EQ Cheat Sheet
   Mastering EQ Cheat Sheet
The Different Types of EQ
   Graphic EQ
   Parametric EQ
   Shelving & Tilt EQ
   Filters
   Dynamic EQ
The Balancing Act

How to Use the EQ Chart

Below, you’ll find an easy-to-use chart that can help you solve common problems or achieve certain sonic goals you might have. This can live on your desktop, next to your keyboard or on your console as a quick reference that will get you started, or help you out when you need it most. We’ve separated it by instrument and laid out areas you might want to address along with corresponding frequency ranges.

It’s important to keep in mind that these are starting points. Try beginning in a suggested range and adjusting to affect neighboring frequencies until you find the sweet spot. Sometimes, a small adjustment of .5–2 dB will do the trick. Other times you’ll have to boost or cut up to 6dB to achieve the sound you’re looking for. EQing is an art form, and the more you do it, the faster you’ll get at finding what you’re tonally seeking.

Kick Drum EQ Cheat Sheet

Application	Target Frequency Range	Boost/Cut
Punch	40Hz–150Hz	Boost
Attack/Air	3kHz–5kHz	Boost
Muddiness	300Hz–700Hz	Cut

Snare Drum EQ Cheat Sheet

Application	Target Frequency Range	Boost/Cut
Body	100Hz–200Hz	Boost
Attack	2kHz–4kHz	Boost
Air	5kHz–10kHz	Boost
Rumble/Boom	60Hz–100Hz	Cut

Rack/Floor Tom EQ Cheat Sheet

Application	Target Frequency Range	Boost/Cut
Body	100Hz–300Hz	Boost
Attack	2kHz–5kHz	Boost
Air/Presence	5kHz–12kHz	Boost
Boxiness	400Hz–700Hz	Cut

Drum Overhead EQ Cheat Sheet

Application	Target Frequency Range	Boost/Cut
Attack	1kHz–3kHz	Boost
Air	10kHz–20kHz	Boost
Rumble	20Hz–200Hz	Cut
Muddiness	300Hz–700Hz	Cut

Electric Guitar EQ Cheat Sheet

Application	Target Frequency Range	Boost/Cut
Warmth	200Hz–500Hz	Boost
Growl	900Hz–3kHz	Boost
Presence	4kHz–7kHz	Boost

Electric Bass EQ Cheat Sheet

Application	Target Frequency Range	Boost/Cut
Power	50Hz–150Hz	Boost
Growl	700Hz–1.5kHz	Boost
Presence	2kHz–4kHz	Boost
Muddiness	250Hz–600Hz	Cut

Acoustic Guitar EQ Cheat Sheet

Application	Target Frequency Range	Boost/Cut
Body	100Hz–400Hz	Boost
Warmth	500Hz–1kHz	Boost/Cut
Articulation	1.5kHz–3kHz	Boost
Air	5kHz–10kHz	Boost

Vocal EQ Cheat Sheet

Application	Target Frequency Range	Boost/Cut
Presence	2.5kHz–4.5kHz	Boost
Clarity	1.5kHz–5kHz	Boost
Air/Sibilance	6kHz–10kHz	Boost/Cut
Mud	200Hz-500Hz	Cut

Acoustic Piano EQ Cheat Sheet

Application	Target Frequency Range	Boost/Cut
Fundamental	50Hz–150Hz	Boost
Presence/Articulation	1.5kHz–5kHz	Boost
Air/Overtones	10kHz–20kHz	Boost

Synthesizers EQ Cheat Sheet

Application	Target Frequency Range	Boost/Cut
Subs/Lows	40Hz–150Hz	Boost
Character	1kHz–3kHz	Boost
Clarity	3kHz–6kHz	Boost
Muddiness/Warmth	250Hz–500Hz	Boost/Cut

Horns EQ Cheat Sheet

Application	Target Frequency Range	Boost/Cut
Warmth/Muddiness	250Hz–500Hz	Boost/Cut
Harshness	1.5kHz–3.5kHz	Cut
Air	8kHz–12kHz	Boost

Strings EQ Cheat Sheet

Application	Target Frequency Range	Boost/Cut
Warmth/Muddiness	200Hz–350Hz	Boost/Cut
Definition	850Hz–1.5kHz	Boost
Air	3.5kHz–6kHz	Boost
Sparkle	7kHz–12kHz	Boost

Mastering EQ Cheat Sheet

Application	Target Frequency Range	Boost/Cut
Punch/Power	60Hz–150Hz	Boost
Muddiness	250Hz–600Hz	Cut
Focus/Aggression	1kHz–3kHz	Boost
Presence	4kHz–5kHz	Boost
Sibilance	6kHz–9kHz	Cut
Air	10kHz–20kHz	Boost

Like we mentioned above, these are just recommended starting points, and EQ settings can vary from instrument to instrument. Drums being different sizes and vocalist’s ranges deviating can change things like fundamental notes, overtones and so on. As with all forms of music production, it’s important to experiment and find what sounds best for you and your project.

The Different Types of EQ

There are many different “flavors” of EQ that can have very different effects when utilized. It can be helpful to think of the frequency range as a balloon. Everything you do affects the entire balloon—cutting low mids can have the same perceived effect as boosting the high mids, much like cutting low end can have the same perceived effect as boosting the high end. While these two processes have tonal differences, it’s important to keep in mind that when you squeeze the balloon in one area, other areas change as well. Another consideration is whether to use linear phase or minimum phase EQ. Linear phase EQ has consistent phase response across the frequency spectrum, where minimum phase EQ tends to color the sound due to subtle phase shifts when boosting or cutting. Here are some common styles of EQ and a description for their typical uses in treating various sound sources.

Graphic EQ

One of the easiest to use—and easiest to understand—forms of equalization is the graphic EQ. With each frequency band laid out before you, it provides a fast visual representation of how you’re affecting your signal. Looking to quickly boost midrange frequencies without having to sweep the entire frequency range? A graphic equalizer allows you to try set frequency bands fast, so you can find the right sound quickly. Another plus side of using a graphic EQ is that the band’s Q (bandwidth) is generally quite wide, which makes large boosts or cuts sound more natural and organic.

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Parametric EQ

Arguably the most common type of equalizer is the parametric EQ. With three settings that typically include frequency, boost/cut, as well as Q or bandwidth, the parametric EQ is the “do-it-all” EQ in an engineer’s or producer’s toolbox. Fully adjustable so you can make large or small adjustments to your track’s frequency range, this style of EQ can be applied in a nuanced or liberal fashion and is up to a myriad of tasks.

If you need to notch out an annoying, resonating frequency in toms or bass guitar, a parametric EQ will let you hone in on the perfect frequency and dial in the appropriate amount of gain reduction to help that ringing disappear. Want your snare to have more “crack?” Sweeping the frequency range with a parametric EQ can help you identify just the right spot to help it cut through your mix and be heard above dense electric guitars. Its flexibility makes this style of EQ an absolute necessity for everyone looking to master the task of frequency manipulation.

Shop Now: Eventide SplitEQ Parametric EQ Plug-in

Shelving & Tilt EQ

If a quick shift in perception is what you’re after, a shelving or tilt EQ is the right tool for the job. Need to bring the entire midrange and high end forward to make your guitar tracks more aggressive? A spectrum-spanning boost can be just the jolt you’re looking for. Or maybe the drums are taking up too much room in the high end of your entire track? Applying a tilt EQ and cutting the high mids and highs can shift the drum’s energy lower and free up space for other elements in the mix. Depending on the slope of your crossover frequency, this shift can sound rather aggressive or smooth, helping you drastically change the ”feel” of an instrument or group of instruments.

Shop Now: Apogee Mod EQ 6 Plug-in

Filters

Simply put, filters are purpose-made problem solvers that can really help clean up your tracks, whether utilized during the tracking or mixing stage of record production. With only two settings (frequency and gain reduction), both high- and low-pass filters are easy-to-use passive forms of EQ. If you’ve got too much rumble in your kick drum, bass guitar or synth tracks, a high-pass filter can tighten up your sub and make your low end more defined. Cymbals too harsh or too much air above your electric guitars? Rolling off the high end with a low-pass filter can “chill out” tracks with too much high-frequency energy.

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Dynamic EQ

Dynamic EQ can be an extremely useful tool in mixing and mastering. Sometimes, what you’re trying to fix with an equalizer isn’t a problem all the time. Maybe only during the chorus the piano gets too muddy, and during the rest of the song it sounds nice and rich. Well, with a dynamic EQ, you can reduce those frequencies only when they cross a certain threshold. Similar to multiband compression but more surgical in nature, this form of equalization lets you fix problems, but only when they occur, leaving the rest of your track tonally intact. This can be extremely helpful in the mastering stage of production due to the complex nature of equalizing an entire song at once.

Shop Now: FabFilter Pro-Q 4 Equalizer Plug-in

The Balancing Act

As you utilize this chart, you might notice yourself mixing faster, making quicker decisions and ultimately achieving your desired results in a more timely manner. Equalization is all about balance (or in some instances, imbalance)—finding just the right combination of frequencies, boosts, cuts and styles can help shape your tracks and give you the excitement, vibe or mood you’re searching for. Make no mistake, it’s an artform, and it takes time to train your ears to correctly identify frequency ranges on your first try—but with these solid starting points, you’ll be on your way to EQing like a pro in no time.