EQ Guidelines

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Instrument Frequencies to DECREASE Frequencies to INCREASE

Kick: 240Hz 50 Hz 3-5 kHz

Snare: 50-100 Hz 5-7 kHz
Hi hat: HPF and/or 250Hz and below 3- 4 kHz, 7-10kHz
High Toms: HPF 5-7 kHz
Low Toms: 200-300 Hz 50-100 Hz 5 kHz
Cymbals: HPF and/or 250Hz and below 10-12 kHz
Bass: 200-500Hz 40-100Hz 3-5 kHz
Acoustic Guitar: 50-100 Hz 600-800Hz 4-6 kHz
Electric Guitar: 6-8 kHz 1-2 kHz
Piano Low: 300-500Hz 50-100 Hz 1.5 kHz 5 kHz
Piano High: HPF 1.5 kHz 5-7 kHz
Soprano Vocal: HPF 200-500 Hz sweep and find worst 300 Hz 3-5 kHz 10-12kHz
Alto Vocal: HPF 200-500 Hz sweep and find worst 300 Hz 3-5 kHz 10-12kHz
Tenor vocal: HPF 200-500 Hz sweep and find worst 5-7 kHz 10-12 kHz
Choir vocals: HPF and/or 200Hz and below 5-7 kHz 10-12 kHz
HPF - High Pass Filter (lo cut filter)

Frequency Interesting Tidbit

50-80 Hz Kick drum fundamental focus area

60 Hz A/C power fundamental hum
70-100 Hz Most 'fixed' console low EQ chosen frequency
100 Hz Bass guitar fundamental focus area
120 Hz A/C power octave harmonic overtone
160 Hz 'Boomy' area.
240 - 300 Hz 'Muddy' range - good area to decrease, especially kick drum, male vocals
315 Hz Can add 'body', (thickness) to violins and female vocals
600-800 Hz 'Honky Tonk' range for instruments - nasally for vocals
2 kHz 'Presence' peak, generally good for electric guitars
3 kHz Ear fatigue area, can feel 'harsh'. Hi hat focus area
5 kHz 'Crisp' area. Good for snare attack, vocal focus
6 kHz Area of definition/clarity. Vocal sibilance area
10 kHz 'Hiss' area. Cymbal focus area, vocal enhancement area. Vocal sibilance
10-12 kHz Most 'fixed' console high EQ chosen frequency
12 kHz Added 'sheen' on vocals (smooth upper end)