EQ Training Series Part 2: How To Use EQ

Welcome to part two of the EQ Training Series. Today we're going to discuss how you can get started using EQ and walk you through the process using EQ through a couple different steps:

• How to use a high pass filter
• How to EQ a kick drum

Alright, so let's get started.

How To Use A High Pass Filter

One very common technique used in the mixing process is the use of what is called a high pass filter (can also be called  low cut.) High pass filters are called that because they allow higher frequencies to pass through while cutting lower frequencies. Let's take a look at an EQ on a track that also implements the use of a high pass filter. 

If you look at this picture of a graphic EQ, you'll notice that the bottom left part is grayed out with the white line dipping heavily. The white line starts dropping at around 200hz and has a steep curve that is quickly pulling out any information below that frequency. This is what a high pass filter looks like. Now, a high pass filter doesn't have to cut at a particular frequency. Most of the time it will probably be less than 150hz. Once you start going pass 200hz with your cut, you lose too much and it becomes noticeable.

What we are trying to achieve by using a high pass filter is to rid the track of unnecessary information in the low end. If you only used this on one track, you wouldn't notice a huge difference, but compounded across multiple tracks it really helps to clean up the low end of your mix. There are certain tracks you will not use a high pass filter on such as kick drum and bass guitar. Also, be careful not to go too crazy with HP filters but in moderation they will help you get a cleaner mix.

How to EQ a kick drum

Now let's look at using an EQ on an actual instrument track. We're going to start with a kick drum.

Here we see an EQ I did on a kick drum track. Let's look at the different frequency ranges and go over what they mean.

At the red node, I've boosted by about 6db around 49hz. You can also see this at the bottom right hand corner. The knobs correspond with the nodes on the graphic EQ. The frequency range where the red node is contains the low frequency. This is the frequency where you will feel the thump from the kick drum and get a lot of low end bass sound. The thump was a bit quiet on this track, and so I boosted at that end where I thought sounded good. Remember to trust your ears and not get caught up looking at the graphic!

Now let's look at the orange node. Here I did about a 6db cut around 400hz. This frequency range is known as the "boxy" sound. It usually helps to do a cut here on drums to get rid of muddiness and boxiness in the mix.

Finally, the yellow node is boosted by about 4db around 1.7 kHz to add a little snap to the kick drum. This is so you will be able to not only feel the kick drum, but a hear a little bit of the snap as well.

Remember that this EQ is just what I did for my individual track. Don't bother trying to copy this for your kick drum track as it will vary. Just know what frequencies to boost and cut depending on the sound you are trying to achieve. Is your kick drum too boxy? Cut 400hz. Is it too bass heavy? Cut a little around 50 to 100hz. Just experiment and learn what each frequency sounds like. Trust your ears!


So there you have a couple examples of how you can use EQ to add a high pass filter to a track, as well as EQ a kick drum. Remember to use this techniques for any and every track that you feel needs it. If you have a track that needs more high end, then do a subtle boost around 1kHz and up. The point is, test it! See what you think sounds good. Also, remember to try cutting before boosting. It's always better to take away information that you don't need than to add information.