Kickoff: Reflecting on Wednesday’s EQ Exploration⌗

Before we dive into today’s multitrack project, let’s pause and reflect on what we learned during Wednesday’s loop-based EQ exercises.

Warm-up Recall⌗

  • What frequency ranges were easiest for you to identify when shaping the loops?
  • Which instrument was the easiest to shape with EQ, and why?
  • Did toggling EQ on/off reveal anything surprising about your changes?

Deeper Reflection⌗

  • When you boosted or cut frequencies, which adjustments sounded subtle versus extreme?
  • Did you ever go too far with EQ and make the sound worse? How did you fix it?
  • Which EQ move gave you the clearest improvement in the mix?

Conceptual Connections⌗

  • How did the frequency cheatsheet help you — did it guide your ears, or did you rely more on listening?
  • What did you notice about instruments clashing in the same frequency range?
  • Thinking ahead: in a bluegrass multitrack (guitar, lead guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass), which instruments might fight for the same space in the mix?

EQ in Context: Bluegrass Multitrack⌗

Overview & Objectives⌗

  • Build a working vocabulary for describing EQ problems (boxy, muddy, harsh, etc.).
  • Practice corrective EQ on a 5-track bluegrass multitrack (guitar, lead guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass).
  • Develop both corrective and creative EQ approaches.
  • Strengthen critical listening through collective discussion and independent practice.

Download the multitrack files and import them into Reaper to begin practicing EQ techniques.

Part 1: Vocabulary Warm-Up⌗

We’ll begin with EQ terms you’ll hear in studios and tutorials. Each has a frequency range and characteristic sound.

Click the arrows to reveal suggested EQ fixes after we listen and discuss together.

Boxiness⌗

  • Sound: Hollow, papery, cardboard-like.
  • Range: 200–500 Hz.
EQ Fix
  • Cut 2–4 dB around 250–350 Hz for guitars, 300–500 Hz for snare.
  • Solo instruments to find the buildup, then refine in context.

Muddy⌗

  • Sound: Thick, unclear low-mids.
  • Range: 150–300 Hz.
EQ Fix
  • Cut gently in 200–300 Hz.
  • High-pass filter non-bass instruments.
  • Balance bass vs. guitar boom.

Warmth⌗

  • Sound: Full, round, pleasant body.
  • Range: 100–250 Hz.
EQ Fix
  • Add subtle boost in 150–250 Hz.
  • Avoid over-boosting to prevent muddiness.

Harshness⌗

  • Sound: Piercing, fatiguing, grating.
  • Range: 2–5 kHz.
EQ Fix
  • Sweep with narrow Q, notch 2–5 kHz.
  • De-ess vocals, tame cymbals at 3–4 kHz.

Nasal⌗

  • Sound: Pinched, honky.
  • Range: 800 Hz – 1.5 kHz.
EQ Fix
  • Apply a cut near 1 kHz.
  • Keep subtle to avoid losing clarity.

Sibilance⌗

  • Sound: Excessive “s,” “t,” “sh.”
  • Range: 5–8 kHz.
EQ Fix
  • Use a de-esser or narrow cut at 5–8 kHz.

Presence⌗

  • Sound: Forward, intelligible.
  • Range: 2–4 kHz.
EQ Fix
  • Gentle boost in 3 kHz range for vocals, guitars, snare attack.

Air / Sparkle⌗

  • Sound: Brightness, openness, sheen.
  • Range: 10–16 kHz.
EQ Fix
  • Add high-shelf boost around 10–12 kHz.
  • Great for vocals and cymbals.

Part 2: Collective Listening with the Bluegrass Multitrack⌗

  1. Play the raw mix (guitar, lead guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass).
  2. As a group, pinpoint problem areas:
    • Where is it muddy?
    • Does the guitar sound boxy?
    • Is the mandolin too harsh?
    • Does the bass clash with the guitar?
  3. Demonstrate in Reaper: apply a narrow cut/boost, then A/B toggle with/without EQ.
  4. Use the vocabulary to describe what’s happening.

Part 3: Suggested EQ Ranges for Each Track⌗

Bass⌗

Role / Issue: Provide foundation without rumble or clash

Suggested EQ Moves
  • High-pass ~20–30 Hz
  • Cut 80–120 Hz if guitar is muddy
  • Gentle boost 700–900 Hz for definition

Guitar (rhythm)⌗

Role / Issue: Can be boxy/woofy, may lack clarity

Suggested EQ Moves
  • High-pass 80–120 Hz
  • Cut 250–400 Hz to reduce boxiness
  • Boost 2–4 kHz for clarity
  • Optional high-shelf above 10 kHz

Lead Guitar⌗

Role / Issue: Needs presence without harshness

Suggested EQ Moves
  • High-pass low rumble
  • Cut 300–500 Hz to avoid mud
  • Boost 2–4 kHz for articulation
  • Tame 4–6 kHz if harsh

Mandolin / Banjo⌗

Role / Issue: Bright, sharp; prone to harshness

Suggested EQ Moves
  • High-pass low end
  • Cut 2.5–5 kHz if piercing
  • Boost 8–12 kHz for sparkle
  • Use narrow notches for resonances

Part 4: Independent Project Work⌗

Objective: Apply EQ to improve balance and clarity in the bluegrass mix.

  1. Solo instrument pairs (bass + guitar, mandolin + banjo). Identify masking.
  2. Apply corrective EQ using the ranges above as starting points.
  3. Switch to full mix and refine adjustments.
  4. A/B test (EQ on/off) to ensure improvements.
  5. Optional Creative Task: Create one effect version (telephone banjo, hi-fi mandolin, scooped guitar).

Part 5: Reflection & Wrap-Up⌗

  • Write 3–4 sentences:
    • Which EQ problem was hardest to solve?
    • Which EQ term did you hear most clearly?
    • Did any EQ moves make things worse before they got better?
  • Share a few reflections as a group.

Additional Resources: Hear the Problems in Isolation⌗

These tutorials isolate single tracks and show common EQ issues: