Set your filter to at least 40 Hz, but higher could work for some styles. You can clear up that bass sound by simply filtering up the lowest end of the frequency spectrum. Low EndĪs always, the lowest frequencies only tend to get in the way. Since we’re on the subject of how to EQ bass guitar, let’s go through some of the frequency ranges to see what’s helpful and what you should avoid. Alternatively you could add a different bass synth that’s more natural sounding and easier to manipulate in the middle frequencies. I would say, stick to the sub-synth but try to add more harmonic content in the higher frequencies to make it stand out. It certainly won’t make the bass cut through speakers that don’t hear that low-end anyway. It’ll just add more bass and unneeded low-end mud. To answer the question above, adding another layer of sub-synth won’t do any good. It gives you a well-rounded bass guitar sound without cluttering up the low-end. If the fundamental frequency is 100 Hz, adding broad boosts to 200 Hz, 300 Hz and higher in the right multiples enhances the natural sound of the bass without excessively boosting one big frequency.Īlso, if your bass guitar is sounding muddy, skip the low-end boosts and just concentrate on adding the harmonics. Here’s a quick video to accompany this article that will help you out:įor instance, if your bass is really grooving and thick due to a nice boost at 100 Hz, try boosting the harmonic multiples of that frequency. If you mix on great monitors with a nice bass response you don’t realize how your EQ decisions are affecting the mix on other playback systems. It’s a common problem for the bass guitar to get lost on smaller speakers. Should i make another layer of the sub-synth on another track? Or should i try to use another bass guitar sound and see how it comes out? Or should i leave the sub-bass, and add another bass guitar sound with it together? Boost the harmonics? Cutting through frequencies? So the problem is that the bass doesn’t cut through in the mix at all.

It sounds good on stereo with good speakers, but the bass is almost not present on other smaller playing devices.

On my recording, I’m using a sub-synth for the bass. Tired of Boomy Bass and Flabby Low-End? Download Your Free Guide: 6 Steps to Fix Your Muddy MixesĪ reader writes in with a question about how to EQ bass guitar:

How to boost bass