-
šø Instrument Frequency Chart
Explore the frequency ranges of common musical instruments and discover where their fundamentals, body, presence, attack, and upper harmonics typically appear in the frequency spectrum.
VocalsHuman voice frequency overviewFundamental Range85ā1,000 HzBody / Warmth150ā500 HzPresence / Attack2ā5 kHzHigh Content5ā15 kHzšļø EQ & Mixing Information
Select an instrument to see common EQ considerations.Important: The frequency ranges shown are approximate. An instrument's actual frequency content depends on the player, instrument, tuning, microphone, recording technique, room, performance, and processing.š§ Mixing Tip: Use frequency charts to identify areas worth investigating, not as instructions to automatically boost or cut. If an instrument sounds muddy, harsh, thin, or buried in a mix, listen carefully and make small EQ adjustments while considering what other instruments are occupying the same frequency range. -
An Instrument Frequency Chart helps musicians, producers, recording engineers, and home-studio users understand where different instruments typically occupy the frequency spectrum. This can be especially useful when making EQ decisions, arranging a song, troubleshooting a mix, or trying to understand why two instruments are competing for the same sonic space.
Different instruments can contain frequencies across a much wider range than their perceived pitch might suggest. An instrument's fundamental frequencies establish much of its perceived pitch, while harmonics and overtones extend above the fundamental and contribute to its tone and character.
The chart highlights several useful areas, including the instrument's approximate fundamental range, body and warmth, presence and attack, and higher-frequency content. These areas can help you identify where an instrument may be contributing weight, fullness, clarity, articulation, brightness, or air.
For example, a kick drum may have important low-frequency energy for weight while also having an upper-frequency attack that helps it remain audible. An acoustic guitar can occupy low-mid frequencies for body while extending into the upper mids and highs for string definition. Vocals can span a particularly broad range, with different frequency areas contributing warmth, intelligibility, presence, and air.
Tip: Don't treat an instrument frequency chart as a list of frequencies you should boost or cut. These are approximate ranges, and the actual spectrum changes with the instrument, player, tuning, microphone, recording technique, room, and processing. Use the chart to understand where to listen, then let your ears determine what the recording actually needs.
Related Pages:
Can You Really Break Glass With Your Singing Voice?
Overtones Vs. Fundamentals In Music And Audio (In Simple Terms)