How to EQ an acoustic guitar

For most acoustic guitars, high-pass at 100Hz, cut 3dB at 200Hz to remove low-end boom, dip 1.

Updated 2026-05-03

Short answer

For most acoustic guitars, high-pass at 100Hz, cut 3dB at 200Hz to remove low-end boom, dip 1.5dB at 800Hz to clear boxiness, add 1.5dB at 5kHz for pick attack, and shelf 2dB above 12kHz for air. The 200Hz cut is usually the biggest improvement.

High-pass: 100Hz, 12dB/oct slope
Cut: 200Hz, −3dB, Q 1.4, removes boom
Cut: 800Hz, −1.5dB, Q 2.0, clears boxiness
Boost: 5kHz, +1.5dB, Q 1.0, pick attack
Boost: 12kHz shelf, +2dB, air and shimmer

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High-pass at 100Hz

Acoustic guitars sound full-range when soloed, but in a mix the low end clashes with bass and kick. A high-pass at 100Hz removes the boom without thinning the body. For solo fingerstyle recordings, drop to 60Hz; in a band mix, 100Hz is safe.

Cut 200Hz to remove boom

Acoustic guitars often have a resonant boom around 150–250Hz from the body's air cavity (especially dreadnoughts). A 2–4dB cut at 200Hz with a moderate Q (1.4) tightens the low end. Sweep around to find the exact resonance, it varies by guitar.

Dip 800Hz for boxiness

The 600–900Hz range is where acoustic guitars sound boxy or 'cardboard'. A 1.5–2.5dB cut at 800Hz with a narrow Q (2.0) opens the guitar. This is especially important if the guitar was close-mic'd, proximity effect amplifies this region.

Add pick attack at 5kHz

The pick or fingerstyle attack lives at 4–7kHz. A 1–2dB boost at 5kHz with a wide Q makes the playing rhythmically clear. If the guitar still sounds dull, the issue is the recording (mic placement, strings), EQ can't fix it.

Top shelf for air

A 2–3dB shelf above 10kHz adds the polished, expensive sparkle. For a strummed pop acoustic, push to 12kHz; for a fingerpicked folk track, 10kHz keeps it warm. Don't push past 4dB or you'll amplify string noise and harshness.

Frequently asked

What frequency is an acoustic guitar?

Standard tuning fundamentals span 82Hz (low E) to ~1.3kHz (high frets on the high E). The body resonance sits around 100–200Hz. Pick attack is at 4–7kHz. String shimmer is at 8–14kHz.

Why does my acoustic guitar sound boomy in the mix?

Body resonance around 150–250Hz is too loud relative to the rest of the guitar. Cut 2–4dB at 200Hz with a Q of 1.4. Also high-pass at 100Hz to remove rumble that compounds the boom.

How do I make an acoustic guitar sit with vocals?

Vocals own 250Hz–4kHz. On the guitar, dip 1–2dB around 2–3kHz where vocal presence lives. This carves space without making the guitar sound EQ'd. Pan the guitar to one side or stereo-double it to free the center for vocals.

Should I EQ acoustic guitar before or after compression?

Subtractive EQ (high-pass, 200Hz cut) before compression so the compressor doesn't react to boom. Boosts (5kHz attack, air shelf) after compression so they don't get squashed. A typical chain: HP → cut 200Hz → compress → add 5kHz + air.

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