How to EQ hi-hats

For most hi-hats, high-pass aggressively at 400Hz, cut 2dB at 1kHz to remove clank, and add 1.

Updated 2026-05-03

Short answer

For most hi-hats, high-pass aggressively at 400Hz, cut 2dB at 1kHz to remove clank, and add 1.5–2dB shelves at 8kHz and 14kHz for sparkle and air. Hi-hats live in the top half of the spectrum, anything below 400Hz is usually bleed from other drums.

High-pass: 400Hz, 12dB/oct slope
Cut: 1kHz, −2dB, Q 1.5, removes metallic clank
Boost: 8kHz, +1.5dB, Q 1.0, sparkle
Boost: 14kHz shelf, +2dB, air

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High-pass aggressively at 400Hz

Hi-hats have almost no useful content below 400Hz. Anything below that is bleed from kick, snare, and toms in the close mic. A 12dB/oct slope at 400Hz cleans this completely. For deep open hats, drop to 300Hz; for tight closed hats, you can push as high as 500Hz.

Cut 1kHz to remove clank

Cheap or close-mic'd hi-hats often have a metallic 'clank' or 'tin can' character around 800Hz–1.5kHz. A 1.5–3dB cut at 1kHz with a moderate Q (1.5) removes the clank without making the hat sound thin. Sweep around to find the worst frequency.

Add sparkle at 8kHz

The crisp attack and shimmer of hi-hats lives at 6–10kHz. A 1–2dB boost at 8kHz with a wide Q makes the hat feel sharp and rhythmically clear. For a lo-fi or analog feel, skip this and let the hat sit duller.

Add air with a high shelf

A 1–3dB shelf above 12kHz adds the expensive, polished feel. Pair with light compression on the hat for a tighter, more present sound. If the hi-hat is already bright (like a sampled trap hat), skip this and let it sit naturally.

Frequently asked

What frequency is a hi-hat?

Hi-hats are mostly noise-based, with energy spanning 400Hz to 16kHz. The fundamental 'pitch' (when there is one) sits around 3–5kHz. The sparkle and shimmer is at 8–12kHz; the air is at 14kHz+.

Why do my hi-hats sound thin?

Either you've high-passed too aggressively (above 500Hz on a tight hat), or you're cutting too much at 1kHz. Bring the high-pass down to 300–400Hz and reduce the 1kHz cut to −1dB. Hi-hats can sound thin if you cut their body.

How do I make hi-hats less harsh?

Sibilance/harshness on hats lives at 5–7kHz. A 1–2dB cut with a narrow Q (3.0) at the worst frequency tames it. Also check that you're not boosting 8kHz too much, that band amplifies any harshness already present.

Should I compress hi-hats?

Usually no. Hi-hats are already short and dynamic, compression flattens them. If the dynamics between accented and unaccented hits are too extreme, use a transient shaper to reduce attack on the loud hits instead of compression.

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