How to EQ a kick drum

For most kick drums, high-pass at 30Hz to remove sub-rumble, boost 3–5dB at 60Hz for thump, cut 2–3dB around 300Hz to clear mud, and add a small 2dB lift at 4kHz if you want more click.

Updated 2026-05-02

Short answer

For most kick drums, high-pass at 30Hz to remove sub-rumble, boost 3–5dB at 60Hz for thump, cut 2–3dB around 300Hz to clear mud, and add a small 2dB lift at 4kHz if you want more click.

High-pass: 30Hz, 12dB/oct slope
Boost: 60Hz, +4dB, Q 1.4, body and thump
Cut: 300Hz, −3dB, Q 2.0, removes boxy mud
Optional click: +2dB at 4kHz, Q 1.0

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Start with a high-pass at 30Hz

Anything below 30Hz on a kick is sub-rumble that eats headroom and translates poorly on small speakers. A gentle 12dB/oct slope at 30Hz removes the inaudible energy without thinning the body. If your kick already feels light, try 25Hz instead, but never skip the high-pass.

Boost the body around 60Hz

The thump of a kick lives between 50 and 80Hz. A 3–5dB boost at 60Hz with a moderate Q (1.4) adds weight without making the kick muddy. If your track has a sub-bass that already owns 60Hz, move this boost up to 80–90Hz and side-chain the bass to the kick instead.

Cut the mud at 300Hz

Almost every kick has too much energy in the 200–400Hz range. This is where boxiness hides, the sound that makes a kick feel cheap or trapped in a small room. A narrow cut (Q 2.0) of 2–3dB at 300Hz cleans the low-mids and makes room for snare body and bass mids.

Optional: add click at 4kHz

If your kick needs more attack to cut through a busy mix, a small boost (1–2dB) at 4kHz with a wide Q brings out the beater click. Use this sparingly, too much and the kick starts competing with hi-hats and vocals. Listen in context, not solo.

Frequently asked

What frequency is a kick drum?

Most kicks have their fundamental between 50 and 80Hz, with attack/click energy at 2–5kHz. A typical electronic kick centers around 60Hz; an acoustic rock kick is usually 80–100Hz.

Should I high-pass a kick drum?

Yes, almost always. A high-pass at 25–35Hz removes inaudible sub-rumble that eats headroom and muddies the low end on small speakers. Use a gentle 12dB/oct slope so you don't thin the body.

Why does my kick sound boxy?

Boxiness is excess energy around 250–400Hz. Cut 2–4dB at 300Hz with a moderately narrow Q (1.5–2.5) and the boxiness usually disappears. If it's still there, also check 500Hz.

Should I EQ before or after compression?

Subtractive EQ (cuts) usually goes before compression so the compressor reacts to a cleaner signal. Boosts often work better after compression so they don't get squashed. A common chain is: HP → cut mud → compress → boost top end.

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