4 Magic Frequencies for Mixing BASS GUITAR

Find out my go-to frequencies for EQ'ing bass guitar + how to use them to get powerful, balanced bass tones that ground the mix.

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[aerov]

If I may, if you're in drop D tuning, 73hz is the first harmonic. The actual root frequency of the low D is the octave below, so 36, 72hz.

[TheOddKris]

If I ever make a decent amount of money off of mixing, I'm paying you back! Thank you so much this channel is a gold mine ❤

[Bthelick]

Remember any peaks in the sub range are dependant on the key of the song. If you're boosting 55hz then you're boosting the note A. If that's a bad note for the key or not the home of the chord progression then you're doing more harm than good. Imo if you don't know the key of the track and the chord progression then just use a shelf only.

[d.s.]

I find that this advice does get you some good results. But from my time working in studios, I'll offer some contradictory things.
1) The fewer EQ maneuvers you do, the less 'artificial' it will end up sounding. You say you rarely cut frequencies, but if you took a pretty wide Q band at about 500 or 600 Hz and dipped it, you'd end up with similar results that sound really smooth & organic.
2) My experience with pro engineers is that the fundamental frequencies of an instrument are almost never boosted, for several reasons. First of all, it's not interesting. Overtones are what convey the character of the instrument, not the fundamental. Secondly, it makes for more dramatic dynamic changes, forcing you to lean more on compression. You can make a bass sound really solid and warm with a boost at around 200-250 Hz. This also gives you a bass tone that shows up on small speakers. If you find that you have to boost the lowest bass frequencies of the lowest instrument in the band, you probably do not have a good recording.
3) For modern bass tones, please consider multi-band compression at recording time. There are quite a few compressors that will get this done for you, or you could mock it up yourself with EQ and filtering. I'm finding this to be a magic bullet for getting all the warmth AND all the presence I could ask for, and I don't have to work hard to get a good EQ out of it.

[Igotabadbrain]

Your channel has literally changed my mixing and quality about 2000%. Really appreciate your work! Thank you so much!

[Marco_Makes_Music]

Please continue this series! I already downloaded your cheat sheet but there is just something about watching you actually do it in a mix! I feel like I’ve learnt more from your Magic Frequencies-videos, watching you mix with only the SSL-channel than I have from watching any other videos.
I would also love to see a series where you show how to compress all the different instruments but only using the compressor from your SSL plug-in. I just love the simplicity of it.

[rome]

Honestly, I prefer 800 Hz to 1k. I know that's a small distinction. I feel like 800 Hz is a little more out of the way of the guitars but still achieves the same effect (while sounding less harsh). But then again, I mix for less aggressive genres than you do.

[matthewnanes]

I downloaded that cheat sheet a couple of years ago, it's helped me a TON. I saved them in my presets in Logic and it's been a great place for me to start my mixes. I've leveled up since then but I always start with those now.

[danamorrell]

Thank you for this video! I just wanted to clarify something that was unclear to me upon first watching. At 6:25 it's said that if a song is in drop D, the fundamental frequencies of the low octave range from around 70 hz to around 147 hz. This is for a normal guitar in drop D. If a bass guitar was tuned down to D, the fundamentals of the low octave from D1 to D2 would range from 36hz to 73hz. (Which makes sense given that the 4th magic frequency is the range from 0 to 100hz.)

[DAVIDJCARON]

Thanks for this..subbed and downloaded cheatsheet.. do you know of any free ssl eq strip plugins? Also, Re you available for mastering?

[DanDanNoodls]

Honestly, as a general rule, I don't listen to a Music YouTuber's advice if I don't like the sound they're producing (because why would I follow their advice if I don't like what they're doing) and I LOVE the bass sounds you're making. Also, I love the advice that you put out. Such an amazing channel.

[musicmaestrodj]

The bass player in that song was using a pick which produces quite a different sound than playing with your fingers. Perhaps you should do another video explaining how to EQ that style as well. Thanks for posting! I always appreciate your videos.

[alanduncan]

Thanks for this. It's very helpful. I'd be interested in learning a bit more about compression and / or limiting on bass guitar, and where would be a good place to HPF bass guitar, and all instruments, really.

[edsohovocals]

These videos are all soooo freakin' good. I am actually shaking my head in disbelief. Never before has a set of videos made so much difference to my mixes. (I promise I'm not sponsored!) I've watched these type of videos before and I thought I'd taken things in, but evidently not! Are Jordan's vids just so much more practical, or well explained, or not smarmy? Thank you one trillion times over.

[violrmusic]

Definitely a good video. Personally, I don't agree with such a low pass at 4.5khz. Bass guitar produces higher frequencies then most electric guitars. And I love to hear those clicks and harmonics. So I do a little boost in about 4.5 which add to blending it with the percussion periods and set my low pass very gradual soft slope starting around 7 or 8 k

[cmenacez]

Best video I've seen so far about this topic, very straight forward and informative. Thank You for the tips!

[scott]

This guy is one of the best for teaching.... so clear and concise.

[spamezclaspamezcla]

Hi, Life its simple, and now mixing its as simple as life, there's no more hard work anymore finding the lost frecuency, thanks for your honest and simplicity, your a great guy

[Asgaia]

I think there is more struggle.
Most basses - espeically DI, but also Amp - has a build up in the range 100 Hz-150 Hz. You need to control that.
Than there is the magic or strange frequency around 180Hz. A lot of live foh mixers boost that range. And indeed i can give the bass more fullness, but with a tendency to boxiness.
It depends on how low and how loud the lowend of the guitars are.
This range 100-200 Hz I found is the most struggling for bass, and also for guitars. And to make things worse, thats the range where the foundation note of the snare is.

[silverwings]

I want to thank you for this video. I have been working a Bass track for a good while. And always getting lost lost or boomy in the mix. This
EQ sequence save the mix. And you are so right. You cannot mix solo. It will sound great but sour altogether. I used Wave's SSL. Also I
used your EQ line for a Kick track as well. But with a parametric. Most YT vids make everything so complicated. You use Cliff Notes. Thanks