One of the most important stages and aspects of music production is the tone of each instrument, which is achieved through equalization. Equalization manipulates the volume of a certain frequency bandwidth in an audio track, ranging from the lower 0-20hz right up to the high end of 20khz.
Here are some ideal frequencies for certain instruments, but this is by no means a definitive guide. For the sake of argument, I have chosen four instruments - drums/beats, bass, guitar and vocals.
Drums/beats - For kick drums, you want a lot of chunky depth and sub-bass, which is more of a rumble or feel than a distinctive frequency. Boost the frequency around 30-70hz, and that should add a fullness. For cymbals and hi-hats, you want to boost the frequencies in the higher echelons, around 3-5khz, to give those parts more snap and presence.
Bass - Similar to the kick drum, you want to boost the frequency in the bottom end. perhaps around 60-80hz, ensuring you get a booming, fat bass sound. Some bass harmonics appear in the high end, but not too high, and you can add this texture if you boost around 1-2khz.
Guitar - Most guitar frequencies are prominent in the mid-range, so you want to boost around 600-800hz for a warm guitar sound. You may want to boost the frequencies a bit higher if you want to add distortion.
Vocals - This is by far the most complex frequency range to master, as the voice has one of the widest. To add some brilliance, boost at the very high end, around 8-10khz. You may wish to cut the frequencies at the bottom end to make the vocals sound crispier.
So there are some ideas to start with. There are many other variations and desired sounds for these instruments, but the ideas mentioned are certainly effective.
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