You don't always have to pull up your EQ plug-in if you need to modify the frequency characteristics of a track.

You can use EQ while you move the mic around during the recording phase.

Sometimes you can layer multiple drum tracks together and one track contributes "body" and another "attack."

And sometimes you can use the amp simulators to help you out.

Even the mic placement option on some amp simulators change the frequency characteristics of the track you're mixing.

I created some virtual doubling on a guitar track the other day and I added an amp sim to make the copy sound different.

Then, with a really short sample delay I moved the double out of time with the original ever so slightly.

This created a convincing double and a track that sounded different and separate from the original.

Think about that the next time you have have to get creative with adding separation between your tracks.

There's more to creating separation with EQ than simple guitar mixing tricks like this, and I share all my favorite guitar EQ techniques inside EQ Strategies - Your Ultimate Guide to EQ:

• How to mix the guitars in the context of the mix, not in solo
• How to EQ the acoustic guitar (and other acoustic string instruments)
• How to get rid of the "cheap-o" string sound from acoustic guitars that make them sound brittle and harsh instead of brilliant and big
• Easy EQ fixes to make your electric guitars cut through the mix without getting in the way of the vocals