This paper is concerned with the rejection of multiple narrowband disturbances in hard disk drives (HDDs). Inspired by a control blending idea, the multi-frequency disturbance rejection is formulated as a blending control problem. Each disturbance rejection is accomplished by using the H-2 optimal control method. Based on all H2 optimal controllers, the blending technique is applied to yield a single controller which is capable of achieving rejection of all disturbances. Rejections of two and three disturbances for a 1.8-inch HDD VCM actuator are taken as application examples in the paper. Simulation and experimental results show that the ultimate controller results in a simultaneous attenuation of disturbances with frequencies higher or lower than the closed-loop system bandwidth. Moreover, the method turns out to be able to lift phase and thus prevent phase margin loss when it is used to deal with disturbances near bandwidth. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.