Let a, b be ideals of a commutative Noetherian ring R and let M, N be finite R-modules. The concept of an a-filter grade of b on M is introduced and several characterizations and properties of this notion are given. Then, using the above characterizations, we obtain some results on generalized local cohomology modules H i a (M, N ). In particular, first we determine the least integer i for which H i a (M, N ) is not Artinian. Then we prove that H i a (M, N ) is Artinian for all i ∈ N 0 if and only if dim R/(a + Ann M + Ann N ) = 0. Also, we establish the Nagel-Schenzel formula for generalized local cohomology modules. Finally, in a certain case, the set of attached primes of H i a (M, N ) is determined and a comparison between this set and the set of attached primes of H i a (N ) is given.