Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned pro, you can take your guitar tone to the next level with a wide range of effects pedals. There are different kinds of pedals that can make incredibly obvious differences in your sound, as well as ones that are more subtle but add polish to your overall tone. types of guitar pedals, which include overdrive, distortion, and compression, can be the first effects you stick in your signal chain and can be used to shape the foundation of your sonic palette.
Understanding the Types of Guitar Pedals: From Distortion to Delay
Overdrive pedals such as the Ibanez Tube Screamer, create a natural-sounding boost that can be used to enhance your clean tone or provide some light overdriven crunch. Distortion pedals clip your signal waveform at its peak level, creating a more distorted tone than overdrive. This is commonly associated with heavier styles of music, such as metal and rock.
Phaser pedals are another popular pedal that grew in popularity with the release of Shin-ei’s Uni-Vibe pedal in 1968. It was used by artists like Jimi Hendrix and Robin Trower to create their signature sounds. Other companies began producing their own version of the pedal, including the Eventide Instant Flanger and MXR Phase 90 pedals.
Other effects include chorus pedals, which swell your guitar tone with repeating notes that are gradually fading in and out of focus. A tremolo pedal can create a rhythmic effect that’s often heard in pop and rock music. And if you’re looking to fill out your bass frequencies, an octave pedal can tune your original sound up or down several octaves to create a unique bass effect.