Create your own unique sound with a diverse selection of Guitar Pedals
From the convenience of utility pedals such as tuners or volume pedals to the wide array of sound-changing effect pedals available, guitar pedals are a great way to help craft your own unique sound. Whether you are trying to perfectly recreate that signature sound of your favourite guitarist or discover and define your own personal style, guitar pedals offer both precision and the capacity for endless experimentation when exploring the world of sound.
What are guitar pedals?
Typically a guitar pedal is identifiable as an electronic device that alters the signal produced by an electric guitar. They plug in between the guitar and amplifier, and are generally operated by a single on/off foot switch—although some pedals feature a sliding switch that allows the player to control the degree of the effect by foot as well, such as volume pedals or wah-wah pedals. Most pedals also feature some form of knobs or switches that allow players to further customize the pedal’s effect. Multiple pedals may be chained together and used concurrently in a single arrangement.
Why do I need guitar pedals?
Guitar pedals are an absolute must for any guitarist who wants to experiment with the vast range of styles and sounds that exist in the realm of the electric guitar. So many iconic sounds simply cannot be achieved without the benefit of the signal-altering utilities of guitar pedals. From the fuzzy, overdriven distortion of hard rock and heavy metal to the groovy wah-wah sounds of funk and disco and everything in between, guitar pedals have assisted musicians in defining entire genres of music for decades.
If you have a favourite guitarist whose sound you wish to recreate, you may also want to research what makes and models of guitar pedals they use. The signature sounds of some of the most famous guitarists of all time are often tied to the specific pedals and effects they make frequent use of.
Types of guitar pedals
There are a wide variety of guitar pedals available, many of which serve drastically different functions from one to another. Here are a few of the most common types of guitar pedals.
Tuning pedals
They may not be the flashiest or most exciting, but a tuning pedal is probably the most useful of any guitar pedal, and an absolute must for any guitar pedal collection. Having a tuning pedal as part of your setup allows for easy tuning without your hands ever having to leave your guitar, and can be operated discretely—even mid-performance if necessary! Any guitarist playing in front of a live audience is almost guaranteed to use a tuning pedal.
Distortion/overdrive pedals
Distortion/overdrive pedals increase the gain on a guitar signal to create various fuzzy or growling effects. These are used widely in blues, hard rock, and heavy metal music. If you like it loud, you probably want a distortion pedal!
Dynamic pedals
Dynamic pedals typically affect volume and compression. They can allow players to make manual adjustments such as a gradual or drastic increase or decrease to volume while playing. This can be really handy on the fly when you don’t want to stop playing to fiddle with your amplifier. Volume pedals can allow a guitarist to give a boost during his or her big solo, then reduce to normal afterward.
Other common effect pedals
There are a number of other types of effect pedals which significantly change the sound of a guitar. Filters such as wah-wah pedals modify the frequency range of the signal. The wah-wah is frequently used in genres like funk and disco. Modulation effects like chorus and phaser pedals blend identical signals and pitches for a fuller sound. The chorus pedal in particular achieved a lot of popularity during the alternative grunge movement in the early 1990’s. Finally, time effect pedals such as reverb or delay pedals create echoing or looping effects.