What Pedals Should Every Guitarist Have?
Are you thinking of buying your first guitar pedal(s) and don’t know where to start? Or are you just curious and wondering what they are? This guide will help you learn more about some of the types of guitar pedals we think every guitarist should have. We’ll also include some extra tips to help you find your unique sound.
If you are somebody who enjoys tweaking and manipulating sound instead of letting software on a computer do it for you, then it is probably time for you to begin your journey into the world of pedals. Unlike rack-mounted effect processors, pedals can be purchased one at a time without draining you financially. These are incredibly exciting to explore, and you can always upgrade them.
What is a Guitar Pedal?
Guitar pedals are essentially wondrous (usually) metal boxes that help you manipulate the sound of your guitar. If you want to add tonal or textural effects to your guitar, you need a pedal.
Also known as stompboxes or FX pedals, these sometimes magical devices connect between your guitar and amplifier. Each pedal contains circuitry that you activate by pushing (stomping) the spring-loaded button with your foot to turn it on or off.
Whether you want to refine the sound of your guitar or transform it to sound like a completely different instrument, there is a pedal for everyone.
Getting in Tune
You will often see guitar players with clip-on tuners on their headstocks. But if you are starting out, one of the first things you should invest in is a good tuner pedal. Even though it may feel expensive at first, it is essential to remember that this pedal will be a constant on your pedalboard, and the more trustworthy it is, the less stress it will cause when building your chain or moving it around. No matter what genre of music you play, you want your instrument to be in tune before you can get to the fun bits.
Remember to always set up your tuner as the first pedal in your chain for the most accurate tuning.
What’s the Delay?
Whether you want a simple, dotted delay or a more shoegaze-inspired sound, a delay pedal is an excellent tool for elevating your sound. There are two primary types of delay pedals: analog and digital.
Analog pedals mostly use a BBD (bucket-brigade device) that sends an analog signal to its clock device via a series of capacitors. Tonally, this gives us a warm sound with a lot of depth. However, the clock cycle on them can receive only a limited amount of information. So it limits the possibilities of overtly large or minuscule delay times.
Digital delays, on the other hand, use a digital signal processing (DSP) chip. DSP-powered delay pedals enable users to customize their delay to whatever parameters they want. It also makes it easier to control the tempo when playing live, especially when you want your delay to be perfectly in sync with the other elements. But just like listening to music in MP3 format or on vinyl, digital delays lack the kind of character and warmth of an analog delay.
There are pros and cons to both types of delay. The good news, however, is that you can always use multiple delay pedals simultaneously. You can have one of each or maybe even more. Having multiple delay pedals in the signal chain is a widespread practice.
Reverb Central
Many folks often get confused between reverb and a delay. As we have discussed previously, a delay is, in its simplest form, an echo of a sound. On the other hand, reverb is the diffusion of sound and its interaction with physical space after being played. For example, when we are in old buildings with thick walls and high ceilings, we often hear our voices linger and spread through the space as we talk. This effect is known as reverb.
The great thing about technology is that many different kinds of reverb pedals are now available to us. The functionality varies. Some of the most commonly used reverb types are hall, chamber, room, plate, and spring. Pedals like the MXR M300 Reverb have three knobs- decay, mix, and tone. The latter will let you adjust between a plate reverb or a spring reverb. On the other hand, if you are looking at a more customizable sound, the Strymon BigSky offers twelve different reverb types.
Overdriven Glory
A guitar plugged into an amp alone might not sound as full and rich as you would like. Depending on what guitar you have, for example, a Stratocaster or a Telecaster, will sometimes need a little bit of a boost to make it sound heavy and thick. Having an overdrive pedal will help you do just that.
Like in the mockumentary Spinal Tap, all guitar players want to turn their amp up to eleven, but that is impossible. At least not just yet. An overdrive pedal gives the guitar sound much more presence without necessarily having to crank the amp’s volume. Additionally, they add a particular crunch to the sound without making it aggressively distorted.
Typically simple-looking, with around three or four knobs, overdrive pedals can pack a big punch. Depending on the brand, there will usually be level, gain, and tone knobs. If your playing leans towards rock and you are looking for a classic Jimi Hendrix sound without massive amps, then an overdrive can be your new best friend. Additionally, they can also make solid-state amps sound bigger and give them more depth.
A Warm Fuzzy and Distorted Feeling
People often get confused about the differences between an overdrive, a distortion, and a fuzz pedal.
Distortion is a high-gain effect that adds grit and crunch to the sound. The effect remains the same even when you are playing at a low volume. If you enjoy metal, a good distortion pedal is a must-have. Additionally, a distortion pedal will help even the smallest and cheapest amps sound better.
On a technical level, a fuzz pedal alters sound into a square waveform. The chopped-off square wave results in severely compressed, distorted sound. If you like playing grunge music, a fuzz pedal is a must-have. While one of the most well-known is the Electro Harmonix Big Muff, there are many iterations of it on the market today. Pretty much all brands offer some type of fuzz pedal.
“Don’t Bore Us, Get To The Chorus.”
Have you ever wondered why the guitar sounded so distinct in the eighties and nineties? One reason for this is that many bands and musicians were using chorus pedals. From The Police to Kurt Cobain, chorus pedals have colored guitar tones for decades.
A chorus pedal does what its name suggests. They double the sound, so it feels like two instruments are playing simultaneously but not in perfect unison. The doubling makes the guitar sound thicker and fuller.
Often, the guitar sounds thin when played alongside other instruments, especially in a band setting. A chorus pedal prevents that. This pedal will help fill up the sound.
Everything is a Loop
With the pandemic making it challenging to jam with others, a looper pedal works excellently if you play to your own backing track. It can also be a great tool if you enjoy playing with textures and layers.
They can be tricky to figure out at first, but if you can play on time or want to practice over a layer, a looper pedal can help you do just that.
Depending on the model you get, some looper pedals have limited storage memory. Whereas with any other pedal, some have many advanced features. Some loop pedals even have the option to plug a microphone in to create vocal and percussive loops.
Turn Your Guitar Into a Different Instrument
Sometimes, you may feel like you need a little extra adventure in your playing, despite all the pedals mentioned above. Maybe you do not want your guitar to sound like one at all. You want a unique and signature sound. The good news is that there are a plethora of pedals that will help you do just that.
The most obvious choice for something different is a guitar synth pedal. Depending on what you are looking for, there are vocoders, flangers, wah-wahs, envelope filters, compressors, and boosters that can also radically change the sound of your guitar.
Weakest Link
Once you decide which pedals you want to incorporate into your music or that complement your style, you can have a wonderful time setting them up in your signal chain. Although there is no right or wrong way, placing certain pedals in different ways yields strange and exciting results. You will find that moving them around will affect the overall sound. Now, this is a profoundly personal preference, and it is best to take some time out to explore what works best for you.
If you feel overwhelmed by the sheer number and managing them is becoming difficult, you should consider getting a pedalboard and a power supply unit that can hold them all together. These will help you organize your pedals more efficiently and make it easy to plug them all in together without drowning in a sea of adapters and cables.
Play What You Want
Remember that while it can be scary initially, playing with pedals is a lifelong process. They are easily adaptable to your ever-changing and ever-growing sound. Take baby steps. Please spend some time understanding how they work, how they can help you emote through your music. You are the best judge of what works best for you.
You don’t need to acquire only brand-new, expensive ones. Many music shops sell second-hand pedals. So if you have a few on your wishlist, keep an eye out for what your local shop might have in stock. Another great thing about pedals is that guitarists will often exchange them when they feel like they have outgrown a particular one. You may be able to find local community groups or online gear threads where you will be surprised to see many musicians simply giving away gear that may be a good fit for your rig.
Eco-friendly
As musicians, it is crucial to think of ways to minimize waste and make sustainable choices. Guitar pedals, although not eco-friendly, are a step in the right direction. They last a long time, can be exchanged, resold, or traded. Also, they don’t tie you down as a rack-mounted processor would. It greatly helps that you can take the pedals apart and even make minor fixes, mods, and tweaks to them. Plus, it helps that you can constantly build and change your setup. Although not recommended for absolute beginners, there is a lot of information online about pedal modifications. You can always add a little bit of something if you feel like you are starting to get bored. The possibilities are endless.
Reprise
We think these are the 6 types of guitar pedals every guitarist should have:
- Tuner
- Delay
- Reverb
- Overdrive
- Fuzz or Distortion
- Chorus
If you’re feeling more adventurous, you should take a look at these:
- Looper
- Guitar Synth
- Vocoder
- Flanger
- Wah-wah
- Envelope filter
Do not be scared to dip your toes into the world of pedals. You will have a fantastic adventure!