The world of guitar pedals can be a little daunting if you are new to the game. It seems like there are thousands of types of pedals, and at the same time all of these different companies. As you try and figure out what works best for you the best thing to do is experiment. Don't worry though, we are here to give you an idea of where you would like to start.
Tuner Pedal
-This is an essential on any board. It isn't the coolest pedal around, but it will always make your tone better. Or at least in tune.
Volume Pedal
- This is another pedal that does exactly what is says. These give you a way to easily adjust your volume while playing. Volume pedals are popular with the ambient crowd, but can be helpful for any player. This one is a little bit lower on the priority list.
-Depending on who you ask this one is essential or just not needed. Some players have a compression pedal on all the time and for others it is a waste of money. For a deeper look at these pedals and what they do be sure you check out this post.
Overdrive, Distortion, Fuzz
-These are the fun pedals. They can add just a little bit of bite to your tone all the way to rocking your next door neighbors face off. Most players find themselves on the never ended quest to find the perfect overdrive/distortion/fuzz, and most never end up finding one. There a thousands of great drive pedals with new ones being released all the time. The best place to start is to find out which ones your favorite player use and ge a hold one.
Time Based Effects
-These are the pedals that can make your guitar sound crazy. Vibrato, Tremolo, Delay, and Reverb can either act as a subtle or dramatic effect in your signal chain. This is really where the decision falls to each player. Vibrato and Tremolo tend to chop out your signal and add some interesting motion or texture to your tone. Delay and Reverb add more space to your signal. Delay is basically an echo like you might hear of the brick wall of a building. Reverb effects tend to emulate how your guitar might sound in a certain room. For example you could recreate how your guitar might sound in a small recording studio, or a giant concert hall.
Again don't be overwhelmed if you aren't sure where to get started. Every player was once where you are now. The most important thing to remember is there is no right answer and every player really needs to find what works best for themselves. Get out there, experiment, and have fun. Happy playing!
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