The Different Types of Guitar Pedals

There are many different types of guitar pedals, from distortion for a gritty tone to reverb for adding depth and space. Each type of effect brings its own unique flavor and can dramatically change a guitar’s sound. A well-rounded pedalboard gives a musician creative flexibility to shape their sonic signature and take their performances to new heights.

One of the most popular pedal types is a boost pedal. It allows you to kick your guitar signal up a notch for solos or when needed to cut through a mix. Boost pedals typically offer controls such as volume, bass, middle and treble to let you fine-tune your tone until it’s just right.

Dive into Distortion: Understanding the Various Types of Guitar Pedals

Another pedal that is commonly used to shape a tone is an EQ (equalizer) pedal. These are often grouped together as they all manipulate the frequencies of a signal but EQ pedals provide additional options such as cut and boost on specific frequencies. EQ pedals allow you to tweak your tone until it’s exactly how you want it and are often placed after drive pedals in a chain.

Another common pedal is a compressor. This is a very useful tool for guitarists as it takes all the dynamics out of your guitar’s tone and makes each note have the same volume. This is a useful tool for bass players but can also be beneficial for soloists as it creates a more professional sound.