In this beginner’s guide to pedalboards we are going to talk about the basics of guitar pedals and effects. There are so many choices, models, types, uses, configurations. It can be overwhelming even for experienced players, nevermind beginners. Deciding on your very first pedal to buy, and how to build your pedalboard from there can be a bit challenging. But don’t worry! We are here to help you navigate this seemingly daunting undertaking. Here’s your beginner’s guide to pedalboards.
Effects alter the sound of your guitar
This sounds obvious. An effects pedal is a small device that alters the sound of the guitar. Plain and simple. There are many ways in which this is done, depending on the actual effect being used. But notice I did not say they make you a better player? More on that later…
Effects come in different presentations. The most common is the stompbox, which is usually the main presence in a pedalboard. Put three stopboxes together and you’ve got yourself a pedalboard! Just step on the footswitch, pedal or bank and there it is. And yes, some pedals are more essential than others.
Distortion and overdrive are the most common
Distortion/overdrive is a feature widely used by guitar players of many styles, especially in rock and blues. This effect is usually achieved by increasing the gain to create a gritty, fuzzy and more aggressive sound.
You can have an extremely distorted sound that might be suitable for a metal guitar player for instance. You can also have a much less distorted sound, typically known as overdrive. Overdrive is widely used in rock, blues, pop, country, and many other styles or situations. A very famous distortion pedal is the Ibanez Tube Screamer. It has been around for decades and is still a staple in many guitarist’s pedalboards. Another well known overdrive pedal is the Proco RAT.
Chorus, Flanger, and Phaser are also popular
Known as modulation effects, Chorus, Flanger, and Phaser will make your guitar sound bigger and more spatial. They will not add any grittiness to the sound and instead will keep it clean but “wet”.
Flanger mixes two identical signals from your guitar sound and then delays one of them. Phaser is closely related to Flanger but is considered a different effect.
Chorus is also a very popular effect, to the point that it’s even included in some amplifier models like the legendary Roland JC-120. Chorus is produced by mixing two signals, one of them with the pitch a bit shifted.
Time-based effects are simple… until they’re not
Time based effects alter the original signal based on time. These include Reverb, Delay, and Echo. Reverb is quite popular and is even included in some legendary amps like the Fender’s Twin Reverb and Princeton Reverb. It is an effect typically used to add ambiance.
So what’s so complicated about that you might ask. Perhaps you will keep it simple on the Reverb and Echo, but when it comes to delay… you can alter your sound in ways that go from mild to mind-blowing. On a delay pedal, you can typically dial in the amount of delay in milliseconds to match whatever you are trying to do. And it can get very mathematical, very fast. And sure, you can also use a delay to just add another touch of ambiance to your sound.
Dynamic effects are your friends
Even though distortion and overdrive fall under the category of dynamic effects, I had to mention them first due to their extreme popularity with guitar players. However, when it comes to dynamic effect we also have compressors and limiters. A compressor basically helps you control your loudness in a musical way. You set a threshold, and as soon as you pass that threshold the effect kicks in and starts dialing back your sound by a ratio you assign.
There is also the limiter, which basically cuts off everything past that threshold you set. And if you are asking why would you ever want to do that, the answer is to avoid being extremely loud and avoid clipping (a nasty sounding and unwanted type of distortion).
Effects and pedals are not a replacement for practice
You have probably heard this before, but it’s worth mentioning again. If you want to get better at guitar, you have to practice. You can get all the pedals and effects you want; none of them is a substitute for practicing. There is no talent-booster stompbox. Nor will there ever be.
In conclusion
In this beginner’s guide to pedalboards we have seen that there are several kinds of pedals, offered in a plethora of presentations and configurations. Which and how you use any given stompbox and how you build your pedalboard from there is a very personal matter. As always, the best is to try many to develop criteria.
Choosing the right stompboxes, racks and effects units to create the ideal pedal board is a subject debated endlessly in online forums and music stores. But remember, no pedal or effect can make up for practice. If anything, effects will just expose and highlight your ability, or lack thereof.
