The invention of the electric guitar changed music forever and gave birth to a multitude of different genres. Since it was invented in 1928, more and more people became interested in learning this wonderfully loud instrument. So much so that some of the world’s best musicians have built a career around playing the electric guitar.
Now, if this is something that you want to do yourself then there are a couple of things that you’ll be needing. And while we’ve already covered the basic gig essentials that’ll make your life as a musician infinitely easier, there’s one tool that you’ll be using quite often if you’re going to be taking guitar playing seriously.
Guitar pedals let you alter your sound to match the song or genre that you are playing. But seeing as there are thousands of pedals out on the market, you may find it hard to pick out the ones that you’ll need. You also aren’t expected to own them all, as that would simply be a waste of money. This is why we’ve put together this list of pedalboard essentials that every guitarist needs.
Chorus Pedal
Chorus pedals are one of the most used pedals in music. This is partly thanks to the flexibility that they allow, as they can do everything from altering the tone of your guitar to giving your guitar a little more heft.
This type of pedal can brighten up a guitar’s sound, allowing you to ring through the other instruments in the band. Chorus pedals can also add a lot of depth and atmosphere to the sound of your guitar. For the most part, this pedal splits your guitar’s signals into multiple ones. This makes the sound that your guitar produces thicker and fuller.
With that being said, chorus pedals are best used alongside other pedals that dirty up the guitar’s sound. When used with distortion, overdrive, and fuzz pedals the chorus pedal makes it seem like you have an entire orchestra worth of guitars on your side.
Distortion Pedal
When people think of the electric guitar, they think of wailing guitar solos and face-melting riffs. However, an electric guitar alone won’t be able to produce these sounds. While mostly associated with the rock genre, the distortion pedal can be quite flexible as its aggressive tone can add depth to most songs when used correctly.
When used with a little subtlety, distortion can also be great for alternative and new wave music. But make no mistake about it, distortion pedals really shine when one needs to get loud.
This is why it isn’t surprising to see that distortion pedals are quite popular in the metal genre. This pedal gives your guitar that crunchy sound that makes it seem like the amplifiers are about to be ripped apart.
One downside to a distortion pedal would be the dirty sound it produces. If used incorrectly, it could cover up your guitar’s tone. Keep this in mind before cranking this pedal up to its max setting.
Looping Pedal
Lastly, the looping pedal may just be the most flexible pedal on this list. We’ve all seen it before, a lone guitarist starts to perform and then suddenly it sounds like they have a whole band up with them on stage. Tricks like this can only be pulled off with the use of a looping pedal.
Other than turning yourself into a one-man band, the looping pedal can also add a lot of intricacy and layers to a song.
You’ll be able to stack multiple sounds that’ll make for unique musical experiences. This pedal can go as far as your creativity can take you, so be sure to familiarise yourself with its features to get the most out of it.
What pedals do you use often? Leave your tips in the comments below…
