| If you are serious about the guitar then | | | | sound and convert it to an overdriven or |
| you may want to consider investing in | | | | distorted sound. This gives you a rock |
| guitar effects. Guitar effects pedals | | | | type sound found on hundreds of songs. |
| come in lots of different shapes and | | | | Wah Pedals |
| sizes. Their main use is to change the | | | | Wah pedals are a great guitar effects |
| way your guitar sounds. | | | | pedal. Rather than just an on/off |
| There are thousands of different guitar | | | | situation this is an expression pedal. |
| effects pedals to choose from some new | | | | It is called a wah pedal because |
| some rare and old - some create sounds | | | | literally, it makes your guitar sound as |
| that alters your guitar sound so much it | | | | though it is saying "wah". This is great |
| is almost unrecognisable as a guitar | | | | for slow and fast lead playing and |
| sound. | | | | produces some really great results. |
| Guitar effects pedals come in many | | | | Delay Pedals |
| different formats. You can get he single | | | | This adds an echo effect to your sound. |
| effects units - often called stomp boxes | | | | Can be used to layer multiple sounds or, |
| and chain them together or you can opt | | | | more commonly, and in my case, used to |
| for a multi effects unit that combines | | | | beef up your lead sound. It is a subtle |
| lots of effects in one box. There are | | | | difference that can make such a |
| also other formats such as rack mounted | | | | difference to your playing. |
| effects units and processors. | | | | Chorus Pedals |
| For the purpose of this article I am | | | | Another popular guitar pedal that adds |
| going to illustrate a couple of the most | | | | depth to both your clean and distorted |
| commonly used guitar effects pedals that | | | | tone is the chorus pedal. This thickens |
| I consider an essential. I personally | | | | the sound by doubling up notes in layers |
| use these pedals. These can be easily | | | | and altering delays in a very subtle |
| chained together in whatever way you | | | | way. |
| choose and changed to get the sound that | | | | With guitar effects pedals there are |
| you want from your guitar. | | | | massive differences in sound quality. |
| Distortion / overdrive pedals | | | | Often the more expensive a pedal is, the |
| Whilst the above is in fact two separate | | | | better it will be. It is also very true, |
| pedals the effect they produce are | | | | especially with the examples above, the |
| similar. I personally own a distortion | | | | older the pedal is the better quality |
| pedal but tend to use the amplifiers | | | | sound it will produce. As with most |
| overdrive effect to get the sound I | | | | things guitar related, they don't |
| want.. Basically they take your clean | | | | make things like they used to. |