How to Use a Distortion Pedal

A distortion pedal allows a guitarist to add all kinds of fun sounds to songs, on stage or in the studio. A large box that sits on the floor whiles musicians play, it's controlled by foot. A variation on the generic stompbox or effects pedal, distortion pedals give songs in any genre, from heavy metal to alternative rock, a cutting edge. Here's how to use a distortion pedal.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Determine what type of distortion you need. The market for distortion pedals features a plethora of brands, and you can tell by the name if the model's right for you. A "Deathmiester" pedal wouldn't work for an indie rocker. Distortion sounds can be warm, fuzzy, bluesy or overdrive, so try out many pedals before purchasing.

2. Plug your guitar chord into the pedal, then attach the pedal to your amplifier. You may link your distortion pedal with other effects pedals, or use it alone.

3. Configure a distortion pedal to work through your amp. Using a distortion pedal this way will give you an extremely distorted sound which works well for the heavier types of metal music. Keep the sound level high, and lower the amount of distortion and neutralize the tone.

4. Experiment with tone options on your distortion pedals. Some pedals offer bass, middle and treble settings, while the volume or level knob allows you to increase the power of your solos.

5. Crank up the distortion when you want a "dirtier" sound than an amp can produce. The Rolling Stones "Satisfaction" and Jimi Hendrix's fuzzy, wah-wah guitar effects introduced rock music fans to distortion pedals in the 1960s. Overdrive distortion, popularized by Eddie Van Halen, imitates the smooth distortion of a vacuum tube amplifier.