How to Plan Your Pedal Board

You've invested time and money on selecting just the right pedals, but now you're wondering how to arrange them so that you can plan a pedalboard that will allow you to play with efficiency and ease. Follow these steps to determine how to organize your guitar gear so that everything you need is within reach.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Take inventory of the pedals you currently have and consider any pedals you will acquire in the future. If you have too many pedals to fit on a standard-sized pedalboard, select those that are the most necessary and arrange them on the ground in order of importance from right to left. Most guitar players use their right foot to change pedals, so placing the most commonly used pedals on the far right of the pedalboard is most natural and comfortable.
2. Place the pedals far enough apart to allow the power cables to connect to both the pedals and power source. Although you can use 9-volt batteries to power your equipment, using a power source eliminates unwanted noise and hum.
3. Arrange the pedals in two rows, placing the most often used pedals in front. Likewise, place pedals that you use together within close proximity to each another to reduce long cable runs.
4. Measure the total space that the guitar pedals occupy once you are satisfied with their overall placement. Make sure that you have allowed ample room for cable placement and be sure to allow space for future expansion. Using your final measurements, you are ready to buy or build a custom-made pedalboard.