How to Use Effects Pedals

Effects pedals can transform the sound of your electric guitar. The average electric guitar only has a few options for adjusting the sound--you can switch from the lead to the rhythm pick-up or a mixture of the two, or you can adjust the tone. With an effects pedal or a collection of pedals, you can create your own sound to suit your style.

Things You'll Need

• Electric guitar
• Amplifier
• Effects pedal(s)
• Cables
• Power source

Instructions

1. Set up your pedals. Run your guitar through your pedals to the amp. Plug a cable into the amp and then plug that cable into the output of the first pedal. The inputs and outputs should be clearly labeled on each pedal. Use short cables between each pedal to cut back on the tangled mess that will become your pedal board and decrease any feedback or delay from too much cable. This is especially noticeable if you ever start recording with other musicians. Keep your board clean and simple.

2. Stomp box pedals, or single-effect pedals, can run off batteries or AC adapters. Most pedal boards come equipped with a power supply and multiple AC hook-ups. If you use a battery, plugging your guitar cable into the input turns on the pedal; even if the light is off, the pedal is still drawing power from the battery. So when you are finished playing, unplug the guitar cable. AC adapters are more dependable, but can get bulky. Batteries help keep your pedals compact without a lot of extra junk to carry around, but they are likely to wear down in the middle of a show.

3. Use stomp boxes. Turn them on and off by pressing the pedal. Adjust the effects with knobs on the pedal. You can generally adjust volume and tone with a few other options, such as speed and different sound selections. Different stomp boxes can produce a wide range of sounds.

4. Use an effects board. This is basically one large effects pedal with several options. You can program sounds and customize the effects board to your style. Many effects boards also have a wah pedal, or volume control pedal, which is a longer pedal that you move up and down with your foot--not just clicking a button on and off like stomp boxes--manipulating the tone with the wah or raising or decreasing the volume.

5. Experiment with your pedals. This is the only way to grasp the full range of their possibilities. Some of the basic effects available are distortion, chorus, flange, delay and reverb, but there are many more. Though they don't generally all sound good together, creating a combination of these effects may give you a unique style.