How to Get a Good Guitar Distortion Tone

Distortion is an important part of the rock guitar sound. It is used in every rock genre from classic rock to heavy metal. The type and amount of distortion you want depends on the type of music you will be playing. With maximum distortion a guitar can sound like a chainsaw, while just a little distortion adds an extra twang that can really boost a solo or chorus. There are many different types of distortion effects. Experiment to optimize your sound.

Things You'll Need

• Guitar
• Amplifier
• Distortion Effects Pedal

Instructions

Getting Good Distortion

1. Plug in. This may sound obvious, but you cannot get good distortion without an amplifier.

2. Tweak the levels. Almost all amplifiers come with some knobs you can tweak. Pay particular attention to the knobs that say Reverb, Gain, or Boost. The farther you turn these up the more distorted your sound will be.

3. If you cannot get a satisfactory sound with just your amp get an effects pedal. There are lots of pedals that can give you all kinds of distortion. To find the right one read reviews, ask other musicians, and try them out at your local music store.

4. Experiment. Once you find a good pedal play with all the sounds it can make. Tweak the knobs, Add other effects, and try different riffs to your hearts content.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're looking to get the specific sound of another guitarist, try writing to them. Most artists will be flattered that you're interested in their gear, and will gladly share with you how they get their sound. Sometimes this information can be found on band websites under "Gear."

• Regardless of what effects your guitar has you still need to practice. No pedal will make you sound skilled.

References

• Guitar Distortion 101
• Distortion Pedals