Choosing Guitar Effect Pedals

Guitar effect pedals come in all shapes, sizes, colors, brands, and price ranges.  The effects you need are totally dependent on the type of music you want to play.  As with shopping for a guitar, the most expensive, or highly marketed brand name is not always the best choice.

There are several different types of effect pedals available to you.  Here is a short list:

• Distortion

• Overdrive

• Metal

• Chorus

• Echo

• Flange

Each of these effects completely change the sound of your guitar.  Different effects are used for specific types of music, and each of these effects can be connected and used together to create some excellent sounds.

Each style of music uses a variety of these effects.  Rock, metal, country, pop, blues, and even classical music use a mixture of effects.  The best way to determine what sound you want to create is to listen to each effect and decide which is best for you.

If you are a beginning guitar player, you should invest in a few of the less expensive effect pedals to start.  Even if you have been playing for a few years, you don't have to spend a lot to get a great effect pedal.  Always be aware that the more popular a brand is, the more expensive it will tend to be due to the high marketing costs that these brands have spent to become well known.  Many people think that cost equals quality; this is not always the truth.

Guitar effects basically come in three packages:

• Individual effect pedals

• Multi-effect pedals

• Rack mounted multi-effect units

You can choose to mix and match individual effect pedals, or choose to buy a multi-effect pedal that contains all of the effects you would ever need in one unit.  The bottom line, when making a choice, is that of flexibility.  Individual pedals are much more flexible, and easier to use then most multi-effect or rack units.