Guitar effects are incredibly diverse and numerous. Here are some of different kinds of guitar effects that are extremely popular in the musical industry.
• Delay/Reverb – The biggest vocal effect out there quickly became of the best guitar effects as well. This effect is usually a simple button that gives your guitar an echo effect, causing even the smallest room to have a sound that envisions playing in a huge stadium.
• Modulation/Filter – This effect was made popular in the 70’s and 80’s in rock music. This actually transforms your guitar into a space ship, a pack of wild dogs, or laser beams. Many modulators change the sound of your guitar to an impossible noise.
• Compression/Sustain – The compression or sustaining pedal works a lot like a piano pedal. It holds out the sound of a single note or chord, allowing you to play multiple notes after it while the original chord slowly fades away.
• Equalization/Tone Shaping – This effect allows you to control the different tones coming from your guitar. Bass players praise this one since it allows them to turn up their lower level noises and turn down the higher pitches.
• Noise Gate/Suppressor – A noise gate allows the guitar player to set a certain level for the volume of the guitar that it cannot go over. If you tend to get particularly excited and play hard during a song but don’t want to drown the rest of the band, the suppressor is a great effect for you.
• Looper/Sampler – The looper effect is actually a hard drive for the guitar player. You can record one melody and then replay it again, simultaneously playing a harmony to go along with it. Amazing for the solo artist.
• Wah/Volume – The Wah pedal or the “wah-wah” allows the guitar player to bend the strings of his guitar without actually bending the strings. These are usually combined with a second pedal that allows you to increase the volume when it comes time for a solo riff.
• Pedal Tuner – The pedal tuner might be the only guitar effect that is absolutely needed by any stage performer. Most guitars will go out of tune sometime on stage – this allows you to tune your guitar by cutting the volume off and checking the tone of your guitar.