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How To Make Your Guitar Pedal Sing
Have you ever wondered why some of us are so good at singing without any effort while the others struggle hard not to sound like a coarse frog? The answer is simple really; some of us can spot the change in the wavelength and intensity of a sound while the others can barely hear the difference. It is a lot like being colorblind in a world full of colours; you only see a grey while others argue about shades of orange. Or yellow. Or whatever colour they find. Unfortunately, the majority of the people these days are incapable of perceiving the difference in musical pitch correctly. Fortunately, musicians do not fall into that category.
As musicians, most of us can spot the tiniest change in the sound of the instrument we are playing. Even the most amateur of us can spot the change in frequency, speed, amplitude or any other factor for that matter; and we don’t even have to try for that. That is why most of us struggle so hard to find the perfect sound. No matter how perfect it sounds to others, to us the tiniest of the flaws seem big enough to ruin the whole thing. So no wonder we strive for perfection. That is why are different from others. But as a newbie, you must have faced the problem of not getting the sound of your desire. No matter how much you try, something is still lacking. And you don’t know why it is happening.
Good for you, we are about to put an end to your misery and tell you how to make your guitar sing perfectly. The trick is simple; you need to add a little bit of effect to your sound. In that case, guitar pedals can be your best friend. How do they work? Here, we go back to basics. How we perceive sound waves depends on the wavelength, intensity, speed, direction and a number of other factors of that sound wave. Guitar pedals do their trick on these factors and adjust them to our taste. Sounds pretty basic, right? It almost feels like you can create any effect you desire.
Well, you can definitely do that. But how do you know which pedal do you need? How to be sure of which effect to use at which time? Hang on- all your questions will be answered.
As you know, there are quite a few types of pedals available in the market. Each type creates its own tinge to your sound. And each type is absolutely essential for you. In this article, we are going to give you some basic information about various types of guitar pedals, and then we will leave you to fend for yourself. Yes, we might seem cruel to you, but that is the best we can do for you. We can lay down the options before you; but you will have to decide for yourself.
So, no more ranting. Here you go:
1. Wah pedals: This pedal was introduced to us by the legendary Jimi Hendrix, and since then innumerable other musicians have used this pedal. It creates a loud, clear, distinctive crying sound by filtering out certain frequencies and reducing others. You can change the frequency of your signal’s resonant crest with this pedal; which is the exact reason for the sharp, crying sound.
2. Envelope filter/ auto-wah pedals: These are something you can add to your signal chain and then forget that it is there. These pedals have a unique envelope filter and folds the sound neatly back on itself. Want to get an envelope filter? Try out the “Mu-Tron III”. It was first popularized by Stevie Wonder, and is still one of the most-loved auto-wah pedals around the world.
3. EQ pedals: EQ pedals aka straight equalizers will let you to increase or reduce your frequencies within various ranges. These pedals can be your best friend during a live performance, because multi-band equalizers solve a number of signal problems or room oddities throughout a live show. They can also create a number of synthesizer-ish effects (though from time to time they have to be in association with expression pedals). For example, you can use these pedals to create an awesome club-next-door effect. Sounds fantastic, doesn’t it? These truly astonishing pedals will come handy in all situations.
4. Modelling pedals: modelling pedals are nothing but an assembly of quite a few different EQ filters. They kindle the sound of other things such as traditional amplifiers. There are a number of manufacturers like Boss and Tech21 who manufacture pedals like Acoustic Stimulators and SansAmps and give you an absolutely amazing guitar experience. And they do have a range of options for tones, overdrive and other settings.
Buying single effect pedals and assembling them into signal chain is not the only option you have. Many manufacturers will offer you an all-in-one solution called a pedal board. These pedal boards consist of a few pedals that reside in a single powerhouse. These boards are you friends in need- obviously you need your single and dynamic pedal to fit your taste, but sometimes we do need a quick fix. That is why having a pedal board is essential to any guitarist.
Now that you know why you need guitar pedals and why wah pedals are different from straight equalizers, it is time to put that knowledge to some good use. All you need to do is to try a few pedals, find the perfect one for you, and play your heart out. Don’t just dive in; take your time and do your research. Remember the only way your guitar will make the sound of your dream is when it finds the perfect companion (e.g. guitar pedals). Nothing good will come out of a forced union. So do the best you can and be an awesome artist! It is only a matter of time before the world starts worshiping you, so take the first step today and make your guitar pedal sing.
Best of luck.
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