Which 5 guitar effects are the best starters for the electric guitarist?

Which 5 guitar effects are the best starters for the electric guitarist?

Guitar effects offer a wide range of tonal variations, from subtle tonal differences to dramatic changes. If you’re just starting out with electric guitar, an effect can inspire you to experiment with sounds and even develop your own unique style. Using effects also helps guitarists develop their ear and learn how different sounds can work together in a musical context. It has an indirect impact on their control over their instrument and helps them develop a better understanding of tone formation. Many iconic guitarists are known for their use of specific effects. By working with these effects themselves, beginners can connect with their role models and be inspired to improve their own skills. Below, I’ll list the 5 most commonly used guitar effects for you, which can be used in combination or separately. I’ll explain their precise effect on the pure signal of the guitar and also list some examples of songs in which they are abundantly present. Want to learn how to use guitar effects effectively or are you looking for guidance to take your first steps in playing electric guitar? Then consider taking electric guitar lessons with me and discover what suits your style and ambitions.

Overdrive

Each amplifier has a gain knob that controls the volume of the signal entering the preamp. When you turn this gain knob more, power or drive is added to the clean signal that is then further processed and ends up in the final amplification. The overdrive effect exactly simulates the sound of a tube amplifier with the gain turned up. This creates a slightly distorted signal with a typical warm, gritty tone. The effect is often used to make the sound fuller and more aggressive, without the harsh, raw sound distortion. Overdrive responds dynamically to the guitarist's attack: when playing softly, the guitar sounds clean, while harder attacks produce more distortion. It is an indispensable effect for classic rock, many blues styles and other genres where an organic, expressive sound is desired.

Well-known pedals: Ibanez Tube Screamer or the Boss SD-1 super overdrive.

Examples: Pride and Joy (Stevie Ray Vaughan), Sunshine of Your Love (Cream), La Grange (ZZ Top), Layla (Eric Clapton), Don't Look Back in Anger (Oasis), Lonely Boy (The Black Keys)

Distortion

The distortion guitar effect boosts the guitar signal to a level where it distorts very strongly, creating a heavy, aggressive sound with a sharp, growling tone. Unlike overdrive, distortion provides a consistent, powerful distorted sound no matter how hard or soft the guitarist plays. The effect cuts the waveform of the signal, making the sound more compressed and saturated. Distortion is often used in rock, metal, and punk to add an unparalleled power and energy to the sound.

Well-known pedals: Boss DS-1 and MXR Super Badass Distortion.

Examples: Technical Difficulties (Racer X), Sindrom (The Kovenant), Tornado of Souls (Megadeth), Only for the Weak (In Flames), Enter Sandman (Metallica), Still Counting (Volbeat), Out On Patrol (The Offspring), Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana).

Reverb

Reverb simulates the natural reverberation created when sound bounces around a space, such as a room, hall, or concert hall. Adding reverb to a guitar sound gives it a sense of depth and space, making it less dry or direct. It is very commonly used to create a warmer, fuller sound, both in solos and rhythm playing. Most reverb pedals offer a variety of different tonal textures, from subtle, natural ambience to deep, dreamy echoes. The effect creates a more atmospheric and enveloping tone and is, due to its popularity, built into many guitar amplifiers as a standard feature. It has been proven time and time again that once you have tasted the reverb drug, it is difficult to make a return to the straight and narrow path of clean sound. Lucky you...

Well-known pedals: TC Electronic Hall of Fame and the Nano Holy Grail.

Examples: Hallowed be thy Name (Iron Maiden), Painkiller (Judas Priest), With or Without You (U2), A Forest (The Cure), Apache (The Shadows)

Delay

The delay guitar effect repeats the sound played with a time delay, creating echoes that are played at a certain distance from the original. This again creates a spatial and layered sound, varying from subtle echoes to complex rhythmic patterns, depending on the length and number of repetitions. Delay is often also placed after reverb. It is important to know that in addition to analog delay pedals, which imitate a more natural echo by using connected capacitors, there are also digital delays. These do not have the organic warm sound of an analog delay, but due to the digital processing of the original signal, they can generate crystal clear and accurate repetitions with longer time intervals. The additional functionalities are often more extensive with, for example, tap tempo and modulation.

Well-known pedals: Boss DD-3 (digital) and MXR Carbon Copy (analog).

Examples: Message in a Bottle (The Police), Eruption (Van Halen), Echo Etude (Yngwie Malmsteen), Purple Rain (Prince), Plug In Baby (Muse), Cliffs of Dover (Eric Johnson), Marooned (Pink Floyd)

Chorus

Chorus duplicates the original signal and shifts the pitch and timing of the duplicates slightly, making it sound as if multiple guitars are playing at once. This creates a full, expansive, and floating sound, similar to a choir of instruments playing together. The result is a warm, rich texture that gives the guitar sound a grander, more powerful character. It is very commonly used to add subtle movement or depth to the original sound, without completely losing the immediacy of the signal. The effect is especially popular in genres such as pop, rock, and jazz.

Well-known pedals: Boss Super Chorus CH-1 and MXR M234 Analog Chorus.

Examples: Pretty Pimpin' (Kurt Vile), Under the Bridge (RHCP), Come As You Are (Nirvana), Windowpane (Opeth), Cemetary Gates (Pantera), Cause We've Ended As Lovers (Jeff Beck)

Ben Boeckx

Article updated on April 30, 2025