The pedal that changed the game: How Guitar Pedals Helped to Revolutionize Music.
Guitar pedals have come a long way since their inception. Invented in the late 1940s, guitar pedals, or “stomp boxes”, were developed as a means for guitarists to control the volume and tone of their instruments. As technology improved, so did the capabilities of guitar pedals, which allowed guitarists to shape and distort their sounds more than ever before. Today, guitar pedals are used in countless styles of music, from rock to metal to hip hop and beyond.
Guitar pedals are essentially electronic devices that are connected between the guitar and amplifier. With the simple turning of knobs and pressing of switches, guitarists can manipulate the sound of their instrument. Many guitar pedals feature multiple controls as well, allowing guitarists to tailor their tone to their exact preference. Common controls found on guitar pedals are level, gain, tone, and frequency.
Guitar pedals have come a long way since their early days, with advances in technology allowing for more complex and nuanced sounds. Many boutique pedal makers have crafted pedals that offer more than just the traditional level and tone knobs. Delay and reverb pedals, for example, allow guitarists to add delay or reverb to their note-playing, adding an extra layer of depth to their sound.
Multi-effects pedals can also provide an array of effects, from distortion to flanger to modulation, all in one package. Notable multi-effect pedals from companies like Line 6 and Boss offer an array of effects, allowing guitarists to get creative with their sound.
Whether you’re a novice guitarist just starting out or a seasoned veteran looking for a new sound, guitar pedals have something to offer. From sacred tonal landscapes invoking Hendrix or the lush soundscapes of the dream pop shoegazer, guitar pedals can take your sound to the next level.
These days, pedal boards are in vogue, and with good reason. Storing all your pedals in a single, easy to manage rack allows you to quickly and easily jump between sounds on stage. With the vast array of electronics available today, the sky’s the limit when it comes to creating new and exciting sounds for your live performances.
At this level, one can begin to appreciate the leaps and bounds that guitar pedals have made in shaping the sounds of popular music. A classic tube-amp sound or the buzz of an overdriven crunch is all achievable, with a single pedal, with the right twist of a knob or switch.
The pedal that changed the game: How Guitar Pedals Helped to Revolutionize Music.