A variety of different sounds and effects can help you sound like a real rock star, as long as you set them up correctly.Whether you're getting started with a single pedal or chaining several pedals together, the right connection and order are important.If you want to chain several pedals together, you need to know what each pedal sounds like and how it affects the audio signal.You can figure out where to position each pedal once you know that.
Step 1: Purchase 2 instrument audio cables that are at least 10 feet long.
The pedals are connected to your guitar and amplifier.You should also get the cables when you buy your pedal.They don't come with the pedal, but you can buy them separately at the same place.Long cables give you room to move around with your guitar.A mono guitar rig requires only 1 set of 2 cables.For a total of 4 cables, you'll need pedals with stereo jacks and 2 sets of 2 cables.You only need 1 extra cable if your guitar is already connected.You can use the cable you used to connect your guitar to the amplifier, but you'll still need another cable for the pedal.
Step 2: The guitar rig needs to be turned off.
You don't have to turn off the power, but you do want it turned off.Loud pops and other feedback are prevented by this.If you try to connect a live circuit, you risk a short.If you have everything unplugged, it's a good idea to plug it in so you can make sure everything is turned off.When you turn everything back on, turn the volume down so you don't get blasted out of the room by mistake.
Step 3: You can use 1 cable to connect your pedal.
Put one end of the cable into the pedal's output jack, and the other in the input jack.If you want to use the pedal while you play, you need to stretch out the cable so that it can lie flat on the floor.If you have a stereo rig and stereo pedals, repeat the process with the second set of cables.
Step 4: Attach the other cable to the pedal.
If you want to connect your second cable to the output jack of your guitar, you have to put one end of it into the input jack.Make sure the pedal is at a comfortable position for you to reach while you're playing by testing your setup with everything still turned off.Do the same thing with your other cables.
Step 5: Then turn on the amplifier.
When you connect a new pedal, start at the beginning of the signal chain and go to the end.Make sure your pedal works correctly by playing a lick and testing it.When you power down, turn your amplifier off first, followed by your guitar.It's a good idea to take the battery out when you're not using your pedal so it doesn't get turned on by accident and drain your battery.
Step 6: 2 instrument audio cables and audio patch cables are required to connect each pedal.
To connect the first pedal in the chain to your guitar, you need longer instrument audio cables.Then, connect the pedals with patch cables.The cables are usually in packs of 3-6.The number of pedals is more important than the cable you need.If you have 3 pedals, you will need 2 patch cables.If you were using longer cables between your pedals, signal loss would occur.It's easier to organize your pedals with them.
Step 7: Put your pedals where you want them to go.
Make sure the input and output jacks are pointing in the same direction.All the input jacks and output jacks should be turned in the direction of the amplifier.Make sure you have enough by placing a patch cable between the pedals.You'll need a longer cable to connect your pedals to your guitar and amplifier.
Step 8: You should get aisy chain power supply for your pedals.
Most guitar pedals have a 9-volt battery inside, but this can be cumbersome and expensive to keep up with, and you don't want a battery to die in the middle of a gig.You can get a daisy chain power supply at any music or guitar shop.Make sure the connections on the power supply are compatible with the pedals you plan to use.Most models list their pedals online or on the package.Make sure your pedals are under the maximum power output of the daisy chain power supply by totaling the electrical current requirements.If you don't do that, you'll burn out your power supply.If you had 2 200mA pedals, you could run them both on the same power supply.If you wanted to add a third 200mA pedal, you'd need a power supply with a higher maximum output.
Step 9: All of your electronics need to be turned off.
Make sure everything in your guitar rig is turned off and set the volume to low by checking the switches.If it's turned off, you can leave anything connected to power.Plug it in so you can test the volume, then turn it off.
Step 10: Plug the pedals into the power supply with patch cables.
Plug the patch cable into the output jack of the pedal you want to use and then connect the other end to the input jack.Continue until you have connected all of your pedals.
Step 11: The last pedal should be plugged into the amplifier.
Plug one of the longer cables into the input jack on your first pedal and the other into your guitar.Plug one end of the cable into the output jack on the last pedal in your chain.You should be good to go if you plug the other end into the input jack.
Step 12: It's time to start with your guitar.
Go down the line and turn on your pedals.Make sure the volume is as low as possible, then turn on your amplifier.If you want to make sure your pedals are working correctly, play a song on your guitar and test them.Try using 2 or 3 pedals at the same time to see if you need to change the order of the pedals.Before you change the order, turn everything off.
Step 13: The first thing to do is put the pedal in the chain.
To keep your guitar in tune, you need the raw sound from your instrument.If you want to connect directly to your guitar, it should go first in your chain.It won't tune your guitar if you put it after another pedal.If you're not using your tuner pedal, put it in bypass mode so your signal isn't traveling through it.
Step 14: After your tuner, place dynamic pedals, such as a noise gate.
When you get the raw audio signal from your guitar, noise gate and compressor pedals work best.They will help you clean up your signal.Put them on the side that outputs.Right before your time-based pedals, you can experiment with putting the pedals next-to-last in your chain.Volume swells get delayed or echoed by that order.
Step 15: After the dynamic pedals, line up the filter or shift pedals.
The first of these pedals is usually the EQ pedal, which adjusts your tone so you can get the most out of any effects further down the chain.If you don't have any dynamic pedals, you can set it on the output side.You could put an auto-wah, harmonizer, or octave pedal after that.If you want to use distortion, overdrive, fuzz, and other pedals that require a high gain, you can play around and decide what works best for you.
Step 16: There should be pedals at the end of the chain.
If you want to change the volume of your signal, Choruses, flangers, and phasers are the best pedals to use.The sound can lose its definition if you change the signal and distort it.If your amplifier has an effects loop, you can plug your pedal directly into it rather than chaining it with your other pedals.The sound will be cleaner.If you have more than one, they don't have to be in a particular order.They won't impact your signal if you only use one at a time.
Step 17: Use time-based effects pedals to end your signal chain.
When the last pedals in the chain affect the signal, time-based pedals work best.You can either repeat or delay the sound you've made.The other pedals can't figure out what sound to interact with so layer other effects over top of a delay.The last thing you want your signal to hit is a built-in reverb.If you don't have a built-in reverb, make the last pedal in your chain replicate the effect.
Step 18: If you want your loop to sound different, place your pedal in a different position.
It comes down to what you want to record in the loop.If you want to play over a finished loop with distortion or other effects already added, you would need a looper pedal at the end of your chain.If you wanted to modify the loop as you played it, you would want it before any of the effects.When you use the looper pedal, it records the sound coming from your guitar and the effects that come before it on the chain.
Step 19: You can find the sound you like by playing around with the basic order.
The order of guitar pedals is related to both science and art.It's up to how you like your guitar to sound.Different guitarists swear by different orders.If you're curious about experimenting with the order of your pedals but don't know where to start, look up the pedal orders used by a few guitarists you like and try them on for size.