Instrument Effects

Change the way you play with instrument effects

Whether you’re playing an electric instrument or running an acoustic instrument through a mic, eventually you’ll start thinking about different effects to color up your sound.

Which instrument do you need to “effect”?

The most common instrument effects like wah, distortion, and delay (echo) are designed for electric guitars. Many guitar effects also work with electric bass, too.

Electric keyboards can benefit from a variety of effects, and specialized expression and sustain pedals like the Roland DP-10 may be essential for your sound.

Vocalists may want to invest in a multi-effects unit like the TC Electronic VoiceLive Touch 2.

Acoustic instruments running through a mic into a PA may not need any effects, but occasionally they can be a lot of fun. For instance, Miles Davis even sometimes played his trumpet through a wah pedal. In other words, don’t be afraid to experiment!

Home practice, recording, and live performances

Live performances are where your effects arsenal is most critical. You’ll use them in real-time and they’re typically lined up on a board. To get familiar with them, practicing at home is key. 

For recording on a home program like Garageband, you’ll already have many in-app effects that you can add after recording. But even for recording, you’ll occasionally need to use a real-time effect like wah or distortion.

Choose the right effect for the right music

Your musical preference will dictate which effects you gravitate towards. Metal always requires distortion/fuzz, whereas a solo folk gig may only require some light ambient modulations like reverb. If you’re unsure of what types of effects you’ll need, consider a digital multi-effects unit like the Boss MS-3. Find the perfect new sound to add to your set with effect pedals and accessories from Brands like Behringer, Fender, One Control and more.