Guitar Effects Pedals: the Effects and the Chain Order

Pedals shape your sound: from rock saturation to the space of reverb, to modulations that add movement. Knowing the main types and, above all, the right order in the chain makes a huge difference.

🎚️ Open the pedals lab (see and hear the effects)

The effect families

• Distortions: overdrive (soft and dynamic), distortion (aggressive and dense) and fuzz (extreme, almost a square wave).
• Time and space: delay (repeated echoes) and reverb (the tail of a room or hall).
• Modulations: chorus, phaser and flanger add thickness and movement.
• Utility: compressor, wah, octaver and looper.

Chain order matters

A typical order: Tuner → Wah → Compressor → Overdrive → Distortion → Chorus/Phaser/Flanger → Delay → Reverb. Distortions go before modulation; delay and reverb almost always last (or in the amp's FX loop).

The essential pedalboard

Four pedals cover 90% of situations: Tuner, Overdrive, Delay and Reverb. With these you can play blues, rock, pop, indie and most modern music.

▶ Try it free — build your pedalboard

Frequently asked questions

What is the correct pedal order?

Tuner → wah → compressor → overdrive → distortion → modulation → delay → reverb.

Overdrive vs distortion vs fuzz?

Overdrive soft and dynamic, distortion aggressive and compressed, fuzz extreme (almost a square wave).

Which pedals to start?

Tuner, overdrive, delay and reverb: they cover blues, rock, pop, indie and most modern music.

Delay before or after distortion?

Almost always after: before it gets muddy, after it stays clean and defined.