What are guitar modulation pedals, and why do you need them in your signal chain? From lush choruses to swirling flangers, find out how you can transform your tone with these clever pedals.
Ultimate Guide To Modulation Pedals
What are modulation pedals?
So, you’ve picked up the electric guitar of your dreams and paired it with a growling valve amp that’s powerful enough to rattle the mortar from your walls. You’ve gone through all the settings on your amp head, but you just can’t get your guitar to sound like those classic tones on your favourite records, like Eddie Van Halen’s famous ‘Brown Sound’, or those unmistakably Pink Floydian lead tones. It sounds like you need some guitar modulation pedals! But before we go too far, there’s one question we need to answer: what is a guitar modulation pedal?
They come in a wide range of varieties, each with different effects, but all modulation pedals are designed to do one thing: modify your guitar signal and create an interesting sound that you can’t achieve with guitar and amp alone. A modulation pedal could alter anything from pitch to timing to amplitude. But whether your pedal adds movement, interesting textures, or simply a broader range of tones, the general goal is to give you some extra sounds in your sonic toolbox to spark your creativity.
In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at all the most popular types of guitar modulation pedals, explaining what they do and how they do it - and why they’re must-haves for all guitar players!
Chorus Pedals
Let’s kick off our guide with what might just be the most popular modulation pedal of all – the chorus pedal. These nifty creations have one job: add richness and shimmer to your sound. They do this by duplicating your guitar signal and slightly detuning or delaying the copy. This almost creates the illusion of multiple instruments playing the same part, resulting in a lush, spacious tone that, depending on how you dial it in, ranges anywhere from sparkling and clean to dark and warbly.
The chorus pedal was a particularly big deal in the 80s. The classic clean chorus sound - think The Police or early Prince - is crisp, wide, and unmistakably retro. But don’t think that the chorus pedal went out of style with parachute pants! The effect played a huge role in grunge and post-punk, bringing a watery, slightly eerie quality to distorted tones. Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain was a huge fan of chorus, often using it in melodic passages. The pedal has even made plenty of appearances in metal, with heavier users including the likes of Pantera’s Dimebag Darrell and Type O Negative – on guitar AND bass!
Whatever genre you trade in, if you want to thicken up your clean parts or add movement to a solo, chorus is the classic go-to pedal.
wHAT'S THE BEST CHORUS PEDAL?
There’s no one-size-fits-all best chorus effects pedal - some players want maximum sparkle and stereo width, while others aim for a lo-fi wobble or a straightforward, no-fuss tone. But whatever chorus style you’re after, here’s a few brands worth exploring:
Flanger Pedals
If you’ve ever listened to a riff and thought, “How did they make that guitar sound like a jet plane swooping through the track?”, you’ve probably just heard a flanger pedal kick in! Bold, brash, and unmistakably dramatic, the flanger effect is created by mixing your guitar’s original signal with a slightly delayed copy. That delay is then modulated in varying amounts with a low-frequency oscillation (LFO), sweeping up and down to create a series of peaks and notches in the frequency response. The result? A signature whooshing and swirling sound that’s something like a chorus pedal on steroids, with a metallic edge and a spacier feel!
The flanger pedal has a pretty well-established presence in the world of music, particularly in rock and alternative genres. It crops up in plenty of places, from David Gilmour’s solos to the angular-yet-shoegazey post-punk vibes of The Cure. You’ll even find textbook flanger examples in classic metal, like Eddie Van Halen’s iconic use of the pedal to supercharge his riffs.
If you’re trying to find a way to add a sense of movement, sonically speaking, then a flanger pedal could be just what you’re looking for. They’re great for psychedelic textures, sci-fi ambience, or even pushing your solos into soaring, otherworldly territory. And when you pair one with distortion or overdrive, the end result can be completely over-the-top - in the best possible sense!
wHAT'S THE BEST Flanger PEDAL?
As a long-time favourite modulation effect, there’s plenty of flanger pedals out there to choose from, but a few brands consistently stand out, including:
Phaser Pedals
Originally just another term for the popular flange effect, phasers actually have a long and storied history. Coming from humble beginnings in the 1960s, early versions of phaser pedals from Eventide and Shin-ei were quickly adopted by some of the biggest players of the time, including the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and Robin Trower. And as the popularity of these players grew, so too did demand for the exciting new phaser pedal.
Building on the sound of flangers, a phaser pedal takes your guitar’s dry signal and blends it with a modulated copy that has peaks and troughs right through its frequency spectrum, courtesy of a built-in all-pass filter. Using the pedal’s LFO, you can change the rate and depth of that filtering, causing the two guitar signals to match, then unmatch, then match, over and over again.
These shifts, or ‘phases’, result in a gentle swirling, sweeping, almost hypnotic sound that adds real movement and colour without completely overwhelming your tone. Unlike the decidedly bolder and more metallic flanger, phasers tend to offer up a smoother, more subtle effect – which makes them a great choice for everything from rhythm parts to lead embellishments, and even spacey clean tones.
Over the years, phaser pedals have been an absolute staple of funk, psychedelia, shoegaze, and even classic rock. The effect crops up everywhere, from the smooth and subtle pulses behind Jimi Hendrix’s solos to the dreamy textures in Billy Corgan’s work with Smashing Pumpkins. So, whether you’re looking to add a little depth to your ambient layers, or you really want to funk things up, a phaser pedal could be just the ticket.
wHAT'S THE BEST Phaser PEDAL?
When it comes to phaser pedals, there’s tonnes of great options to explore, but here’s some well-established brands that are ahead of the curve:
Tremolo Pedals
Tremolo is one of the oldest guitar effects, but don’t let its age fool you. This rhythmic, volume-based modulation goes all the way back to early Fender amps, creating a pulsing or stuttering effect that runs the gamut from subtle vintage sway right up to full-on, helicopter-blade chops. No matter whether you need a soft, shimmering wobble or a dramatic, strobe-like tremble, a tremolo pedal is sure to bring plenty of dynamic movement to your playing.
You’ll hear the classic tremolo effect all over early rock ‘n’ roll, surf, and spaghetti western soundtracks, but it remains a popular option for adding texture to more modern music too. From the shimmering jangles of Johnny Marr and The Edge to the gothic pulses of Bauhaus’s Daniel Ash, the tremolo pedal is at home in a wide range of genres. That said, it pairs fabulously well with reverb and delay, so it’s a particular favourite for ambient and post-rock players.
wHAT'S THE BEST Tremolo PEDAL?
The best tremolo pedal for you really depends on how vintage or experimental you want to take your tone, but here are a few standouts you might want to consider:
Vibrato Pedals
It’s easy to mistake vibrato pedals for just another type of tremolo pedal, but they’re actually an altogether different beast. You see, while tremolos modulate volume, vibratos modulate pitch, creating a wobbling, warbly sound that can leave your guitar signal sounding beautifully vintage, eerily surreal, or even a little seasick in an oddly pleasing way! At subtle settings, it’ll add a gentle, woozy charm. But crank that pedal up, and you’re in full-on warped vinyl or tape meltdown territory.
You can use a vibrato pedal to add character to clean tones or to make overdriven riffs sound like they’re melting in front of your eyes (or ears!). Jack White uses one to inject grit and weirdness into his lo-fi garage rock sound, while Kevin Shields made vibrato an essential element of My Bloody Valentine’s shoegaze wall of sound. You can even find the effect in early blues, where players employed it to add a touch of emotional expression.
Vibrato is one of the less common types of guitar modulation pedals, but that just means it’s perfect for players looking to stand out from the crowd. It's great for ambient music, psych-rock, lo-fi, or even just adding a unique twist to an otherwise standard tone.
wHAT'S THE BEST Vibrato PEDAL?
Vibrato pedals come in plenty of flavours, from classic and subtle to experimental and wild. Here are some of the top brands to explore:
Uni-Vibe Pedals
Uni-Vibe pedals are another type of guitar modulation pedal that has a slightly off-beat history. The pedal dates back to the 1960s, and depending on who you believe, the original idea was either to mimic the swirling sounds of a rotary speaker, or radio signals that are undergoing atmospheric modulation! But whichever story is true, in no time at all, the effect proved so popular that players started vibing with the Uni-Vibe in its own right.
Combining elements of chorus and vibrato, the Uni-Vibe – another pedal first introduced to the world by Shin-ei, carved out a sonic identity all its own; thick, swooshy, and utterly hypnotic.
With its rich and warm pulsating modulations, the Uni-Vibe soon found a home in the hands of legends. Jimi Hendrix used it to iconic effect at Woodstock, laying down trippy textures in “Machine Gun” and “Star-Spangled Banner”. Robin Trower practically built his signature sound on it, and David Gilmour often used one to add spacey movement to his lead tones, perhaps most notably on The Dark Side of the Moon, in the song “Breathe”. So, whether you're trying to channel the vibes of late-'60s psychedelia or add colour to modern ambient playing, the Uni-Vibe could just bring the vintage magic you’re looking for.
wHAT'S THE BEST Uni-Vibe PEDAL?
Finding the right Uni-Vibe depends on whether you’re chasing authenticity, affordability, or creative tweakability. But whatever sound you’re chasing, here are some brands that offer an excellent take on the classic effect:
Rotary Pedals
If you’re trying to replicate the lush, swirling sound of a Leslie rotating speaker cabinet, a rotary pedal is what you need. The sound has long been a staple of vintage organ rigs, but it didn’t take long for guitarists to discover the magic of this effect. Blending amplitude modulation with subtle pitch shifts, rotary pedals create a rich, almost 3D movement for a dynamic modulation that feels alive and constantly evolving.
Creating that unmistakable gospel-style organ swirl or ambient shimmer, rotary effects pedals are the perfect way to add depth and expression to your clean tones, or a haunting character to solos. As with many of the guitar modulation pedals in this list, rotary pedals are another tool that Pink Floyd were fans of, using the effect in atmospheric passages. But they weren’t alone – the likes of Jeff Beck, The Arctic Monkeys, and plenty of jazz fusion players, also tapped into the rotary’s expressive, vocal-like movement.
Whether you're chasing vintage psychedelia or building lush soundscapes, rotary pedals can transform your tone into something truly immersive.
wHAT'S THE BEST Rotary PEDAL?
If you want to add some vintage psychedelia to your sound or build lush, immersive soundscapes, rotary pedals are your go-to choice. The right pedal for you depends on how close you want to get to the original effect – and how much space you want to sacrifice on your pedalboard! Key brands to check out include:
Ring Modulation Pedals
Ring modulation pedals are the mad scientists of the modulation world! Instead of traditional pitch or volume-based modulation, these pedals multiply your guitar signal with a carrier frequency, creating entirely new waveforms. The result is not for the faint-hearted - clanging, metallic, often dissonant tones that sound like your amp has just developed sentience!
Ring modulation probably won’t be appearing in a chart-topping pop hit anytime soon. But in the right hands, and if you care more about pushing the envelope than maxing out your monthly listeners, ring modulation is a powerful tool for uncompromising sonic experimentation. Think Tom Morello’s sci-fi guitar sounds, the weird textures Radiohead weave into their ambient layers, or the pure industrial grit of Nine Inch Nails.
Whether you want to add some glitchy accents to a track or want to take a walk into full audio meltdown, this effect is a great way to go when you’re ready to take your sound into territories unknown. Used subtly, it will add an eerie undertone. Go bold and it becomes a full-blown musical statement in its own right.
wHAT'S THE BEST Ring Modulation PEDAL?
With so many different ways to take the effect, not all ring modulators are created equal - some offer deep control over carrier frequency and modulation rate, while others lean into the chaos and unpredictability. Whichever way you want to take it, here’s some brands you should check out:
Multi-FX Pedals
Do you love the idea of guitar modulation pedals but can’t decide which ones to pick? Or maybe you’re quickly running out of space in your pedalboard? Then you need to check out multi-FX modulation pedals! These clever devices take a bunch of modulation effects – including the likes of chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo, rotary, and more – and pack them all into one nifty little pedal. Sounds pretty perfect, right?
Multi-FX pedals are a great choice for any guitarist who’s desperately seeking versatility. If you need a minimalist, travel-friendly rig, you’re still trying to find your signature sound, or you just change the genre you play more often than you change your underwear, then you won’t be disappointed! From ambient soundscapes to that classic rock shimmer, a good multi-FX pedal can cover it all. And because you can explore a wide range of sounds without shelling out for multiple units, they’re also a great entry point if you’re looking for beginner guitar effects.
Some multi-effects units focus solely on modulation, while others (like larger multi-effects processors) include modulation as part of a wider suite, alongside things like delay, reverb, and even amplifier modelling and cab simulations. But whichever unit you pick, you’re sure to find a tonne of lush, dramatic, quirky, and experimental tones – and without all those patch cables and potential power issues!
wHAT'S THE BEST Multi-FX Modulation PEDAL?
Guitar Modulation Pedals: FAQs
Chorus vs. flanger vs. phaser – what’s the difference?
All three effects pedals create movement and texture, but they do it in different ways. Chorus layers your tone with slight delays and detuning to your signal for a smooth, shimmery sound. Flanger mixes your dry signal with a very slightly delayed copy to create a dramatic, swooshing, jet-engine sort of sound. Phaser creates a copy of your signal and makes changes along the frequency spectrum, playing both signals back at different rates to cause your signal’s phase to shift.
Do tremolo pedals, flangers, and phasers do the same thing?
Not quite. They’re all modulation effects, but what they modulate differs. Tremolos play with your volume, while flangers and phasers alter the phase of your audio signal in different ways.
Where do modulation pedals go in my signal chain?
Depending on the effect you’re trying to achieve, and how experimental you want to get, there can be quite a lot of freedom in where you stick your effects. But generally speaking, it’s best to put modulation pedals after your overdrive or distortion to keep the effects clear and well-defined. That said, it’s always worth experimenting with things to find what best fits the sound you’re going for!
What’s the difference between analogue modulation pedals and digital modulation pedals?
Analogue effects pedals use old-school circuitry to create their effects, whereas digital pedals use digital signal processing to simulate analogue modulation. Digital pedals tend to have more control, more presets, and stereo output, while analogue pedals offer a warmer, more vintage feel.
What’s the difference between modulation vs. time-based effects?
Modulation effects mess around with things like pitch, volume, or phase in your signal. Time-based effects, on the other hand, concern themselves with reverb and delay, repeating or echoing your signal over time. Blend the two well and they’ll go together like wine and cheese!
How much do modulation pedals cost?
The price of a guitar modulation pedal depends on a few things, including the type of effect you’re looking at buying, the manufacturer, and the number of advanced features or expanded controls you want. With that in mind, you can pay anywhere from £30 – £40 for a straightforward entry-level unit, and anywhere up to £400 for a boutique or complicated multi-effects pedal.
Are guitar modulation pedals good for beginners?
They certainly are. When you’re just starting out, it’s important to focus on the core elements of learning your instrument and figuring out how to get the tone you want from your amp. But guitar modulation pedals are a great way to get creative and explore new sounds, helping you to expand your learning and keep things fun.
What modulation pedal should I get first?
That’s a tricky one – they’re all pretty fun! If you’re looking for an accessible starting point to help nail those classic tones from your favourite records, then you’ll want to look into picking up a chorus or phaser pedal – they’re versatile, widely used, and pretty easy to dial in and get started with quickly. But if you’re looking into a few different modulation pedals, it might be worth starting out with a multi-effects pedal so you can try out plenty of different effects.
Can I use a modulation pedal on bass, synths, or vocals?
You definitely can! Modulation pedals sound fantastic on all sorts of instruments, unlocking sounds you’ve never even dreamed of. Just make sure your pedal can handle your signal level before you hook everything up and be ready to get tweaky - you might need to spend some time twiddling knobs to find a sound that works for your instrument.
In Conclusion
Whether it's wavy chorus, classic trem, or mind-boggling ring mod you're after, we hope you found this all-in-one guide to modulation pedals useful. Now go forth and modulate to your heart's content! While you're here, have some useful links: