Killer guitar sounds? Maybe …

Guitar multi FX units are undoubtedly one of the best values for money tools available to guitar today. Even a cheap multi FX unit on eBay is home to some great sound effects to brighten up or add interest to play even more mediocre guitarist.

With so many different guitar sound effects available in the typical multi-FX unit is a great temptation to try to use as much as possible. Without But the temptation also destroy its credibility as an actor and leave your audience baffled. In fact, when dealing with multiple guitar FX, that old clichà © Less is more often may be quite true!

The solution? What you need for your basic sound right and go with them before add extra shine.

So what is meant by "basic sounds? Well actually there are only three and they are:

* Cleaning – Do you know how that sounds, crunchy chords and sparkling arpeggios.

* Mild Distortion / Overdrive – This can vary from mild disruption of a clean sound to a satisfying crunchy distortion.

* Heavy Distortion / Fuzz – The lead sound all for the blistering, Gibson Les Paul through a Marshall stack is turned all the way up to eleven!

(A little tip on distortion – do not be tempted to use too! What sounds great plugged into an amplifier small practice or headphones into your bedroom with indefinite frequency sound like mush when you crank up the volume concert.)

Anything above their basic sound, either in chorus, flanger, delay, or whatever, should be considered as an extra to be added to complement and enhance. The basic sound should not be sacrificed or altered in any way.

Listen to some of your favorite guitar players and try to establish how many different combinations of sound effect you are using — I guarantee you that however many there are (and probably less than you think) you will be sitting on top of a great basic sound.

So In conclusion, enjoy its many guitar FX and maximize the variety of sound effects available, but not sacrificing your guitar sound by the sake of the sound effects of the guitar.

Tony Williams is a musician, writer, and self-confessed eBay fanatic. He is the editor and webmaster of Muzick! – the irreverent rock music lexicon.

House on the guitar