Choosing your pedals  

When setting up your pedalboard, signal chain order is crucial for perfecting your tone. There are no strict rules but there is a logical sequence can help maintain clarity and avoid unwanted noise.  

Below, we’ll explore different pedal types, some recommended pedal positions, and some top pedal contenders to fill the gaps. 

Pedalboard recommendations

Before you start ordering your pedals, you need a suitable, sturdy pedalboard. Something like the Palmer Pedalbay 40 is perfect. It has pre-applied Velcro strips and elastic straps underneath that allow you to easily and tidily mount your power supplies. Plus, the included carry case is very convenient!

Another option is the Gator GPT-PRO, a durable tolex-covered plywood board that also comes with a protective bag, a Velcro attachment for securing your pedals, and access holes for cable routing.  

Guitar pedal order  

To put it simply 

Setting up your pedalboard might seem complex, but the basics are easy to grasp. Essentially, your effects chain starts with your guitar and ends with your amp. Pedals are connected in a linear chain using patch cables, ensuring your signal flows smoothly. 

One key thing to remember is that pedalboards run right to left, meaning your guitar plugs into the rightmost pedal, and the signal flows left towards the amp. 

If you learn anything about pedalboard basics, let it be this:

Drive > Modulation > Time-based effects

This is the most basic guitar pedal order that you should remember. It ensures that your modulation pedals, whether that be chorus, phaser, or flanger, process a fuller tone and are topped off by natural ambient sound at the end. When you play in any natural setting, such as a grand concert halls or local pubs, reverb and delay naturally come last, so it makes sense for any time effects to go at the end of your chain!  

More specifically, for a simple and effective setup, use this order:  

Guitar > Tuner > Utility > Wah > Pitch > Drive > Modulation > Time-based effects > Amplifier 

When you’re actually playing, your pedalboard order will run in the other direction due to the nature of input and output placement on your guitar and pedals. So, it’ll look more like this: 

Amplifier > Time based effects > Modulation > Drive > Pitch > Wah > Utility > Tuner > Guitar 

This setup ensures a smooth-flowing signal that makes the most sense when you’re finding your feet in the world of pedals. However, sometimes you want your sound to be anything but sensical. Once you know the rules, you’ll know how to break them and create a tone that’s unique to you. 

Standard setup  

Here’s a standard pedalboard setup, pictured below with the Gator GPT-PRO, that gives you a basic overview of a well-rounded pedal chain.  

Behringer TU300 Chromatic Tuner  > JHS Pedals Whitey Tighty Mini Compressor > TC Electronic Zeus Drive Overdrive > Walrus Audio Julia V2 Chorus/Vibrato > Universal Audio UAFX Evermore Studio Reverb Pedal > SubZero Public Transport Delay Pedal  

 The Behringer TU300 Chromatic Tuner takes the first spot on the board. A tuner needs an unprocessed, clean signal to function accurately. Placing it at the very beginning ensures that your guitar’s natural tone is tracked without interference from effects like distortion or modulation. 

Next in line is the JHS Whitey Tighty Mini Compressor. Compression helps to even out volume inconsistencies, making soft notes louder and loud notes softer. It also enhances sustain, allowing notes to ring out longer. Placing the compressor before overdrive ensures that your drive pedals receive a balanced and controlled signal. 

The TC Electronic Zeus Drive Overdrive sits right after the compressor. This low-gain Klon-style overdrive provides warm, dynamic saturation without completely overpowering the natural character of your guitar. Running overdrive before modulation preserves its harmonic richness, ensuring that effects like chorus and vibrato don’t interfere with the drive’s natural responsiveness. 

The Walrus Audio Julia V2 Chorus/Vibrato takes the fourth spot. Modulation effects like chorus and vibrato work best after gain-based effects, as they add movement and depth to an already-shaped tone. If placed before overdrive, modulation can sound muddy or lose definition when driven too hard. By keeping it after gain, the modulation stays clear and distinct.

The Universal Audio UAFX Evermore Studio Reverb follows the modulation stage. Reverb creates a sense of space by simulating room, hall, or plate reflections. Placing it before delay allows the natural ambience to blend with the signal before being repeated by the delay, keeping the overall sound open and controlled.

At the very end of the chain is the SubZero Public Transport Delay Pedal. Delay captures and repeats everything before it, adding depth, rhythm, and atmosphere. By positioning it at the very end, it ensures that each effect is heard clearly in the mix.

An alternative

This experimental Hendrix-inspired signal chain brings classic fuzz-driven tones with deep modulation and spacious reverb while adding a few modern twists for that extra kick of fuzz.

Mooer Baby Tuner Pedal > Digitech Whammy Ricochet Guitar Effects Pedal > TC Electronic Honey Pot Fuzz Pedal > Strymon Ultraviolet Vintage UniVibe Pedal > SubZero Slick Lick Vintage Overdrive Pedal > Universal Audio UAFX Heavenly Plate Reverb Pedal 

The Mooer Baby Tuner ensures a clean start, followed by the DigiTech Whammy Ricochet, which allows for quick pitch shifts and dive bombs. The TC Electronic Honey Pot Fuzz delivers thick, saturated grit, while the Strymon Ultraviolet UniVibe introduces that signature swirling, phaser movement – essential for vintage psychedelic tones.  

Unlike the previous setup, this chain places the SubZero Slick Lick Overdrive after the fuzz. You can either smooth out the fuzz’s aggression or boost it even further, becoming a true master of fuzz! The Universal Audio UAFX Heavenly Plate Reverb at the end creates expansive, ambient textures, perfect for dreamy, spaced-out leads. 

This setup differs from the previous chain by adding an overdrive post-fuzz, offering better gain control and boosting the back end of the fuzz. The plate reverb offers a more ethereal, vintage vibe, perfect for capturing those dreamy psychedelic Hendrix tones every guitarist has chased at least once! 

FX loop  

An FX loop lets you place effects between the preamp and power amp of your amp. This keeps time-based and modulation effects sounding clean, rather than being muddied by preamp distortion. 

Pedals that work best in the FX loop include EQ and volume pedals, which adjust the preamp’s signal before it hits the power amp. Modulation effects like chorus, phaser, and flanger sound clearer after distortion. Delay and reverb should be last in the loop to keep their echoes and ambience intact. 

Some pedals should stay in front of the amp, shaping your sound before the preamp. This includes overdrive, distortion, fuzz, wah, compressors, and pitch shifters – these pedals all interact best with your raw guitar signal. 

A typical setup would have gain pedals before the amp, while EQ, modulation, delay, and reverb sit in the FX loop. This ensures your effects sound balanced and maintain clarity.  

Remember, it’s your guitar pedal order  

Setting up your pedalboard is all about experimentation. The vast range of effects and guitar pedals out there makes tonal exploration unavoidable. Whether you want to sculpt your own unique tone, match your sound to a particular genre, or chase the tone of your favourite artist, it’s your pedal order to be played with!  

The combination of pedals on your board can shape your tone in endless ways, from modern experimental ambience to classic rock. A basic rock setup might include an overdrive or distortion pedal for grit, a chorus for added depth, and a delay to thicken solos.  

Blues players often prefer a boost or tube screamer-style overdrive, paired with a touch of reverb to enhance sustain and warmth. For heavier tones, stacking high-gain distortion or fuzz with a noise gate can create crushing, controlled aggression. 

For more ambient or experimental sounds, a reverb and delay combo can create lush, atmospheric textures. Adding a modulation pedal like phaser, flanger, or vibrato introduces movement, making the sound feel more dynamic and multi-textured.  

Pairing pitch shifters or harmonisers with a loop pedal can produce layered, otherworldly soundscapes. Even subtle changes – like swapping a digital delay for an analog one – can drastically alter the character of your tone. Playing around with different pedal orders is what it’s all about.

FAQs  

What pedal should every guitarist have?

Every guitarist’s pedalboard should feature an overdrive, fuzz, or distortion pedal. These effects massively spruce up your tone, adding an extra kick, a fuzz-laden texture, or a growling distortion that’ll give you plenty to mess around with. What’s more, these pedals cover pretty much any genre, from overdriven hard rock and metal to warm blues tones.

Do beginner guitarists need pedals?

While beginner guitarists don’t need pedals, they might find that mixing up their tone and setup keeps them inspired, creative, and motivated to keep learning. Experimenting with different effects gives you tonnes of tonal potential to explore, whether you’re looking to replicate your favourite artists or create your own unique sound, there are no limits when it comes to the world of guitar pedals.

Should I put overdrive or fuzz pedals first?  

You should place a fuzz pedal in front of an overdrive pedal as it lets you dial in a more ‘usable’ sound. It’s best to send direct unbuffered signals into your fuzz pedal. The overdrive pedal serves to even out the aggressive edges of the fuzz while adding a degree of warmth and sustain to your tone.  

Final thoughts  

Guitar pedal order plays a crucial role in shaping your tone, but there’s no single ‘right’ way to arrange your pedals. When in doubt, follow the standard setup: tuner, dynamics, gain, modulation, and time-based effects. And don’t be afraid to experiment with unconventional placements!

Whether you’re chasing classic tones of artists like Jimi Hendrix, building a pro-level rig, or crafting a unique sound, your pedalboard is your playground. Understanding how pedals interact lets you tweak and refine your setup to suit your playing style.  

It’s all well and good knowing about different pedal orders, but what about actually setting up your pedal board? You can find a complete guide to guitar pedals that covers everything from powering up to plugging in.  

If you already know the basics about guitar pedals and want to dive into some of the best on the market today, our article on the 15 best reverb pedals features some pedals you’re going to want to take a look at!  

Remember, at the end of the day, your guitar pedal order should serve your sound and creativity. So, plug in, experiment, and find what works best for you!