How do i explain effect pedals to someone who doesn't play guitar in a sentence?

[dem00n]

I'm mentioning it in this homework i have to do and i cant find a way to simply explain what a effect pedal does in non-guitarist terminology. ****.

You see if i say it like "It creates different sounds when you turn it on through an amplifier". They Arent going to know what those sounds are, its kinda of insufficient info but at the same time if i add more info they would be confused. Like saying what a Fuzz or OD pedal does, they would just be lost.

 

Wow, i dont know how all the words got bunched up, weird.

[Silenced Fred]

just say it affects and changes the sound of the guitar. i think they can understand that

[damian]

You-Tube.................

[dem00n]

just say it affects and changes the sound of the guitar. i think they can understand that

I guess so, ill give that a go. But if a teacher gives me points off your going down hipster!

[Kimbabig]

As GiantRobot put it, It's like havin a big box of sonic crayons. I don't know if they'll understand that.

[damian]

" Effects are like a box of chocolates....You never know what yer gonna get."

[Silenced Fred]

I guess so, ill give that a go. But if a teacher gives me points off your going down hipster!

 

"effect pedals are something really cool... but i doubt you've heard of em"

 

use that line, then you can call me hipster dem00ness...

[dem00n]

"effect pedals are something really cool... but i doubt you've heard of em"

 

use that line, then you can call me hipster dem00ness...

Nah, sounds to childish.

[dem00n]

" Effects are like a box of chocolates....You never know what yer gonna get."

So true. :unsure:

[Kimbabig]

Nah, sounds to childish.

 

Tell them "Your all whore" or tell them it's what guitarists stash their drugs in.

[dem00n]

Tell them "Your all whore" or tell them it's what guitarists stash their drugs in.

Think ill try that, see at least Kimbabig knows the right things.

[Silenced Fred]

Nah, sounds to childish.

 

but that's the hipster slogan!

[damian]

Explain it this way;

 

" You know when your Mom and Dad go into a room, lock the door for an hour, then come out smiling ?? That's what effects are like, and that's what they do. "

 

Um, why would someone play guitar IN a sentence ?????

[Dennis G]

Effects pedals are to guitars, what colors are to rainbows

[sneakerpimp]

talk like a wah-wah.

[Mr. Natural]

How about, "You step on 'em, and your guitar sounds different."?

[Morkolo]

Effects units are electronic devices that alter how a musical instrument or other audio source sounds.

 

Courtesy of Wikipedia.

[FirstMeasure]

I can't explain anything in one sentence. <_<

 

So tell them.....You see, the pick up generates a magnetic field, when the magnetic field is interrupted by the vibration of the metal strings, the frequency of the vibration travels through the conductive wires in the guitar and cable as a low volt electronic signals. These low watt electronic signals are what's picked up by the amplifier.

 

An analog pedal takes the signal and runs it through a series of transistors, resistors, diodes, capacitors and the like before it reaches the amplifier. Effecting the signal with gain if it acts like a preamp, delay, flange or chorus if if it act like a memory circuit. This is, of course, a layman's basic understanding of effects pedals and likely wrought with inaccuracies. I really don't know how a digital pedal works, but it must have a similar inner workings.

[damian]

How about, "You step on 'em, and your guitar sounds different."?

 

 

Good to see a post from you........... [thumbup] .....

[damian]

How about; " Effect units are those who can't find SLASHTONE "............ ...

[Dub-T-123]

Well son.. Effects pedals are kinda like this

[retrosurfer1959]

Just tell them they are electronic devices with two major purposes.

 

1. To alter the sound of an instrument when activated by the musician.

 

and secondly

 

2. To empty the pockets and wallets of guitar players before they can even save enough money to purchase a guitar or amp.

[Dub-T-123]

lol

 

that's pretty much spot on, retro. But of course anything you say about pedals is true because you have a **** overdrive.

[LarryUK]

Tell them they're like cake. You can love plain cake. But add ingredients (effects). Walnuts(wah) Jam(overdrive) Cream(chorus) Coffee(compressor) and you have a tastier cake. You add what you like or have it plain.

[Silenced Fred]

Well son.. Effects pedals are kinda like this

 

bring in this video. you will get an A or Aen will fight your teacher. true story

 

I'm in class, is that the one where Aen says "tweak my knobs"?