There are so many guitar effects pedals on the market and it is hard to know what the difference is between them. It has been difficult to find agreement on how to classify effects pedals.

There are six common classifications: Dynamics, time based, tone, filter, pitch/frequency, and feedback/sustain. This article will focus on the time based and filter Classifications.

Time Based Classification

Time Based includes: Delay/Echo, Looper Pedal, and Reverb.

"Delay/Echo units produce an echo effect by adding a duplicate electrical signal to the original signal with a time-delay." (1) There are 2 types of echos with this effect. One is a single echo or multiple echos. If you've ever listened to music in a large cathedral or sang in a large cave, this is what delay/echo effects sound like.

Examples of Delay/Echo pedals: Dunlop MXR Carbon Copy, BOSS DM-2 Delay, BOSS DD-3 Digital Delay, Electro-Harmonix Memory Man., BOSS Space Echo Twin Pedal.

Looper Pedal or "phrase pedal" allows a performer to record and later replay a phrase or passage from a song. Loops can be created to use right at the time of your performance or recorded to play later. Some types allow you to layer multiple loops. Digital loop effects use an electronic memory.

Examples of Looper Effects: BOSS RC20XL Loop Station Pedal, Radial Engineering's Loopbone FX Loop Controller

Reverb units create a large number of echoes that gradually fade.

Reverb Effect Examples: Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail, BOSS Digital Reverb

Filter Classification

Filter includes De-Esser, Equalizer, Noise Gate, Talk Box, and Wah-Wah

A de-esser filters out the higher-frequency sounds such as "s", "z", and "sh".

An equalizer is a set of filters that strengthen or weaken specific frequencies. Stereos often have an equalizer that adjust bass and treble.

Examples of an equalizer: Dunlop MXR 10-band Graphic EQ, Dunlop Kerry King 10-band Equalizer

Noise Gate's reduce "hum", "hiss", and " static". Phil Collins used this with reverb in his song "In the Air Tonight"

A Talk Box takes the guitar sound into the mouth of a performer.. This sound is then picked up by a microphone. The guitar is then able to "talk". Bon Jovi used this in his song "Living on a Prayer".

Example of a Talk Box includes: Dunlop Heil Talk Box

A Wah-Wah pedal makes vowel sounds. Remember learning the sounds of the vowels in your early years of school. This is what a wah-wah pedal sounds similar to. A foot treadle is used to open and close a potentiometer.

Wah Effects include: Dunlop Cry Baby, Eddie Van Halen Signature Wah Wah, Slash Signature Crybaby Wah Pedal

Filtering has been responsible for many of the great music sounds that we have come to love so dearly over the last few decades. Some of the gifted musicians who have exhibited this so well are Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Slash, and Zakk Wylde.

Can you imagine Music today without filtering or time based effects? I can't!

1.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_unit