Top 5 Must-Have Pedals for Metal Guitarists
- guitarmachines1
- Mar 22
- 5 min read
Updated: 17 hours ago
For metal guitarists, creating the perfect tone is key to delivering crushing riffs, powerful solos, and atmospheric soundscapes. While amps and guitars lay the foundation of your sound, pedals are the tools that let you shape it to perfection. Whether you’re into death metal, black metal or post-metal, the right pedals can make all the difference.
Here are the five essential categories of pedals every metal guitarist should have on their pedal board. For each category, you'll find examples of top-rated pedals, widely recommended by guitar websites, forums, and guitarist reviews, to help you choose the best fit for your sound.
1. High-Gain Distortion Pedal
Distortion is the heart and soul of metal guitar tone. While amps can give you a heavy sound, a dedicated high-gain distortion pedal provides the versatility and control you need to dial in crushing rhythms and searing leads. The best distortion pedals for metal are designed to deliver thick, saturated tones with plenty of clarity and definition, even at high gain levels.
Recommended Pedals:
Pro Co RAT 2 – Known for its gritty, aggressive distortion, the RAT 2 is a favourite for metal players who want a more classic distortion tone. It can handle everything from dirty overdrive to full-on heavy distortion, perfect for hard rock and thrash metal.
Electro-Harmonix Metal Muff – If you’re looking for a pedal that can deliver massive, modern metal tones, the Metal Muff is has an excellent high-gain distortion. It's perfect for styles like djent, progressive metal, and extreme metal, offering thick, saturated distortion with plenty of low-end punch. It also has a 'Top Boost' function for making solos stand out in live shows.
MXR Super Badass Distortion – A legendary high-gain pedal that has been a staple in the metal world. It offers extreme gain, a powerful dual-stage distortion circuit, and a 3-band EQ with parametric mids, making it versatile enough for various metal subgenres.
2. Noise Gate Pedal
When you’re working with high-gain distortion, unwanted noise and feedback can quickly become a problem, especially during fast palm-muted riffs or quiet sections. This is where a noise gate pedal becomes essential. Noise gates clean up your signal by muting unwanted hum, hiss, and feedback when you’re not playing, keeping your sound tight and focused.
Recommended Pedals:
Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor – This classic noise suppressor is widely used by metal players for its reliability and effectiveness. It features simple controls to dial in the perfect noise suppression, and it can be placed anywhere in your signal chain for maximum flexibility.
TC Electronic Sentry Noise Gate – This versatile noise gate offers multiple modes, including multi-band noise reduction and a hard gate for more precise control. It’s ideal for players who want to fine-tune their noise gating for different metal styles.
Jim Dunlop MXR Smartgate – The Jim Dunlop MXR Smartgate is considered one of the best noise gates for metal guitarists. It delivers incredibly fast and transparent noise reduction, making it perfect for high-gain setups without cutting off any of your sustain or tone
3. Overdrive Pedal (for Boosting)
While distortion pedals provide the foundation for metal tone, an overdrive pedal can be used to boost your signal, tighten up your sound, and add extra definition to your riffs. Many metal guitarists use overdrive pedals to push their amp’s preamp harder, adding saturation and clarity to their tone. Overdrive pedals are particularly effective for enhancing palm-muted chugs and giving solos more punch.
Recommended Pedals:
Ibanez Tube Screamer (TS9/TS808) – A classic overdrive pedal that has become a staple in metal guitar rigs. While originally designed for blues and rock players, metal guitarists use it to tighten up their distortion and add a slight mid-boost for extra clarity.
MXR EVH 5150 – The MXR EVH 5150 is known for its smooth, natural overdrive. It’s often used by modern metal guitarists to boost high-gain amps and add punch to their tone.
Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive – Another iconic overdrive pedal, the SD-1 is known for its sharp, biting tone. It’s great for boosting metal tones and delivering extra clarity and attack, making it perfect for rhythm work and lead playing alike.
4. Reverb Pedal
Reverb may not be the first pedal that comes to mind for metal guitarists, but it’s a vital tool for adding depth and atmosphere to your tone. Whether you’re playing clean passages, adding space to leads, or creating ambient soundscapes, a reverb pedal can give your sound an expansive feel. It’s especially useful in subgenres like black metal, doom, and progressive metal, where atmosphere plays a major role.
Recommended Pedals:
Strymon BigSky – A high-end reverb pedal that offers a wide range of ambient and spatial effects. The BigSky is perfect for players who want to experiment with expansive soundscapes or add depth to their clean and lead tones.
TC Electronic Hall of Fame Reverb – This pedal is known for its rich, lush reverb tones and versatility. With multiple reverb settings, it’s great for everything from subtle room reverb to huge, cathedral-like spaces.
MXR Reverb– A versatile and simple-to-use reverb pedal, the MXR Reverb provides everything from subtle spring reverb to massive hall reverb. It’s perfect for adding a touch of depth or creating lush, atmospheric textures.
5. EQ Pedal
An often overlooked but incredibly powerful tool, an EQ pedal allows you to fine-tune your tone by adjusting specific frequencies. Whether you want to cut out muddy lows, boost midrange for extra punch, or add clarity to the highs, an EQ pedal gives you precise control over your sound. It’s especially useful in metal, where different subgenres often require different tonal adjustments.
Recommended Pedals:
MXR Ten Band EQ – This pedal offers 10 adjustable frequency bands, allowing you to shape your tone with precision. Whether you’re boosting or cutting frequencies, the MXR Ten Band EQ is perfect for fine-tuning your metal sound.
Boss GE-7 Equalizer – A 7-band EQ pedal that’s simple to use and highly effective. It’s great for making quick tonal adjustments and can be used in a variety of setups to enhance your sound.
EarthQuaker Devices Tone Job – The EarthQuaker Devices Tone Job is a versatile EQ and boost guitar pedal offering precise control over bass, mids, and treble. With up to 20dB boost, it enhances your tone's clarity, punch, and presence. It’s ideal for players who want to have different EQ settings for various tones or playing styles.
These five essential pedals are the foundation of a great metal guitar rig. Each one plays a unique role in shaping your tone, from delivering crushing distortion to eliminating noise and adding atmospheric depth. By combining these pedals, you’ll have the tools you need to craft the perfect metal sound for any style or subgenre.
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