Best guitar pedals for country: Get that country twang

Country music began as a blend of styles with elements of rhythm and blues, gospel, Americana and bluegrass. When early rock n’ rollers like Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly rose to popularity, the genre expanded and became more similar to what we know it as today. A lot of the genre’s players are purists, but many choose to add the best country guitar pedals between their guitar and amp.

Country music is known as a style that demands technicality, with many virtuosos over the years pushing the boundaries of the country guitar style even further.

Best overdrive pedal for country: BOSS Blues Driver

While country music isn’t really known for very high gain sounds, if you’re looking for the best country guitar pedals, a versatile overdrive pedal is a necessity. This is especially true if you play a more modern style.

Considering the genre is built upon the single-coil sound of Fender-style guitars, an light and smooth overdrive is the perfect starting point. But with how much the genre has evolved don’t take this as gospel (pun intended…).

Best compression pedal for country: MXR Dyna Comp

Since country music is based so heavily on cleaner sounds with minimal or no overdrive, a compressor pedal can be used to reign in the dynamics of the guitar signal.

Nothing beats the not-so-subtle squish of the MXR Dynacomp, but modern acts have been known to use stompboxes that offer more robust control over the signal.

Due to the twangy tones that most country guitarists prefer a really in-your-face compressor is a great starting point, so subtle compression might not be enough to do the trick.

Best reverb pedal for country: MXR M300 Reverb and J. Rockett Audio Designs Boing

Reverb goes with country guitar like napkins and barbecue. You’ll pretty much always find a healthy dose of it dialed in, as it’s a great offset to the biting single-coil clean sounds the genre is built upon.

While many of the amps favored by country players will sport solid spring reverb tanks, a reverb is one of the best country guitar pedals.

It gives you expanded tonal options and when used in tandem with a volume pedal (and some tasty string bends), can get you a darn decent approximation of a pedal steel guitar.

Best volume pedal for country: Ernie Ball VP Jr. and Dunlop DVP3

Perhaps more so than any other genre, volume swells are an essential part of a country lead guitar player’s bag of tricks. Volume and expression pedals aren’t the first category that comes to mind when considering the best country guitar pedals.

Additionally, a volume pedal (along with a healthy amount of reverb) and some deliberate bends are a great way to imitate a pedal steel sound if your band lacks one.

Best chorus pedal for country: MXR Analog Chorus

Chorus pedals find themselves on the boards of countless country guitarists no matter the era. While they were a vital part of the sound to 80s and early 90s country, they continue to be found in the signal chain of modern artists.

They are mostly used as a subtle way to add depth to clean sounds or add some texture in a dual amp setup. As with delays, a good analog chorus pedal is right at home on a country picker’s pedalboard.

Best analog delay pedal for country: Ibanez Analog Delay

The delay pedals you’ll find on most country guitarists’ boards are as varied as the subgenres of the style they play. It seems like you’ll find at least one analog delay in a lot of country guitarists’ signal chain.

It could be the warm, degrading repeats they provide (as opposed to the clean taps of a digital delay) or the simplicity of just a few controls.

But whether it’s set to a short slapback for chicken pickin’ or longer tails for lead parts, an analog delay is one of the best country guitar pedals.

Best amp modeler pedal for country music: Universal Audio UAFX Dream ’65 Reverb

Look at any backline or studio rig in Nashville and you’re likely to see at least one Fender Deluxe Reverb. Their smooth, clean sounds are one of the tonal tent posts of country music. And while they’re not exorbitantly expensive, they are out of the budget range of a lot of guitarists.

Other than the authentic tones, the best feature is its versatility. It slides into your pedal chain in front of an analog amp, can go direct to a mixer or interface, and comes with different speaker simulations and custom microphone pairings.

Through the UAFX app you can dive into more settings, access crowd-sources tones, download more speaker and mic models, and archive presets.

The Dream ’65 is far from the only option if you’re looking to add a Fender amp-in-a-box to your pedal chain. But there aren’t many that pull off the real amp sound with this much depth.

FAQ

Can I use a distortion pedal for country music?

Distortion isn’t common in traditional country music. But a mild overdrive pedal adds warmth and edge for rhythm parts and solos.

Are multi-effects pedals a good option for country music?

Multi-effects pedals can be a great option if you’re looking for versatility and a way to consolidate your guitar pedal chain. Research multi-effects and modelers with high-quality compression, delay, reverb, and overdrive effects to begin.

Can I play country music without using pedals?

A great country tone starts with your guitar, amp, and playing technique. The best country guitar pedals enhance and expand your sound but aren’t essential for achieving a classic tone.