Best pedals for metal: Give your guitar an edge

Unlike some genres, metal is a popular style worldwide. It’s a wide-ranging style with many sub-genres within it. Certain kinds are more popular in different parts of the globe, but no matter the style metal guitarists all have one thing in common – they are serious about their gear!

These are some of the best pedals for metal.

Best harmonizer pedal for metal: Eventide H9 Harmonizer

When the original Harmonizer units came out they revolutionized the guitar sounds of many hard rock and metal players. Eddie Van Halen, Mick Mars, Steve Vai – the list goes on.

The H9 fits all of those legendary sounds into a compact, pedalboard-friendly package. The standard version includes 9 algorithms, but there is a Max model that allows access to up to 50! It also has MIDI control and iOS app compatibility.

Best doubler pedal for metal: TC Electronic Mimiq Doubler

This option is especially useful if you are the only guitarist in the band. You can adjust the tightness, wet and dry output, as well as the amount of doubles (1,2, or 3).

It also comes in a mini version for those pedalboards that are extra cramped.

Best octave pedal for metal: Electro-Harmonix Micro POG

Everyone loves what the POG can do. It might not be one of the first pedals that comes to mind when constructing your pedalboard to play metal, but it is a very useful tool.

This is especially true if you are the only guitarist in your band. You can turn it on and instantly have harmonized leads or thunderous sub-octaves. Its simple control set and friendly price point only adds more value.

Best distortion pedal for metal: Mesa Boogie Throttle Box

Throttle Box can do everything from high-low gain and everything in between. But no matter how you dial it in the MESA/Boogie sound is all over it. There is a mid-cut for achieving the scooped sounds of the Mark V, and the Throttle Box EQ is available as a separate pedal.

Best overdrive pedal for metal: Ibanez TS808

I know, I know – it’s not a distortion. But, metal guitar players across the globe run this in front of their amp to add more sustain. It’s a simple, versatile choice that comes in handy in a variety of scenarios whether you’re stacking it with other gain pedals, using it as a boost, or juicing your amp.

Best noise gate pedal for metal: BOSS Noise Suppressor NS-1X

Metal guitarists use a lot of gain. So much that often times a dedicated processor is needed to keep noise to a minimum and playing tight.

The noise suppression mechanism is powered by BOSS’ proprietary MDP approach that gives fast and transparent function without introducing digital artifacts.

Its three modes make it one of the most versatile noise gates. Reduction provides a gentle and smooth noise cancellation perfect for any sound. Gate is best for high-gain tones, and Mute kills the signal when needed.

To round out the features there is send/return I/O and a LED reduction meter.

Best analog EQ pedal for metal: MXR Ten Band EQ

Regardless of the style you play, no guitarist can ever go wrong with this classic from MXR. The 10 bands gives you total coverage over the guitar’s frequency spectrum.

And unlike some other EQs, it has input gain (because metal always needs more gain!) and output volume.

Best digital EQ pedal for metal: Source Audio EQ2

Offering a step forward in what pedal equalizers can do, this pedal from Source Audio features state-of-the-art digital signal processing. There are seven frequency bands, each offering 18dB of cut/boost across four presets.

This means there are a total of 28 bands that can easily be recalled with the footswitch on the pedal or with MIDI integration.

And with 12dB of gain boost you can use it to drive your amp or boost your signal for lead parts, and with the Octave Extend function you can even use it with bass guitar.

Best stereo chorus pedal for metal: MXR M-134 Stereo Chorus

Chorus is generally the most popular choice of modulation pedal for metal guitarists. This stereo chorus offers plenty of controls to dial it in and has been used by many metal greats, like Randy Rhoads.

The only downside is that the input is mono. But it’s a great way to widen your sound if you use two amps.

Best chorus pedal for metal: EVH 5150 Chorus

Does it get more metal than EVH? This chorus has multiple features that make it perfect for heavy styles. It has switches to set the output and input levels. This helps you set the perfect gain staging no matter how your rig is designed.

Three simple controls over tone, volume, and intensity make it easy to set your sound.

Best digital delay pedal for metal: BOSS DD-8

Metal is a genre that tends to prefer clean, digital delays. But if you happen to need an analog sound the DD-8 can do both. It has a rich feature set of settings, including some that are pretty…progressive.

It also has stereo I/O so you can use it in a dual amp setup or to split your signal to another pedalboard (for the more progressive metal guitarists among us).

Like with all things BOSS it covers a lot of sonic ground at an affordable price point.

Best analog delay pedal for metal: Ibanez Analog Delay Mini

Digital delays generally find their way into metal rigs more so than their analog brothers. But if a warmer sound is what you’re looking for the ADMINI is a solid choice.

It has 20-600ms of delay time and true-bypass switching, but it’s mono only.

Best reverb pedal for metal: Electro-Harmonix Oceans 11

A lot of the guitar sounds in metal are fairly dry. But if you’re looking for a good reverb pedal you can’t really beat the versatility of the Oceans 11. Across the 11 presets are sounds ranging from standard to unique.

The only downside is that it’s mono only. When it comes to reverbs, the Oceans 11 is one of the best pedals for metal.

Best pitch shifter pedal for metal: Digitech Whammy 5

The Digitech Whammy has long been the king of the guitar pedal pitch shifters. The circuit has come a long way over each iteration. The Whammy 5 can be played on chords or single notes and offers 20 different effects types across Harmony and Whammy categories.

It’s also one of the most affordable harmonizer guitar pedals on the market, but doesn’t hold a candle to the Eventide H9.

What to look for in a guitar pedal for metal

Gain

The heart of any metal tone is the amount of gain available. Look for a pedal that delivers a tight low-end response, plenty of saturation, and minimal noise. For more vintage metal tones, a classic overdrive like an Ibanez Tube Screamer can be used in addition to the gain on your amp or drive the input harder.

EQ and tone shaping

Metal tones are about precision. An EQ pedal lets you sculpt your sound beyond what your amp can do. If you’re looking to add a gain pedal, consider one with multiple frequency points.

Modulation and ambience

Distortion gets the spotlight, but effects like chorus, reverb, and delay add texture and space – especially for solos or atmospheric sections. Subtle modulation makes leads sound wider, and a touch of reverb can add depth without washing guitars out of the mix.

FAQ

Is a Tube Screamer good for metal?

Yes. A lot of metal guitarists use a Tube Screamer not for overdrive, but to drive the input of their amp. This gives more sustain, and if you want additional gain you can tailor it as you need to.

A circuit like this is used by a lot of popular artists like Zakk Wylde, Randy Rhoads and bands like Killswitch Engage, All That Remains, and countless more.

What pedals are used in metal?

Every guitar player has their favorite pedals to use, but generally you’ll find distortions, overdrives, delays, and modulation pedals.

What pedals do metal bassists use?

This can vary based on the style of metal they’re playing. You can’t go wrong with a good overdrive to get some grind, and a chorus pedal to thicken up the sound.

What are some essential pedals for playing metal?

Metal is built on gain, so distortion and overdrive pedals take center stage. But when using a lot of gain you need a processor to reign it in, and that’s where noise gates come into play. EQs are another popular choice for metal players, as well as modulation like chorus and flange.