What is a Guitar Volume Pedal and How Do I Use It?

When talking about pedals, a guitar volume pedal is usually not the first that comes to mind. Instead, we often think of overdrives, distortions, fuzzes, reverbs, modulation, and others. Yes, effect pedals greatly help shape the tone. However, there’s one crucial element most of them lack that a volume pedal can provide – dynamic control.

Electric guitars provide easy access to volume knobs. But having the ability to control the volume with your foot gives you much more freedom.

It allows you to smoothly transition between different parts of a song. Move from quiet intros to loud solos, without obstructing your playing hand and the music.

Whether you’re dialing in swells or controlling your overall volume, a volume pedal offers a simple, hands-free way to manage your dynamics.

In this article, we’ll dive into what a guitar volume pedal is and how it can enhance your playing.

What is a Guitar Volume Pedal?

A guitar volume pedal is a foot-controlled potentiometer that allows you to adjust your guitar’s overall output volume. It means you need not fiddle with knobs on your guitar or the amp.

It typically looks similar to a wah pedal and operates by moving the foot pedal forward to increase volume or backward to decrease it.

Some of the best guitar volume pedals are versatile. The Ernie Ball VPJR Volume Pedal, for example, has a tuner built-in. Another is the Boss FV-500H, which can also function as an expression pedal, allowing control of the parameters on other effects pedals.

In short, a volume pedal gives you hands-free control over your dynamics. It makes it easier to create fluid and expressive music and adds more dynamics to performances.

Types of Guitar Volume Pedals

• Passive vs Active Volume Pedals
  • Active Volume Pedals: These types of volume guitar pedals include a built-in circuitry that buffers or amplifies the signal. This feature helps prevent signal loss and maintains a consistent tone, regardless of the pedal’s position in the signal chain. They typically require power, either from a battery or a power supply.
  • Passive Volume Pedals: These volume guitar pedals operate without any external power source. They are simpler in design and generally more reliable.
    While they don’t introduce any active circuitry, passive volume pedals may slightly affect your tone. This is particularly true with longer cables or when positioned at certain points in the signal chain.
    They work directly with the guitar signal but can lead to a loss of high frequencies if not carefully managed.
• Mono vs Stereo Volume Pedals
  • Mono Volume Pedal: It’s a type of pedal that has one input and one output, carrying a single channel of audio. It is designed for standard setups where you only need to control one signal, such as a typical guitar setup.
    A mono volume pedal is ideal for musicians who play with a single amplifier or in a straightforward setup, as it is simpler and often less expensive.
  • Stereo Volume Pedal: This pedal type has two inputs and outputs, allowing it to handle two channels of audio simultaneously. This enables the pedal to control volume across two different signals or amplifiers.
    It is useful for musicians using stereo effects or setups that require two amplifiers. Those who want to create a spatial sound or use other complex soundscapes. They can also be beneficial for keyboard players.

How Does a Guitar Volume Pedal Work?

A volume pedal works by controlling the signal from your guitar or effects to your amplifier.

The pedal is typically built with a potentiometer that adjusts the level of the signal as you rock the foot pedal.

Other volume guitar pedals, like the Lehle mono volume pedal, use a magnetic sensor instead of a potentiometer. This innovation gives the Lehle Volume Pedal more precise control. It makes the pedal less prone to wear and tear and has an overall better performance.

But, generally speaking, volume pedals function in a similar way. When the pedal is fully pressed down, the signal reaches its loudest point. Pulling it back decreases the volume to a lower level or even to complete silence. Although the specifics may vary depending on the model or settings, this is how most volume pedals operate.

For example, most volume pedals let you go from completely silent (0%) to full volume (100%).

However, in some pedals, you can set the guitar pedal volume to only reach 70%, 80%, or 90% of full volume. Volume can also start at a low 10%, 20%, or 30%, and then gradually increase to 100%, and so on.

The above image shows a guitar volume expression pedal. It can switch from being a volume pedal, expression pedal, or even a wah pedal. This example shows how it controls the sound output of an effect patch.

The guitar volume pedal, with its simple mechanism, allows control over your dynamics. It’s an important, practical tool essential in helping keep performances interruption-free.

What Are Common Uses of a Guitar Volume Pedal?

Volume pedals are commonly used for dynamic control. Volume swell is a common usage for these pedals. It’s a sound that mimics a violin bowing, starting from silence and gradually increasing to full volume.

• Chords: It can be used with chords to create unique and interesting voicings. Others use it to build tension by fading the volume in and out, resulting in a dissonant feel.
• Songs: You can slowly raise the volume to build up to an intro, guitar solo, or chorus. It’s similar to how some songs gradually fade in and out. It’s also a nice addition to highlight a climax or an ambient section before building up to a triumphant outro, like this one from Dream Theater.

• Ambient and Film Score: This dynamic pedal is used in ambient or cinematic music to create a dramatic, wave-like effect. It can even help make some unique sounds, with the right processing.
  In the movie ‘Dune’ for example. Hanz Zimmer’s guitarist Guthrie Govan had a few gear, in his music toolkit. He had a Fractal FM-9 processor, his signature Charvel guitar, a Vigier fretless electric, a slide, an E-Bow, and a volume pedal. With these tools, he created interestingly new sounds, like the solo bagpipe sound in the scene below.

• It is then followed by a group of real bagpipe players. In an interview with Hanz Zimmer, the director of the film Denis Villeneuve admitted, that even he did not know about this detail.

• Shoegaze and Praise & Worship: Volume pedals are known to be essential for musicians in genres like shoegaze and praise & worship. These genres typically use layers of reverb and delay stacked to create lush soundscapes. You can hear it in the intro of this song from Hillsong UNITED.

• Transition and Ending: They can be used for practical purposes, such as lowering your volume between songs or fading out smoothly at the end of a set.

Where Does Volume Pedal Go in Signal Chain?

The best volume pedal can go in almost any place in your guitar pedal order signal chain. But it’s important to know that the pedal’s placement in your signal chain can greatly influence how it interacts with the rest of your pedals.

For example, if you want it to act as a master volume control for your entire setup, place it at the very end of the chain, after all your effects.

This reduces the overall output without changing the balance between the gain vs volume settings you’ve dialed in.

On the other hand, if you place it at the very beginning of the chain, it will only adjust the guitar’s raw signal. It’s similar to how you’d use a maximum and minimum volume knob on your guitar to control dynamics.

This is great for subtle volume adjustments or controlling the amount of gain entering your drive pedals.

There are also some players who prefer to place the volume pedal for guitar in the middle of their chain. They usually place it after their distortion but before their modulation effects.

This creates dynamic swells without affecting modulation trails made by a delay or reverb pedal.

Conclusion

A guitar volume pedal has a profound impact on your overall playing, even if it may not be the most glamorous part of your rig.

It gives you the freedom to adjust your volume smoothly without interrupting performance. From subtle to dramatic volume shifts, it’s a tool that enhances your dynamics.

A wide range of the best volume pedals are available, from basic volume control to multi-functional. There is sure to be a volume pedal for guitar out there that’ll fit your liking.

FAQs About Guitar Volume Pedals

What’s the Difference Between a Wah, Volume, and Expression Pedal?

A volume pedal controls the overall volume of your guitar signal. It allows for smooth transitions between silence and full volume. It doesn’t alter your tone, making it essential for volume swells and dynamic control during performances. It basically changes loudness without changing the sound.

In contrast, a wah pedal alters your tone by emphasizing certain frequencies. It creates the distinctive “wah-wah” effect. As you move the pedal, it sweeps through frequencies, making it ideal for dynamic tonal shifts, especially in funk and rock music. Wah pedals are usually positioned early in the signal chain, often before the dirt pedals, to ensure a clean tone sweep.

Expression pedals, on the other hand, have a more complex function than volume pedals. The former controls parameters on other effect pedals, like delay time or reverb depth. The latter adjusts overall loudness. An expression pedal doesn’t generate sound on its own. Instead, it provides hands-free control over specific effects. This allows for real-time adjustments even during a performance.

What Should I Look for When Buying a Volume Pedal?

Consider factors like build quality, pedal travel (how far the pedal moves from rest to its maximum position), and resistance type (what gives feedback and affects how much effort it takes to move the pedal). Also, take into account the pedal’s size and whether it’s an active or passive pedal.

If you need a volume pedal for guitar with more features, look for extra features/controls. For instance, those with expression pedal capabilities or an adjustable sweep.

Do I Need a Specific Volume Pedal for Active or Passive Pickups?

Yes, some volume pedals for guitar are designed for specific types of pickups.

For example, passive pickups typically have a higher output impedance. Using a passive volume pedal can be advantageous here. It will work well with the higher impedance of passive pickups and help maintain a clean signal.

Active pickups on the other hand usually have a lower output impedance and will benefit from an active volume pedal. Active pedals can better handle the lower impedance and provide a clearer signal without significant tone loss.

Can I Use a Volume Pedal for Other Instruments?

Yes, volume guitar pedals can be used with various instruments, including bass guitars and keyboards. Just make sure the impedance matches the instrument.

Can I Use a Volume Pedal with a Wireless System?

Yes, you can use a volume pedal for guitar along with a wireless guitar system. Just make sure to position the pedal correctly within the signal chain for the best performance.

Simply connect the receiver to the beginning of your pedal chain instead of directly to your amplifier.

How Do I Maintain My Volume Pedal?

Cleaning your volume pedal for guitar is essential for ensuring the best performance, and signal quality. It also prolongs its lifespan and preserves its visual appeal.

Occasionally, clean the potentiometer and moving parts to prevent dirt buildup. If not cleaned properly, this can lead to scratchy or inconsistent volume changes.

For volume guitar pedals with moving parts, applying light lubrication to the pivot points can help keep the motion smooth.

Additionally, regularly check the input and output jacks for any loose connections. Also, ensure that your patch cables are in good condition to avoid any disruptions in signal quality.