Get Your Groove on With These Funky Pedals
Funk guitar is all about feeling and groove. The style has long been praised for its distinctive rhythmic guitar style that can make anyone want to hit the dance floor instantly.
No matter if you’re looking to emulate the classic “chika-chika” rhythms of Nile Rodgers or the psychedelic riffs and solos of Eddie Hazel, the right pedals can elevate your tone to the next level.
That’s why today, we will explore the best pedals for funk guitar in 2025 and give you tips and tricks to nail the style. In our list, we included all of the essential effects you’ll need to get the groove going. Let’s get started!
In a hurry? Check out our quick guide with all of the featured pedals at the end of the article.
A Brief History of Funk Music
Funk music originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s, characterized by its groovy basslines and emphasis on rhythm. One of the first pioneers of the style was no other than the legendary James Brown.
One of the most defining characteristics of funk music is the emphasis on the downbeat and in techniques such as swing and syncopation. If you want to really nail the style on the guitar, pedals won’t be enough: you must develop a strong rhythmic feel on your right hand.
Despite all of that, funk evolved over time to be a very broad term: we have genre-defining guitar players such as Nile Rodgers and Eddie Hazel, as well as modern acts like Cory Wong, each with their own playing style.
Nowadays, you can frequently find influences of funk music in genres such as pop and rock, so learning the groove will certainly make you a more versatile guitarist.
What is the Best Guitar for Playing Funk Music?
The most popular choice among funk guitarists is, without a doubt, the Fender Stratocaster. A standard Strat fitted with single-coil pickups is the quintessential funk guitar, thanks to its glassy tones. Of course, if you’re feeling a little creative, why not go for a Telecaster or a Gibson ES-335? These models can also do the funk pretty well!
Best Pedals for Funk Guitar in 2025 - In-Depth Review
Below, we are going to explore the essential pedals for playing funk music. While we listed them in order of importance and popularity within the genre, this sequence is purely arbitrary.
Compressor
What funk pedal board is complete without a compressor? Absolutely none. Even though the effect has a history of confusing guitarists due to its complex operation, we assure you it’s a must for getting a groovy tone. Plus, understanding how it works is actually quite easy.
In essence, a compressor works by leveling your tone: it brings the quiet parts up and the loud parts down. When we apply it creatively, we can emphasize the transients and achieve a punchy tone that’s perfect for that “chaka-chaka” rhythm funk guitarists love. Now, let’s check out two amazing compressor pedal options.
BMF Effects Little Red Compressor
Main Features
- Simple yet powerful compressor based on the classic MXR Dyna Comp
- Volume and Sustain knobs
- Improved circuit when compared to vintage counterparts
The BMF Effects Little Red Compressor is as simple as it gets: with only two knobs, it can quickly give you a snappy tone. This pedal is based on the classic MXR Dyna Comp (which you may already know), but with several improvements in its circuitry.
In our opinion, this is hands-down the best compressor to have in your pedalboard, as it's suitable for both minimalistic and complex setups. However, if you want more control over the effect, you will be better suited with larger alternatives like the one below.
EarthQuaker Devices The Warden V2
Main Features
- Studio-grade opto compressor
- Six independent parameters
- Built-in Tone EQ
If you’re looking for more control over your compression tone, The Warden, by EarthQuaker Devices is a solid choice. With its six independent parameters, studio-grade components, and OPTO style, this compressor is as versatile as it gets.
An interesting feature on this pedal is the Tone knob, which is rare to come across on compressor pedals. You can even use it to brighten your sound to help it cut through the mix more easily.
Envelope Filter
It’s hard to name a more genre-defining pedal for funk music than the envelope filter. This effect allows you to control a sweeping filter with the dynamics of your playing, making it a perfect pair for funky riffs and solos.
Most envelope filter pedals are pretty versatile, allowing you to control the peak frequency of your sweep and to select between bandpass and lowpass-style filtering. While some units have experimental-esque features, a traditional unit should work well for most funk playing styles.
Mojo Hand FX Little Wonder
Main Features
- Classic, vintage-inspired envelope filter
- Blend, Peak, and Gain knobs
- Bandpass and lowpass filtering
The Mojo Hand FX Little Wonder is a strong contender for any funk pedalboard. This envelope filter pedal is minimalistic and vintage-inspired, yet has all of the features you need to get that characteristic funky tone.
While the Little Wonder sounds good right out of the box, there are many parameters to experiment with. The most interesting ones are the Peak knob (to set your filtering peak frequency), and the bandpass/lowpass switch, which allows you to choose between both filtering styles.
Another interesting feature in the Little Wonder is the blend knob, which might be useful when combining this envelope filter with other pedals such as fuzz, and for bass players looking for a funky yet clean, solid tone.
EarthQuaker Devices Spatial Delivery V3
Main Features
- Envelope filter with experimental capabilities
- Three sweep modes
- Three filtering modes
- Six presets bank
If you want to get more experimentative with your envelope filter, have a look at the Spatial Delivery, by EarthQuaker Devices. This filtering powerhouse has three sweep modes and three operating modes, making it a gem for psychedelic funk guitar players.
One very unique feature of this pedal is its ability to crossfade between the high pass and low pass filter, creating some very unique tones. Pair it with a fuzz and you have the perfect recipe for mind-bending Parliament-esque solos. And let’s not forget that the Spatial Delivery can do traditional vintage envelope filtering pretty well too.
Wah
A rhythmic riff and a wah pedal is a match made in heaven. It’s impossible to talk about funk music and not remember the effect, which was all-around in the 1970s and 1980s on the pedalboards of legendary funk guitarists.
The wah effect is a tad similar to the envelope filtering, however, it allows you to dynamically control a filter sweep with your feet. While there are many wah options in the market, you can’t go wrong with a vintage-inspired unit.
BMF Effects Wah
Main Features
- Traditional, vintage-inspired wah pedal
- Multiple spec boards to choose from
- Switchable onboard buffer
- Quick-release circuit board mounting system
This wah from BMF Effects is inspired by vintage, legendary units of the past and is a solid choice for any funk setup. What’s nice is that you can choose between multiple spec boards with different tone and playing behavior, and they are all available on our website.
When compared to vintage units, the BMF Effects Wah brings some much-needed updates such as a switchable onboard buffer and a quick-release circuit board mounting system, making it an extremely reliable and versatile pedal.
Phaser
Getting into the world of modulation, one of the first pedals that come to mind when talking about funk music is the phaser. The phaser can produce mind-bending, space-age effects that pair extremely well with groovy and funky riffs.
In simple terms, a phaser utilizes an LFO to shift the phase of your audio signal’s waveform, resulting in a unique tone. This effect was, as you may have already guessed, widely used in the 1970s, when funk music was at its peak.
Warm Audio Mutation Phasor II
Main Features
- Phaser pedal based on the electro-optical phasers of the 1960s and 1970s
- Rate, Depth and Feedback knobs
- Built with vintage-style components
This pedal is the quintessential funk modulator. The Mutation Phasor II, by Warm Audio, is heavily inspired by the first electro-optical phasers that appeared between the 1960s and 1970s, ushering an era of heightened creativity in the funk music scene.
The operation of this pedal is pretty simple, featuring three essential parameters to control the effect: Rate, Depth and Feedback. This unit can get you tones that are perfect for funky riffs right out of the box, as the knobs sound good in any position.
Warm Audio Jet Phaser
Main Features
- Jet-style phaser based on the 1970s Roland AP-7
- Built-in fuzz circuit
- Six independent modes
Another pedal by Warm Audio, the Jet Phaser is a quite unique pedal inspired by the 1970s Roland AP-7, a phaser famously used by Larry Graham with Sly and the Family Stone, and by many other funk musicians of the era.
With the one-of-a-kind vintage Roland AP-7 being rare to find, the Jet Phaser is an exact replica at a much more reasonable price, boasting all of the beloved features found in its counterpart.
This pedal has some quite distinctive features when compared to other phasers, with one of the most unique being its six distinctive modes: you can select between two traditional phase modes and 4 fuzzed-out Jet modes for some very psychedelic funky tones.
Chorus
Another versatile modulation effect to add to your funk pedalboard is a chorus. When you want a tiny bit of dimension in your sound or perhaps a full-blown Prince-esque 1980s funk tone, chorus will be your best friend.
When picking a chorus for funk music, the recipe is simple: the more traditional and vintage-sounding, the best. You can’t go wrong with a popular pedal such as the Boss CE-2 or any retro-inspired modern unit.
Boss Chorus CE-2W
Main Features
- Classic chorus pedal with updated components and features
- CE-1 and CE-2 modes
- Bucket Brigade (BBD) technology
The Boss Chorus CE-2 has been in the pedalboard of many legendary guitar players due to a simple fact: it works. While you can pick a vintage CE-2 for a reasonable price, the CE-2W is a more modern, updated version with more versatile features.
One particular nice function of this version is the ability to choose between the tone of the CE-1 and the CE-2. The vintage CE-1 was heavily used throughout the 1970s, and can get you to that sweet spot if you’re looking to replicate sounds of the past.
Mojo Hand FX Swim Team
Main Features
- Chorus/flanger unit
- Quad chorus designed and vintage inspired flanger with push button switch
- Rate, Depth, and Mix/Feedback knobs
One of the most versatile compact pedals when it comes to modulation, the Mojo Hand FX Swim Team is a chorus/flanger combo that’s also inspired by classic gear of the past. If you’re on a budget, this pedal is your best bet, as you get two funk-ready effects in one unit.
The Swim Team is hassle-free and minimalistic, featuring three intuitive knobs you can use to tailor your tone, and a convenient push button to switch between the Chorus and Flanger modes.
Overdrive/Fuzz
While funk music is particularly known for its clean tones, we felt like we should include at least one overdrive and one fuzz option on our list. After all, these effects are a must-have in any pedalboard and can be very useful for certain riffs or solos.
Spicy Pedals Jalapeno Screamer
Main Features
- Low-mid gain overdrive pedal inspired by the TubeScreamer
- Highly-dynamic and expressive tones
- Classic tone stack with optional Verde Mode
The Jalapeño Screamer, by Spicy Pedals, is a no-brainer if you’re looking for an overdrive pedal to add to your funk pedalboard. This pedal, as you may have already guessed, is inspired by the TubeScreamer, with a few modern updates.
If you plan on using your overdrive mainly during solos, then you will want to engage the Verde Mode. This unique mode gives some extra spiciness and an overall boost to your mid range.
Dunlop Germanium Fuzz Face Mini
Main Features
- Classic Germanium Fuzz Face in a compact enclosure
- Same specs as the vintage Fuzz Face
- Mismatched germanium transistors
If you’re more inclined to the psychedelic funk sound of Parliament and Funkadelic, then a fuzz is a must. You can’t go wrong with a classic Fuzz Face, particularly this germanium mini version.
The Germanium Mini Fuzz Face has the same specs of its vintage counterpart but in a compact, pedalboard-friendly enclosure. As you might already know, pairing it with a wah or a modulation allows you to do some other-wordly funk solos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is a Compressor Important for Funk Guitar?
A compressor can even out the volume of your playing and give more attack to your transients, making rhythms pop and giving them more clarity, especially during fast, syncopated strumming riffs.
Do I Need an Overdrive or Fuzz Pedal for Funk Guitar?
While funk guitar often relies on clean tones, having an overdrive or fuzz pedal is essential if you want to venture into the world of funk rock and psychedelic funk.
What Is the Difference Between an Envelope Filter and Auto-Wah?
While these effects might seem the same at first glance, they are actually different. An envelope filter reacts to the intensity of your playing, and is more expressive. An auto-wah operates on a predetermined modulation rate and has a more consistent characteristic.
Conclusion
These are the 10 best pedals for funk guitar in 2025. While these units can get you a groovy tone, remember that’s only half of the way: if you want to sound really funky, it is important to also develop a great technique on the instrument. Tip: focus on improving the rhythm on your right hand.
Last but not least, make sure to get creative and explore other effects, after all, this article is meant to be a guideline and not a strict sect of rules!
Thank you for reading our article! Below is a recap with all of the pedals mentioned in this post:
|
Effect |
Pedal |
Price |
|
Compressor |
$219.00 |
|
|
Compressor |
$169.15 |
|
|
Envelope Filter |
$159.00 |
|
|
Envelope Filter |
$169.15 |
|
|
Wah |
$239.00 |
|
|
Phaser |
$119.00 |
|
|
Phaser |
$199.00 |
|
|
Chorus |
From $219.99 (New) |
|
|
Chorus |
$159.00 |
|
|
Overdrive |
$120.00 |
|
|
Fuzz |
From $149.99 (New) |
You can check these and many other pedals in our store!
More Interesting Reads:
Essential Guitar Pedals for Beginners | What Pedals Should I Buy First?
How to Set Up Your Pedalboard | Guitar Pedal Order Explained
Ultimate Guide to Compressor Pedals | Best Compressor Pedals in 2025
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