What can a Flanger Pedal do?

Creating rich and swirling jet plane-like guitar tones is easy with a flanger pedal.

Flanger pedals work by duplicating your instrument’s signal, delaying one part slightly, then modulating its delay time while mixing it back with the original signal. This produces a series of intense peaks and troughs in your instrument’s frequency spectrum, resulting in the signature flanger swooshing tone.

You can control a flanger pedal with its depth, rate, and feedback knobs to tailor its speed and intensity to your liking. Tweaking the pedal can get you anywhere from subtle flanging to extreme, otherworldly modulated guitar tones.

History of the Flanger Pedal

The earliest recorded flanger effect was in the late 1940s when studio engineers manually manipulated tape machines to produce a sweeping sound. Recording engineers would play identical recordings on two tape decks, press on one machine’s reel flange to slow it down slightly, and then mix both signals to create the signature flanger swooshing sound.

The technique became popular in the 1960s at the height of psychedelic and rock music with bands like The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix utilizing the flanger effect in their records. By the 70s, early iterations of flanger stompboxes like the Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress and the MXR Flanger made the effect easily accessible to guitarists wanting a compact version of the jet plane sound.

Flanger pedals have evolved over the decades with the incorporation of digital technology. This expanded the capabilities of the signature guitar effect while still preserving its iconic, sought-after modulated soundscape.

Who uses Flanger Pedals?

The use of flanger pedals transcends genres because of their unique modulation. The flanger’s versatility allows musicians to use it subtly or intensely according to their preference.

Rock guitarists like Graham Coxon and Brian May employ flangers to add character and depth to their iconic guitar riffs. They even use it to add uniqueness to their guitar solos. Meanwhile, psychedelic and experimental bands like Pink Floyd use flangers to create out-of-this-world soundscapes.

Bassists, keyboardists, and vocalists also utilize flanger pedals to add more movement to their performance, giving them a unique edge in the mix. Even producers and sound engineers employ flangers in their work. They use the effect to add atmosphere and character to records, making their music stand out to listeners.

Why You Need a Flanger Pedal

The unique sonic territories of using flanger pedals remain unmatched. Using the guitar pedal guarantees modulations that add richness and dynamics to your tonal texture.

The distinct swirling effect of a flanger pedal provides a different feel to your solos. It also helps thicken any rhythm parts that can create captivating ambient soundscapes for any performance or recording. The flanger effect is flexible with its adjustable controls, offering versatile sound-shaping capabilities for beginners and professionals alike.

The flanger pedal’s inventive tones allow you to explore sounds and textures you haven’t discovered yet, allowing you to stay creative and musical no matter what style of music you play.

Where to Buy Flanger Pedals

If you’re itching for that otherworldly, jet plane-sounding flanger effect, you’re in the right place. We offer a vast selection of flanger pedals here at DeathCloud. Our catalog contains effects pedals from today’s top guitar effects manufacturers, letting you choose the perfect flanger for your rig.

Buy your new flanger pedal today!