Choruses / Flangers / Phasers

Chorus, flanger and phaser are modulation effects that add movement, width and space to your sound. Guitarists, bassists and keyboard players use them to fill out a clean tone or give the sound a more distinctive colour. This category includes pedals ranging from straightforward analogue models to compact units with multiple modes. When choosing, consider whether you want one effect type or a multi-purpose pedal.

How do the three effects differ?

Effect	Sound character	Suitable for
Chorus	A doubled tone, the impression of several instruments and gentle widening	Clean guitars, arpeggios, bass and lead parts
Flanger	A sweeping, metallic and flowing sound	Rock, metal and prominent effect passages
Phaser	A rippling, fluid change in the signal's phase	Funk, psychedelia, keyboards and rhythm parts

What to consider when choosing

Decide whether you want a classic analogue sound or more flexible controls. Some pedals provide several effect types in one unit, such as chorus, flanger and phaser in the same enclosure. Check the number of controls: rate, depth and mix are the essentials, while additional parameters offer more possibilities but also require more adjustment. Compact models such as the Nux Mini SCF or Joyo are practical for a small pedalboard.

Where to place the effect in the signal chain

Modulation effects are usually placed after distortion and before delay and reverb. This keeps the distorted signal clear and prevents the ambience effects from becoming blurred. Always try the basic order for yourself, because in practice your ears should make the final decision. Modulation is often followed by delay and reverb.

What else to keep in mind

Power supply: 9 V adapter or battery.
Inputs and outputs: mono or stereo.
Your choice of an analogue or digital circuit according to the sound you prefer.
Pedal size when pedalboard space is limited.

How to set a modulation effect

Start with a low depth and slow rate, then increase them gradually until you find a sound that supports the song without masking the other instruments. With a flanger or phaser, try adding feedback for a more pronounced effect. With chorus, a subtle setting is often enough simply to widen the sound.

If you need several effects in one device, browse guitar multi-effects and processors. You will find more pedals in the guitar effects category. Available brands include TC Electronic, Joyo, Nux and Revoltage.