Pedalboard Signal Chain Order Explained
Updated Nov 12, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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The standard signal chain order runs tuner, pitch and filter, compression, drive, modulation, delay, then reverb. Each stage shapes the signal for the next one: drive feeds a stable signal into modulation, and delay and reverb sit last so they repeat the finished sound. Move one pedal at a time from this order to hear what changes.
Start with the tuner
Put the tuner first in the chain so it reads the guitar signal before any other pedal changes it. A tuner after drive or modulation sees a distorted or moving signal, which makes the reading harder to follow. Plug the guitar straight into the tuner input, then run the tuner output to the next pedal.
Place pitch and filter pedals early
Wah, pitch shift and envelope filter pedals track the guitar signal, so they work best on a clean signal before compression and drive. A wah after a drive pedal still works, but it sweeps a signal that is already clipped, which narrows what the sweep can do. Keep these pedals near the front, right after the tuner.
Put compression before drive
A compressor evens out the level of the guitar signal, so place it before overdrive and distortion pedals to give them a steady signal to work with. Compression after drive raises the noise the drive stage adds. Set the compressor level so the guitar still responds to how hard you pick.
Stack drive pedals from low gain to high gain
When you use more than one drive pedal, order them from low gain to high gain: overdrive first, then distortion, then fuzz. A low-gain drive into a high-gain one lets the earlier pedal shape the sound, while the high-gain pedal sets the overall amount of gain. Swap the order only if you want the high-gain pedal to feed the low-gain one.
Put modulation after drive
Chorus, flanger and phaser pedals sit after drive, where they modulate a signal that already has its gain set. Modulation before drive gets compressed and clipped by the drive stage, which hides the movement the modulation adds.
End with delay and reverb
Delay and reverb go last, so they repeat the finished signal rather than a dry one. A delay before drive sends repeats into the drive stage, where they get clipped and lose their spacing. Keep reverb after delay so the repeats sit inside the reverb, not the other way round.
What you need
SOYAN 18" x 11.8" Guitar Pedal Board
An 18 by 11.8 inch steel board that holds up to 10 standard pedals, with a tray beneath for a power supply and a carry bag in the box.
- Case or gig bag included
- Isolated outputs
GOKKO Guitar Pedal Board with Power Supply
A 13.8 by 11 inch steel board that holds 6 to 8 pedals, with a power bracket beneath for a power supply and a carry bag in the box.
- Case or gig bag included
- Isolated outputs
Ghost Fire Guitar Pedal Board Aluminum Alloy
A 19.8 by 11.5 inch aluminum alloy board that holds 8 to 10 effects pedals, with a carry bag and a folding foot stand.
- Case or gig bag included
STRICH Guitar Pedal Board Aluminum Alloy 1.2lb Super
A 15 by 8.66 inch aluminum board that fits up to 5 standard pedals, with a carrying case and hook and loop strips for mounting.
- Case or gig bag included
- 1-year warranty stated
These come from our ranked list Best Pedalboard, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the volume pedal go?
A volume pedal works at the start of the chain, or after drive if you want to change level without changing the amount of gain. Try it in each spot and keep the placement that does the job you need.
Should delay go before or after reverb?
Delay goes before reverb. The delay repeats the signal, and the reverb then applies to the repeats as well as the dry signal, which keeps the repeats inside one space.
What if my amp has an effects loop?
An effects loop sits between the amp's preamp and power amp sections. Put modulation, delay and reverb in the loop, and keep tuner, pitch, compression and drive in front of the amp input.
Ranked pedalboards lists
More how-to guides
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