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How To Create Shoegaze Guitar Sounds With EarthQuaker Devices Pedals!

Shoegaze is a type of rock music that was popular in Britain during the 1980s and early 1990s. It was a reaction against the traditional sound of 1980s rock, characterized by heavy distortion, droning rhythms, and heavily layered guitar sounds. The genre has been described as "a swirl of sound" and "a wall of noise".

And for those who want to get in on the shoegaze action, we've got your back! In this article, we will show you some ways you can achieve shoegaze guitar tones using EarthQuaker Devices pedals!

What Is Shoegaze?

Shoegaze is a form of dream pop that was nurtured by the 1980s and early 90s UK rock scene. It's characterized by slow tempos, reverberation, and drone. This can make it sound similar to the effect that you hear when you're at a show or concert. It's not uncommon for shoegazing songs to drop below 100 beats per minute (BPM), which is slower than most mainstream music. Its sound has been described as “melody-driven” with an emphasis on texture over structure—think of it as a wall of sound that engulfs you in its warmth. The term “shoegaze” comes from the way groups like My Bloody Valentine would stare down at their pedals while playing live concerts; they were so focused on creating those lush sounds that they were almost never looking up at their audience (hence why you should always look up when playing guitar!).

You may also know it as “shoegazing,” or simply a foggy haze of sound. This type of music is characterized by heavy use of effects, distortion, and feedback. Many shoegaze bands have added their own twist to this genre, including My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive who created some signature sounds using the Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal pedal.

With music characterized by dissonant guitar textures, androgynous vocals, and unorthodox production techniques, the Irish-English band My Bloody Valentine is credited with pioneering the shoegaze music and what drove a lot of musicians to dive deep into this 90s genre.

Ultimately, in order for you to have shoegaze guitar sounds, the goal is to create an overwhelming sense of atmosphere through layers upon layers of effects and sounds.

And for those who want to get in on the shoegaze action, we've got your back! EarthQuaker Devices is an awesome company that makes some of the best pedals on the market. They're known for their wide variety of effects pedals and amplifiers, so if you're looking for a new pedal to help create that dreamy sound, they are definitely worth checking out.


EarthQuaker Devices

EarthQuaker Devices pedals are great for shoegaze guitar tones. They are made for guitarists who want to create unique sounds that stand out from the crowd. They have a wide variety of effects and pedals, from fuzz effects to delay and reverb pedals.

EarthQuaker Devices is a boutique pedal maker based in Akron, Ohio, USA with a reputation for high-quality products and durable construction that can take the wear and tear of touring and performing on stage! Artists such as Jonny Greenwood & Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Sunn O))), Albert Hammond Jr (The Strokes), Cameron Avery (Tame Impala), and Jim Fairchild (Modest Mouse) use their pedals on stage and in the studio.


So, What Kind Of Pedals You Need For Shoegaze Music?

First, you need overdrive pedals!

Overdrive pedals are a great way to add some grit and sustain to your sound. These pedals are also a great way to add warmth to your tone, making them perfect for shoegaze guitar pedals.

Overdrive pedals can be used to get a more saturated, distorted sound (such as guitars layered on top of one another). They're also useful if you want an aggressive tone that's perfect for playing punk rock!

Check out all the overdrive pedals from EarthQuaker Devices!

EarthQuaker Devices Plumes
Small Signal Shredder

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EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker
An Overdrive You Can Trust

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EarthQuaker Devices Westwood
Translucent Drive Manipulator

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Then, add it with fuzz pedals!

Fuzz pedals, in particular, are great for creating a wall of sound. They’re what gives the guitar it's signature droning sound but also have a lot of sustain and compression which will keep your notes ringing out long after you strike them. To get started using fuzz pedals to create a shoegaze sound, set the Fuzz knob on your pedal to around 9 O’clock (or where it feels comfortable). Then, play some chords with varying amounts of distortion until you find something that sounds nice and full. The rest is up to how hard or soft you pick!

To use fuzz pedals in combination with overdrive/distortion pedals, simply set your clean channel volume somewhere between 5 and 10 o'clock (and make sure the volume knob on your guitar is turned up as well), then gradually increase the amount of distortion. Pay special attention to how these signal changes blend if you really want to be a great shoegaze guitarist because they are an essential component of the style.

Check out all the fuzz pedals from EarthQuaker Devices!

EarthQuaker Devices Hoof V2
Hybrid Fuzz

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EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas
Fuzz Sustainar

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EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Reaper
Double Fuzz with Octave Up

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EarthQuaker Devices Park Fuzz Sound
Vintage Germanium Fuzz Tone

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EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) Life Pedal

Octave Distortion + Booster

The Sunn O))) Life Pedal V3 by EarthQuaker Devices is a hefty, crushing octave fuzz and distortion that is ideal for metallic, droning textures. A modified version of the circuit from its predecessor is included in this tattered-sounding dirt pedal, along with a third footswitch equipped with Flexi Switch Technology for enhanced real-time control of the octave effect. Distortion, Filter, and Amplitude knobs are available on the Life Pedal V3's distortion side to fine-tune your grind, and an Octave knob combines your output with the analogue octave-up effect.


All the punishment your amplifier can take is delivered by an all-discrete MOSFET booster with a footswitchable Magnitude feature from EarthQuaker. Additionally, a 3-position Clip knob is included for customising the stompbox to your setup. The Life Pedal V3 should be on your short list if you enjoy the piercing guitar tones on Sunn O))Life )'s Metal album because it cranks out tonnes of down-tuned, drone-metal riffage.

Next, the modulation pedals (chorus, flanger, and phaser pedals)

Next, the modulation pedals (chorus, flanger, and phaser pedals). These three effects are ideal for creating a lush sound that's perfect for shoegaze.

Chorus is a great way to add some thickness to your guitar tone while still retaining clarity and definition in specific frequencies. If you want to create a thick layer of sound but also want it to shimmer and breathe, the chorus is what you're looking for.

Flangers are great examples of how this type of effect can work with shoegaze music: they create an almost dreamlike quality with their sweeping pitch-shifting sounds that aren't too intense or harsh on the ears—perfect for dreamy noise rock songs like "Silver Crush" by Colour Revolt!

Finally, phasers are another great option if you want more clarity in your modulated sound without losing its swirling properties altogether—this pedal will be useful when creating new musical ideas from scratch or adding subtle atmospheric layers onto existing ones.

Check out all the modulation pedals from EarthQuaker Devices!

EarthQuaker Devices Bit Commander V2
Analog Octave Synth

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EarthQuaker Devices Organizer V2
Polyphonic Organ Emulator

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EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine V2
Polyphonic Pitch Mesmerizer

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EarthQuaker Devices Aqueduct
Vibrato

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EarthQuaker Devices Arpanoid V2
Polyphonic Pitch Arpeggiator

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EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine V3
Super Chorus

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EarthQuaker Devices Pyramids
Stereo Flanging Device

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EarthQuaker Devices Grand Orbiter V3
Phase Machine

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EarthQuaker Devices The Depths V2
Analog Optical Vibe Machine

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EarthQuaker Devices Spatial Delivery V2
Envelope Filter with Sample & Hold

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Add delay pedals

A delay pedal is used to create echo effects. For pop and rock singers, a brief delay is used to give the voice a little more depth. We can thicken and improve the sound even more by increasing the time delay.

You can also use a delay pedal to create a slapback delay effect, which sounds like you're playing your guitar into an amplifier that has already been turned off. This effect was popularized by the guitarist of The Beatles, George Harrison. It's used in shoegaze music to create hypnotic sounds.

Understand that the purpose of shoegaze is to produce an overwhelming soundscape and to simply make the band appear larger than it actually is; delay will aid in creating that illusion.

Check out all the delay pedals from EarthQuaker Devices!

EarthQuaker Devices Space Spiral V2
Modulated Delay Device

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EarthQuaker Devices Dispatch Master V3
Digital Delay & Reverb

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Lastly, add reverb pedals to make everything sound dreamy!

Now that you’ve got your pedals set up, it’s time to dial in some reverb. Reverbs are one way to create a dreamy sound and can help make your guitar sound far away or hard to place in space and time.

A reverb pedal allows you to simulate how your signal might sound in an open field or space even if you are not performing there.

Check out all the reverb pedals from EarthQuaker Devices!

EarthQuaker Devices Astral Destiny
An Octal Octave Reverberation Odyssey

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EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath V3
Enhanced Otherworldly Reverberator

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EarthQuaker Devices Levitation V2
Reverberation Machine

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EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo V3
Vintage Voiced Reverb

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EarthQuaker Devices Avalanche Run V2

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Stereo Reverb & Delay with Tap Tempo

Use the EarthQuaker Devices Avalanche Run V2 effects pedal to access a wide variety of reverb and delay effects. A cool custom-built housing, an upgraded reverb algorithm, and spacious stereo imaging are all included in this second-generation model.

You have control over the expression pedal, six different time division settings, and tap tempo. Reverb and delay can be used separately or in combination to create ambient effects. We are confident that you will enjoy the Avalanche Run V2 and that keyboardists will participate in the fun as well because it has stereo inputs and outputs.

EarthQuaker Devices pedals are some of the best-sounding and easiest-to-use effects pedals on the market. With a wide range of features, from analog overdrive to digital delay and chorus, these pedals can help you create your sonic vision. They're also unique, reliable, and made with high-quality components that will last for years to come.

We hope that this article has been helpful in showing you how to create shoegaze guitar sounds. Shoegaze is an exciting genre that’s perfect for those who love experimental sounds. We know it can be difficult at first to create these sounds, but once you get used to them, you will find yourself experimenting with all kinds of new things! So go out there and rock away with your EarthQuaker Devices pedals!


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