> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.unknowndivide.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Best Guitar Pedals for Beginners: 7 Classics Worth Buying - URL: https://www.unknowndivide.com/best-guitar-pedals-for-beginners/ - Published: 2025-09-07T20:10:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-21T04:03:57.000Z - Description: Seven classic pedals that have stayed in production for decades, from the BOSS TU-3 to the Big Muff Pi, what each one does and how to order them on your first pedalboard. - Author: unknowndivide staff - Tags: Music, Gear Building a first pedalboard is one of the most fun parts of playing electric guitar, and one of the easiest places to waste money. Boutique pedals come and go, but a small group of classics has stayed in production for decades because they sound great, survive the road and work with almost any rig. This guide covers seven classic guitar pedals worth buying as a beginner, what each one does, and the order to put them in. Every pick is still made today and easy to find. *Unknowndivide may earn a commission from purchases made through links in this post.* ## How we chose Each pedal here is a long-running model from the company that makes it, with a track record measured in decades rather than seasons. We focused on the core effect types most players need first: a tuner, a wah, overdrive, distortion, fuzz and modulation. Together they cover a huge range of classic rock, blues, punk, funk and indie sounds. ## 1\. BOSS TU-3 Chromatic Tuner Start with a tuner. It is not glamorous, but nothing ruins a song faster than a guitar that is out of tune. The [BOSS TU-3](https://www.boss.info/us/products/tu-3/?ref=unknowndivide.com) is what BOSS calls the world's best-selling stage tuner. It mutes your signal while you tune, shows pitch on a bright 21-segment LED meter and can even send power to other pedals with the right BOSS adapter and cable. Read our full [BOSS TU-3 guide](https://www.unknowndivide.com/boss-tu-3-chromatic-tuner-pedal/) for the details. ## 2\. Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95 The wah pedal makes a guitar sound like it is talking. Dunlop says the Cry Baby hit the scene in 1966 and was used by players such as Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. The [Cry Baby Standard Wah GCB95](https://www.jimdunlop.com/cry-baby-standard-wah/?ref=unknowndivide.com) is the version most guitarists start with, with a red Fasel inductor and a die-cast housing built for years of stomping. See our [Dunlop Cry Baby guide](https://www.unknowndivide.com/dunlop-cry-baby-gcb95-wah-pedal/). ## 3\. BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver An overdrive adds grit that reacts to how hard you play. The [BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver](https://www.boss.info/us/products/bd-2/?ref=unknowndivide.com) has been in continuous production since 1995 and was designed to behave like a tube amp, with gain that cleans up as you roll back your guitar's volume. Many players leave it on all the time. Our [BOSS BD-2 guide](https://www.unknowndivide.com/boss-bd-2-blues-driver-overdrive-pedal/) covers how to set it. ## 4\. Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer The other overdrive everyone knows is the green Tube Screamer. Ibanez describes the [TS9](https://www.ibanez.com/usa/products/detail/ts9%5F99.html?ref=unknowndivide.com) as a reissue that is just like the original, with the same housing, the same instantly identifiable green paint and the same overdrive that made it one of the all-time classics. It has three controls, Drive, Tone and Level, and runs on a 9-volt battery or adapter. Where the BD-2 is open and amp-like, the Tube Screamer has a focused, mid-forward voice that helps leads cut through. Ibanez also makes the [TS9DX Turbo Tube Screamer](https://www.ibanez.com/usa/products/detail/ts9dx%5F99.html?ref=unknowndivide.com) for players who want more modes. ## 5\. BOSS DS-1 Distortion For heavier rhythm sounds, a distortion pedal gives more gain than an overdrive. BOSS introduced the [DS-1](https://www.boss.info/us/products/ds-1/?ref=unknowndivide.com) in 1978 as its first distortion pedal, and it has been used by guitarists everywhere since. BOSS says its hard-edged attack stays clear even at maximum distortion, and at low settings it also works as a booster. Read our [BOSS DS-1 guide](https://www.unknowndivide.com/boss-ds-1-distortion-pedal/). ## 6\. Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi Fuzz is the wildest of the gain pedals, thick and saturated with huge sustain. Electro-Harmonix calls the [Big Muff Pi](https://www.ehx.com/products/big-muff-pi/?ref=unknowndivide.com) the NYC original and says it has been defining the sound of rock guitar for more than 40 years, known for its rich, violin-like sustain. It has three controls, Volume, Tone and Sustain, and true bypass switching. ## 7\. MXR Phase 90 Modulation adds movement to your sound, and the phaser is one of the most musical kinds. The orange [MXR Phase 90](https://www.jimdunlop.com/mxr-phase-90/?ref=unknowndivide.com), made by Dunlop, has a single Speed knob, which makes it one of the easiest pedals to learn. Slow settings give a gentle swirl on chords, while fast settings add a watery wobble to leads. ## What order to put them in There are no hard rules, but a common starting order looks like this: 1. **Tuner** first, so it gets the cleanest signal and can mute everything after it. 2. **Wah** next, so it shapes your guitar before any gain. 3. **Fuzz**, since many fuzz pedals like to see the guitar's signal directly. 4. **Overdrive and distortion**, lowest gain first. Many players stack an overdrive into a distortion for extra saturation. 5. **Modulation** like a phaser after the gain pedals. 6. **Delay and reverb** last, if you add them later. Experiment from there. Swapping two pedals can change your sound more than buying a new one. ## Power and cables Most compact pedals run on 9 volts. Batteries work, but a power supply is cheaper over time and more reliable on stage. Check each pedal's polarity and current draw before you plug in, and use short patch cables to keep the board tidy. Once your board grows, a dedicated isolated power supply cuts down on noise. ## Where to start If you buy only two pedals, get a tuner and one drive pedal. The TU-3 and BD-2 together cover tuning and a wide range of tones. Add a wah or fuzz next, depending on the music you love. For players who also record, our [home studio starter gear](https://www.unknowndivide.com/best-home-studio-starter-gear/) guide is the next step. **Shop the starter pedalboard** [BOSS TU-3 Chromatic Tuner](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004D8KX7K?tag=unknowndivi02-20&ref=unknowndivide.com) [Dunlop Cry Baby Standard Wah GCB95](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002CZVK0?tag=unknowndivi02-20&ref=unknowndivide.com) [BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002CZV6E?tag=unknowndivi02-20&ref=unknowndivide.com) [Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000T4PJC6?tag=unknowndivi02-20&ref=unknowndivide.com) [BOSS DS-1 Distortion](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002KYY14?tag=unknowndivi02-20&ref=unknowndivide.com) [Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BQTCDO?tag=unknowndivi02-20&ref=unknowndivide.com) [MXR Phase 90](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002GX6V2?tag=unknowndivi02-20&ref=unknowndivide.com) More gear for players and producers lives in our [home studio hub](https://www.unknowndivide.com/home-studio/).