TREMOLO
WHAT IS TREMOLO?
Tremolo is an effect that alters your guitar signal by decreasing and increasing the volume in a repetitive manner.
With a tremolo pedal, you are able to control the speed and depth of the effect. The speed determines how fast or slow the volume fluctuates, while the depth adjusts the intensity or strength of the effect. If set these knobs to a low setting, you'll get a slow pulse that adds a little bit of movement to your sound. If you set them high, you'll have a hard choppy sound that can be great with distorted chords.
We get choppy with five great tremolo pedals!
THE DIFFERENT WAVEFORMS WITH TREMOLO
When it comes to tremolo effects, there are a few different types of waveforms that can be used to shape the pulsating volume modulation.
Here are the most common waveform shapes used in tremolo effects:
The sine wave is a smooth and rounded waveform that closely resembles a gentle curve. When applied to tremolo, it creates a natural and smooth pulsation effect. The volume rises and falls gradually, resulting in a pleasing and mellow sound.
The square wave is a waveform that alternates between two distinct levels—a high level and a low level—abruptly and sharply. In tremolo, it produces a more pronounced and choppy effect. The volume quickly switches between the high and low levels, creating a more percussive and rhythmic sound.
The triangle wave is a waveform that gradually slopes up and then slopes down in a linear manner. It is somewhat similar to the sine wave but with more angular edges. When used in tremolo, it creates a smoother rise and fall in volume compared to the square wave. The effect lies between the smoothness of the sine wave and the abruptness of the square wave.
The sawtooth wave has a sharp upward slope followed by a sudden drop back to its starting point. It gets its name as the shape resembles a sawtooth! In tremolo, it produces a more aggressive and biting effect than the other waveforms. The volume rises sharply and then drops suddenly, creating a distinctive and edgier sound.
LISTEN TO SOME TREMOLO!
You can hear some awesome tremolo in our Harmonious Monk Mk.2 video.
Check out Mick, Dan, and Dougie rocking out!
