OCTAVE PEDALS

This site contains affiliate links, which we receive a commission from any sale or purchase, and are of no cost to you. As a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate links will redirect you to Amazon.com and its affiliate sites. Please read our DISCLAIMER for more information

An octave pedal is a device that overlaps different pitches on a guitar or bass. It’s a key ingredient if you’re a musician who wants to experiment with sound or add some extra flavor to your melodies. An octave pedal allows you to play around one to two octaves above or below the actual note you’re playing.

Musicians are limited by their level of creativity and skills. To help expand their range of capabilities, octave pedals can be implemented. They can be used, for a wide variety of music genres or fusions.

Gamechanger Audio Third Man Records

T-Rex Engineering QUINT-MACHINE

The effect varies, depending on how you intend to use the device.
Traditionally, octave pedals are commonly used in a lot of heavy rock and metal songs. Octave pedals can produce deep, heavy riffs and strong beats.

Octave pedals are great for using with a looper pedal. For example, if you’re missing a bass guitar, you can add in bass effects, as a part of your layering. Creating and adding an octave bass loop, will dramatically, enhance your sound. Octave effects add a more dynamic, and rhythmic style to your sound.

TC Electronic NETHER OCTAVER

BOSS Oc-5 Octave

An octave pedal will add another octave signal, to your original input notes. It can go up or down in octaves, depending on your settings. Therefore, it adds an octave to your pitch, over your original input. It will be sychronized, without replacing it.

Harmonizer effects are similar to octave effects, but they aren’t as limited in their capabilities. They can add an array of intervals over your guitar sounds, to enhance the overall harmony. You can add in seconds, thirds and other intervals, on top of, what you are playing.

SolidGoldFX EM-III Multi-Head Octave

Octave pedals provide an impact punch. The effect can potentially make your guitar sound more aggressive. Your guitar sound, will also produce a unique bass tone.

JOYO XVI Octave Effect

Walrus Audio Lore

In the past, octave pedals were analog. They functioned by synthesizing an octave signal, based on an input. As a result, it would produce a dual output, of the original input notes and the synthesized octave notes.

Essentially, it enhances the tones and adds complexity through its modulation while ensuring musical harmony. For this reason, octave pedals are popular gadgets for guitar soloists to stand out or add a wow-factor to their performance.

Zvex Vertical Instant Lofi Junky

TC Electronic BRAINWAVES

Octave effects will allow you to have a lot more versatility, with the tones you create. You can play notes, that are high on the neck, of your guitar, combined with, a deep, bass-filled sound. Overall, you will have a full, harmonious sound.

Depth or Pitch

Using an octave pedal allows guitarists to manipulate the sounds to fit their desired output. It adds a flair in the way you need. Whether that’s in terms of deep bass or high-pitched riffs, it allows you greater customization to add personality to your music.

GFI System Clockworks

Pigtronix Octava

Compact Gadgets

To stimulate the same sounds, you’re likely going to need multiple instruments. Instead, the nifty gadget is able to replace the need for additional guitars. It delivers octaves in conjunction to its input tones producing a harmonious melody. Additionally, it is easy to travel with due to its compact size.

Easy To Use

Moreover, octave pedals are beginner friendly. With clearly labeled knobs and footswitches, they are generally easy to learn and allow for quick transitions during performances.

Purple Platypus MkII Octidrive

B:ASSMASTER Harmonic Octave

Octave pedals were widely used by guitarists such as Jimmy Hendrix for studio and live performances. Therefore, it can help you expand your understanding of the musical notes, styles and capabilities of your instrument. It additionally can improve your creativity when it comes to music to be a better musician.

Analog or digital?

Most octave pedals are analog. However, digital octave pedals are massively on the rise with loads of digital models now being offered, so you have a choice between the two. Both have their benefits; analogs are the original pedal and are better if you’re looking for a simple octave sound. They have a bit more of a vintage tone too if that’s what you’re after.

Old Blood Noise Endeavors MAW

EQD Earthquaker Devices Sunn O)))

Digital octave pedals tend to offer more variation, being able to play one octave above and below as opposed to simply one octave down. With polyphonic devices, you can play more than one note at a time to create a more complicated sound. They’re better for tracking too.

Digital octave pedals offer a more reliable and robust performance without any interruptions. Added features, such as distortions, help add more musical interest and enhance the overall experience.
When making your decision, you’ll need to decide your primary need for a modulation effect and the results you’re after.

Rowin Polyphonic Octave

TC Electronic SUB ‘N’ UP OCTAVER

Whether you’d like to go octaves up or down, and by how much. Are there any added features you’d like or effects you may want to use? Putting aside the fancy, you should think about how you’re hoping to use octave pedals, and what kind of the soundscape you want to create.

Recommended Octave Pedals

Beetronics Vezzpa "Octave Stinger"

THE OCTAVE STINGER COMES WITH AN OP-AMP HEART THAT CAN PRODUCE AN EXTREME HIGH-PITCHED BUZZ. ON FUZZZZ MODE YOU GET A BIG WALL OF FUZZ, GREAT FOR THE COOLEST RIFFS AND POWER CHORDS. TURN DOWN THE SUSTAIN CONTROL TO GET A SPITTY FUZZING TONE OR TURN IT UP FOR A GATED SUPER HIGH GAIN FUZZ. ON STINGER MODE THIS WASP GETS AGGRESSIVE, BRINGING UP THE HIGH OCTAVE AND CUTTING THROUGH THE MIX.

buy now

Walrus Audio Luminary Quad Octave Generator

The Luminary is a powerful polyphonic quad octave generator with features for creating inspiring symphonic gusts of sound. Operating on the Analog Devices Sharc platform, the Luminary gives you the ability to dial in any combination of four separate octaves.

buy now

MXR Sub Octave

The Astral Destiny operates between two different modes: Live or Preset. It comes with 8 factory presets, 1 for each reverb mode, that can be edited or completely overwritten for your enjoyment. The settings for Length, Depth, Rate, Tone, Mix as well as EXP assignment and Stretch length can all be stored and recalled. Any of the Astral Destiny’s 8 reverb modes can be used as the basis for each of the 8 presets.

buy now

buy now

MXR SF01 Slash Octave Fuzz

It features a searing fuzz tone coupled with a separate sub octave voice and an octave up fuzz, all for thickening up your tone with a sinister growl. With an array of external and internal controls, there are numerous ways to combine the main fuzz Effect’s thick ’70S shag with the chainsaw grind of the octave up fuzz and the warm growl of the sub octave. Internal gain and tone pots shape the octave up fuzz effect.

Aural Dream Classic Whammy Octave

Providing 1 octave or 2 octaves effects by pitchshifting up or down.
It features True Bypass and low-power circuits,and can be battery powered via the battery clip cable included in the box.
Providing Monophonic and polyphonic PitchShift octave effect accurately.

buy now

EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Reaper Octave Up

Capable of creating everything from subtle octave-up overtones through crushing octave squalls that simulate exploding stacks of amps. Each effect can be used individually as well as in series but the order of effects is preset for optimum performance.

buy now

OC Bass Octave

The pedal recognizes two or three-note chords and trigger the lowest note. Control the level of the original tone and mix in the octave effect. Choose between High, Mid or Low Range – which relates to the character of the sound of the sub-note. Sub-notes are perhaps most effective when playing on the higher frets, and could add a nice touch just slightly blended into the original tone, especially on a solo on bass or guitar. The OctaBass works really good together with distortion.

buy now

Bass Guitars

Acoustic Guitars

Shredd Shop Home