Chorus

A chorus guitar effect creates a rich, shimmering sound by duplicating the guitar signal and slightly altering the pitch and timing of the copy before blending it back with the original. This subtle detuning and delay simulate the effect of multiple instruments playing the same part at once, resulting in a wider, fuller tone. Chorus is known for adding depth and movement without dramatically changing the core character of the guitar.

Most chorus pedals include controls for rate and depth, allowing players to adjust the speed and intensity of the modulation. At low settings, chorus adds gentle thickness and sparkle to clean tones, making chords sound bigger and more dimensional. Higher depth or faster rates produce more pronounced, watery modulation that can become a defining texture in a song. Some chorus effects also offer tone controls, stereo outputs, or multiple voicing modes for added flexibility.

Chorus is widely used in genres such as rock, pop, jazz, new wave, and ambient music, and it became especially iconic in recordings from the 1980s. It pairs well with clean and lightly overdriven sounds, and can be placed before or after gain stages depending on the desired effect. For guitarists looking to add width, shimmer, and a sense of space to their tone, chorus remains one of the most versatile and recognizable modulation effects available.