5 free effects you already have, but do you use them?

Being a gigging musician means being a bit of a boy scout. You have to be prepared for every situation. Many of us try to bring everything buy the kitchen sink so we have the right guitar, the right amp, the right pedal for all the styles of music we may cover. This is great in theory but it isn't very practical. There are a few effects every guitarist has but many don't use to their full potential. Many of these can help us achieve all the tones we're looking for without having to break the bank, or our back's. See which of these use to optimize your performance.

Volume Knob

What, you said effects man! I know but there are some subtle nuances that can be coaxed out of manipulation of the volume knob. Many players love to run through a Fuzz Face and back of the volume for a slightly dirty clean. I like to kick in a medium to high gain setting on my amp and then back of the volume a little so I have to hit the strings a little harder to get a little more breakup. This technique could eliminate a dirt box from your pedal board. Try playing around with your volume knob and see where the sweet spots are.

Tone Knob

You knew this was coming. Yes your tone knob is an effect. Now granted in my days as a metalhead it was unheard of to touch either knob on the guitar but this functional little piece of equipment can add some great shades to your tone. The effect of rolling back the tone knob a little on the bridge pickup sounds remarkably different than just switching to the neck pickup. I use this to tame the bridge pickup a little when I'm doing a lot of strumming type chords. I can still open it up when I want to cut through.

Pickup selector

Yes I'm serious. This is responsible for many great tones within your guitar. you cant tell me that the sound of a strat with the selector switch between the neck and middle pickup isn't one of the greatest sounds of all time. A Les Paul in the middle position produces a great spanky tone with a lot of depth. Couple that with tweaks on the above mentioned controls and you have a world of sounds at your fingertips.

Your pick

Ok man, now your pushing it. A pick? Yes, a pick. Have you ever tried strumming with the wide end of your pick? You get quite a different sound out of your instrument. Of course there are also the popular pick squeals ala Zakk Wylde, and the Spinal Tap approved screeching the pick down the low E string. Even picking softer of harder produces different effects on your tone. But you knew that.

Your fingers

Everyone always says tone is in the hands. I believe this to be true. The different ways in fretting a chord can add a new dimension to what you are playing. Fingerpicking a part instead of using a pick sounds completely different. The bit of vibrato or slight under of over bend can produce dramatic effects. I know this borders on technique rather than effect but I do think the lines are blurred a little.