Have you ever spent hours dialing in the perfect tone, only to have it ruined by that annoying hum or buzz creeping through your setup?
I know I have.
Guitar pedal noise will always be there to some extent, but a large amount of it can be devastating to your guitar sound–which, in turn, will affect your confidence when playing. So, it’s best to try to keep it down to a minimum.
The good news, however, is that with just a few smart tweaks, you can take big steps to control and reduce the noise in your pedalboard. Guitar pedal noise reduction doesn’t have to be complicated or technical. It’s often about making a few essential adjustments.
So, whether you’re new to pedals or a seasoned pedal player, these three straightforward steps to guitar noise reduction will help you clean up your signal chain and let your (noise-free) tone shine.
1. Check Your Power Source
When it comes to reducing unwanted noise in your pedalboard, the power source is often the first place to look. Just like a strong foundation is key to a solid household, a reliable, clean power supply can be the difference between a clear tone and a noisy one.
Use Isolated Power Supplies
When it comes to guitar pedal noise reduction, the power source is one of the most important parts (if not the most important). If you do anything to prevent noise in your pedalboard, upgrade your power. Save up and get yourself an isolated power supply.
Non-isolated power supplies are usually very noisy as they can introduce hum and buzz into your signal chain due to ground loops. This happens because non-isolated supplies share a common ground, which can create interference among pedals.
When you use an isolated power supply, each pedal has its own dedicated ground connection, which can minimize any unwanted noise in a big way.
You’ll notice this for sure in setups with multiple pedals. Switching to an isolated supply can make a big and noticeable difference.
So, if you’re experiencing frustrating noise issues with your pedalboard, don’t change your guitar, don’t change your pedals, but get a new isolated power source.
Learn more about powering your pedals in our article How to Power Guitar Pedals.
Avoid Daisy Chains (If You Can)
Daisy chaining power can be an easy, cheap, and convenient solution for powering multiple pedals, but it often leads to interference and noise issues, especially with varied power requirements.
When pedals share a single power source through a daisy chain, they can inadvertently introduce noise into each other’s circuits. This tends to be more true when your pedals need different voltages or currents. It can lead to inconsistencies and noise in your signal chain.
Where possible, it’s almost always best to use isolated power supplies to get the most effective guitar pedal noise reduction.
If you’re currently using a daisy chain and not experiencing unwanted hum or buzz, you might have got lucky. But it’s also worth knowing that switching to an isolated power unit can be a straightforward solution (although not cheap), improve the overall sound quality, and help you get the best sound out of your pedals.
It’s a small change that can make a big difference.
Learn more about daisy chains in our article How To Daisy Chain Multiple Guitar Pedals.
Check Grounding and Outlets
When tackling the issue of how to reduce noise from guitar pedals, don’t overlook the importance of proper grounding and outlet selection.
Sometimes, the root of unwanted noise lies not in the pedals themselves but in the power source they are connected to. Improper grounding can cause hum and buzz by creating a path for electrical interference.
To try and fix this, make sure all your equipment is properly grounded, and consider using a power conditioner to filter out any noise from the electrical circuit.
Another thing you can try is plugging your gear into different outlets. Some outlets might have better grounding or less electrical interference, which will give you a quieter setup.
If you think a particular outlet is problematic, testing another can quickly rule out or confirm it as the noise source.
Most importantly, though, don’t mess around with your power unless you know what you’re doing. A noisy signal is better than a nasty shock.
2. Organize and Inspect Your Cables
Cables might seem like small players in your pedalboard setup, but when it comes to cutting down noise, they’re anything but.
Poor-quality cables or messy organization can quickly turn your tone into a hum-filled headache.
If you invest in high-quality patch cables, keep your power and signal paths separate (learn how I do this below), and minimize your cable lengths, you’ll take a big step toward a cleaner, clearer sound.
Invest in Quality Patch Cables
One of the most effective methods of guitar pedal noise reduction, is improving the quality of your patch cables.
I used cheap cables for years, but they cause more problems than they’re worth. Cheap and poorly shielded cables can act as antennas; they’ll pick up interference and introduce unwanted noise into your signal chain.
Investing in high-quality patch cables can significantly enhance your sound by reducing unwanted hum and buzz.
Look for cables with quality shielding, which prevents electromagnetic interference from affecting your signal – I love the make-your-own Evidence Audio patch cables, but there are lots of great ones out there.
High-quality cables often come with better connectors, which means you’ll get a stable and secure connection between your effects pedals. This also helps to reduce noise and increase your setup’s reliability. It’s a win-win.
Separate Power and Signal Cables
A common noise source in guitar pedal setups is electromagnetic interference, which often occurs when power and signal cables run too closely together. I made this mistake when I built my first pedalboard (and my second if I’m honest), so listen up.
Keep these cables as separate as possible to minimize this interference. By doing this, you’ll get better guitar pedal noise reduction from your setup.
When power cables and signal cables are tied together or near each other, the electromagnetic fields they emit can interact, introducing a hum or buzz into your audio signal. You can reduce the risk of interference by organizing your cables so that power and signal paths are well-separated from each other.
You might want to use cable ties or clips to keep them apart or plan your pedalboard layout to naturally distance these cables. Where possible, I like to run my power under the board and patch cables on top – although the ability to do this depends on your pedalboard.
Minimize Cable Lengths
Long cable runs can be a significant noise source in a guitar setup. The longer the cable, the more chance there is for noise to be picked up and introduced into your signal chain.
One effective approach to reducing guitar pedal noise is to minimize cable lengths wherever possible.
Shortening your cables lowers the risk of interference and helps maintain the quality of your signal. This can lead to a cleaner and more vibrant tone. Learn more about this in High vs Low Impedance.
When setting up your pedalboard, use the shortest possible cables. Keep them long enough that you have comfortable access to your pedals and can move things around a little, but try to avoid having too much excess cable.
If you must use long cables in your rig, you should learn How to Use a Guitar Buffer Pedal.
3. Add a Noise Gate or Mix Up the Order (if Needed)
Sometimes, despite careful power and cable management, some noise still creeps in. That’s where Noise Gate and Suppressor Pedals come into play.
These “guitar noise reduction pedals” (or noise gates) can be the final touches for keeping your signal clean and noise-free. They can help you tackle the noise that comes along with more complex setups.
Use a Noise Gate Pedal
A noise gate pedal is a helpful tool for guitar pedal noise reduction, especially when you’re fighting with persistent hum or buzz.
These pedals cut off the signal when it falls below a certain threshold, effectively silencing any unwanted noise when you’re not playing. This is useful with high-gain settings or large and complex pedal chains, where noise can be more pronounced.
To increase how well this works, place the noise gate pedal towards the end of your effects chain, ideally after distortion and modulation pedals but before time-based effects like reverb or delay.
This makes sure the gate captures as much noise as possible before your final signal reaches the amplifier.
Learn more about How to Use a Noise Gate Pedal.
Experiment with Pedal Placement
Finding the right order for your pedals can make a huge difference to the noise across your setup.
Certain pedal types, like distortion or high-gain effects, can amplify unwanted hum if placed too early in the chain.
Generally speaking, putting your high-gain pedals after low-gain ones can help reduce noise before it reaches your amplifier. Think of it as a gradual increase of gain with each pedal. Also, try putting time-based effects like delay and reverb at the end of your signal chain, as they’re usually sensitive to any noise that enters before them.
Another trick is to test your setup in lots of different orders. Moving pedals around in the signal chain can help you learn what pedal combinations reduce interference and give you a cleaner sound. Every player’s pedalboard is unique, so experiment and learn what works best for you.
The Sound of Silence (or Quiter Signal Chains)
To some extent, noise is just part of the reality when it comes to our pedalboards.
But minimizing it can make a huge difference to how we feel about our sound. Even a few small adjustments can create a noticeable difference in clarity, letting the tones and guitar parts we worked hard to create come through without interference.
In my experience, noise reduction isn’t about getting everything perfect—that’s not going to happen. It’s about doing what you can to make sure your guitar rig reflects your playing, not the hum of an unisolated power supply.
So, if you have noise in your signal chain, don’t let it hold you back from the sound you want. Tweak your pedalboard and rig, experiment a little, and see what works best.
FAQs
How to reduce noise in guitar pedals?
To reduce noise in guitar pedals, start by using an isolated power supply to prevent ground loops, organize and separate power and signal cables, and consider adding a noise gate pedal to cut out unwanted hum and buzz. These simple steps can help keep your signal clean.
What does a noise reduction pedal do?
A noise reduction pedal removes unwanted hum and buzz by muting or lowering the signal when you’re not playing. It keeps your tone clean without affecting your main sound.
Why is my guitar pedal so noisy?
Your guitar pedal may be noisy due to power supply issues, poor cable quality, or signal interference. Using isolated power, quality cables, and organizing your setup can help reduce noise.
Where to put a noise gate on a pedal board?
Place a noise gate toward the end of your pedal chain, ideally after distortion and modulation effects but before time-based effects like reverb and delay. This positioning helps it capture unwanted noise without cutting off your main tone.
