2024 Tremolo Pedal Guide: Top Picks & How-Tos

Table of Contents

What is a Tremolo Pedal?

A tremolo pedal creates rhythmic changes in the volume of your guitar’s signal. The effect is produced by quickly increasing and decreasing the volume in a cyclic, wave-like pattern. This pulsating change in loudness gives tremolo its distinctive trembling and shimmering sound.

Unlike effects like vibrato or chorus which modulate pitch, tremolo focuses entirely on volume modulation. The speed and depth of the tremolo can be adjusted to anything from a slow swell to a rapid choppy throb. This allows guitarists to add anything from a subtle shimmer to a dramatic rhythmic pulsation to their playing.

Tremolo effects originated in vintage guitar amps during the 1950s and 60s. Many classic amps like Fender had built-in tremolo circuits that guitarists could engage with a footswitch. Tremolo pedals emerged in the 60s and 70s to recreate those vintage amp tremolo sounds in a compact stompbox. Since then, tremolo pedals have evolved to offer greater control and new types of tremolo effects.

Today’s tremolo pedals provide guitarists with an inspiring array of options for adding expressive volume modulation to their music. Whether you seek the sweet vintage vibes of an optical trem, the complex harmonics of harmonic tremolo, or the mind-bending movement of stereo panning tremolo, there’s a tremolo pedal perfect for your needs.

Types of Tremolo Pedals

There are several different types of tremolo pedals that each create the effect in their own unique way. Understanding the differences can help guitarists find the right tremolo for their needs and playing style.

Analog vs Digital Tremolo

Analog tremolo uses older circuitry like photocells, lamps, and LFOs (low frequency oscillators) to create a vintage tremolo sound. Many players feel analog tremolos have a more organic, warm, and lush tone. However, analog pedals can be less flexible than digital options.
Digital tremolo uses DSP (digital signal processing) to model classic tremolo effects. They offer more control over waveforms and can provide added features like tap tempo. However, some guitarists feel digital tremolos sound too sterile or artificial compared to analog circuits. Quality digital modeling can minimize this.

Optical Tremolo

Optical tremolo pedals use an LED and light dependent resistor to modulate volume. The light shining on the resistor changes its resistance, creating a very smooth and even modulation. Optical tremolo often recreates the classic "bias tremolo" found in old Fender amps.

Harmonic Tremolo

Harmonic tremolo is a more complex effect that modulates the amplitude of individual harmonics rather than the overall volume. This creates a more nuanced sound with additional movement and textures. The EQD Hummingbird and Walrus Audio Monument are popular harmonic tremolo pedals.

Stereo Tremolo

Stereo tremolo creates a volume-modulated tremolo effect between two amplifier or outputs. The tremolo alternates between left and right channel, providing a wide, immersive sound. The Strymon Flint and Electro-Harmonix Stereo Pulsar are excellent examples of stereo tremolo pedals.

Best Tremolo Pedals in 2024

The tremolo pedal market has exploded in recent years, with boutique builders and major brands alike releasing incredible options. Here’s a roundup of the top tremolo pedals available today across various budgets and styles.

Budget Tremolo Pedals

If you’re just dipping your toe into tremolo effects, an affordable pedal can deliver great classic sounds without breaking the bank.

Boss TR-2 ($99): The TR-2 has been a tremolo staple for decades. It delivers warm, vintage amp-style tremolo with controls for Depth and Rate. The wave shape is fixed, but the TR-2 nails those classic throbbing tremolo tones.
Joyo JF-09 Vintage Overdrive ($55): This mini pedal packs a surprising amount of versatility into a tiny footprint. It models vintage tube amp tremolo sounds, with controls for Speed and Depth. The JF-09 is a steal for budget-conscious players.
Mooer Trelicopter ($88): Mooer makes fantastic mini pedals, and the Trelicopter captures the vibe of old helicopter tremolo units. It has Speed, Depth and Level knobs, plus a Mode switch to select different vintage tremolo types.

Mid-Range Tremolo Pedals

In the $100-$200 range, you’ll find tremolo pedals with more advanced features and boutique charm.

EQD Hummingbird ($179): This harmonic tremolo pedal generates unique textures by modulating the volume of individual harmonic frequencies. The DEPTH and RATE knobs offer deep control over the sound.
Walrus Audio Monument V2 ($199): The Monument provides both harmonic and standard tremolo modes. The RATE and DEPTH knobs are augmented by a multi-waveform Shape control. Killer for everything from subtle warble to choppy rhythms.
Fulltone Supa-Trem2 ($165): Fulltone modeled the warm optical tremolo circuit of a ’64 Fender amp for the Supa-Trem2. It excels at silky smooth, vintage trem sounds.

High-End and Boutique Tremolo Pedals

Boutique builders are creating tremolo pedals with incredible depth and flexibility. Be prepared to spend big for these pro-level trem options.

Strymon Flint ($299): This gorgeous tremolo and reverb pedal nails the vintage Fender amp sound, while adding stereo tremolo, tap tempo and more. It’s the gold standard for amp-style tremolo.
Chase Bliss Audio Gravitas ($349): With tons of waveform options and MIDI control, the Gravitas offers deep tremolo flexibility. The RAMPING function creates cool accelerating/decelerating effects.
Gamechanger Audio Plasma Pedal ($349): Using an actual xenon tube to modulate volume, the Plasma Pedal provides one of the most touch-responsive and organic tremolos available. It’s pricey but uniquely interactive.

How to Use a Tremolo Pedal

A tremolo pedal offers guitarists a wide palette of sounds and rhythmic textures to experiment with. While tremolo may seem like a simple effect at first glance, mastering the nuances of controlling depth, rate, and waveform can unlock creative new dimensions.

The most basic tremolo technique is dialing in a consistent pulsing rhythm. Lower depth settings around 9 o’clock give more of a gentle shimmer, while cranked depths at 3 o’clock create a choppier, stuttering effect. Adjusting the rate knob sweeps through slow pulsations all the way up to fast, almost ring modulator-esque frequencies. Tapping your foot and syncing the rate to match the tempo of a song is an easy way to dynamically match the tremolo throb to the music.

For more ambient, evolving textures, try running tremolo after reverb. As the reverb tails decay, the tremolo modulates the spatial expanse, creating a sense of motion and vibration. Dialing the rate down lower here can produce a hypnotic, pulsating wash. Stereo tremolo effects also add motion and animation when combined with reverbs.

Some players prefer the more pronounced impact of placing tremolo before overdrives and distortions. The tremolo pulses will modulate the gain stages, producing distinct variations in dirt and dynamic response. However, experiment with placement before and after distortion to see which interaction produces your preferred core sound.

While the controls are simple, tremolo rewards creativity and expression. Whether crafting rhythmic accents, swirling ambient soundscapes, or adding distinct colors to your overdrive tones, the tremolo pedal offers versatile new textures for adventurous guitarists.

Famous Tremolo Sounds in Songs

Tremolo has been used in many famous guitar parts and songs over the years. Here are some standout examples that showcase how impactful tremolo can be:

Green Day – "Boulevard of Broken Dreams"

The main clean guitar riff in this hit song makes heavy use of tremolo to create a lonely, haunting feel that matches the lyrical theme. Billie Joe Armstrong uses an older Boss TR-2 Tremolo pedal for the effect.

The Black Keys – "Howlin’ For You"

Dan Auerbach’s gritty intro riff is soaked in tremolo, with a fast Leslie-style modulation that gives a psychedelic spin. It’s rumored he used a Fulltone Supa-Trem pedal to nail this sound.

Creedence Clearwater Revival – "Born on the Bayou"

The eerie tremolo guitar that opens this CCR classic was achieved using the tremolo circuit built into the Fender Vibrolux amp played by John Fogerty. It has a smooth, warm tube amp vibe.

Johnny Marr (The Smiths) – "How Soon Is Now?"

Marr’s unmistakable tremolo lines define this cult classic track. The effect came from the Vox AC30 amp tremolo, lending an authoritative throb to the guitar.

Radiohead – "Bones"

The wavering tremolo textures in the verse guitar set an ominous mood. Guitarist Ed O’Brien reportedly used a Leslie rotating speaker cabinet for the signature sound.

Tremolo Pedal Controls, Tips & Tricks

One of the keys to mastering any tremolo pedal is understanding the main controls that shape the effect. While pedals may vary slightly, most feature controls for depth, rate/speed, and waveform shape.

Depth adjusts the intensity of the volume modulation, going from subtle throbs to choppy, rhythmic pulses. Lower depth settings work great for adding gentle movement without overpowering your tone. Maxing out the depth creates a chopper effect where the volume is pulsing on and off like a square wave.

Rate/Speed controls the frequency of the tremolo effect in cycles per minute or hertz. Lower rates are great for slow, hypnotic textures while faster rates lend themselves to fluttering rhythms. Many pedals feature tap tempo so you can sync the rate to your playing.

Waveform shape changes the contour of the volume modulation. The most common shapes are sine wave (smooth peaks and valleys), triangle wave, and square wave (abrupt on/off pulsing). Complex waveforms like ramps or sample-and-holds create unique textures.

Expression pedals give you realtime control over the rate and/or depth for dynamic tremolo effects. Ramping up the depth on a swell can provide dramatic impact.

Volume pedals placed before or after your tremolo pedal allow you to control overall volume swells and fades, enhancing the pulsing effect. Tremolo into a swelling volume pedal washes your tone in and out with a 3D motion.

Getting creative with these essential controls is key to crafting your own signature tremolo sounds, from vintage twang to otherworldly pulsations. Don’t be afraid to experiment!

Best Budget Tremolo Pedals

When you’re just starting out with tremolo effects, you’ll want an affordable pedal that still delivers great tone. The good news is there are many fantastic tremolo pedals available for under $100. Here are some of the top picks:

Boss TR-2 Tremolo

The Boss TR-2 is a longtime favorite with its simplicity and classic tremolo tones. Retailing for around $80 new, it’s one of the best budget options.

Key features:

Analog circuitry for smooth, warm tremolo
Rate and depth knobs for dialing in your sound
Wave knob selects triangle or square wave shapes

The TR-2 excels at vintage amp-style tremolo effects. From subtle pulses to choppy rhythms, it covers all the basics very well. The wave shapes are versatile, with triangle waves being more rounded and square waves having a sharper throb. It’s a great intro tremolo pedal.

Mooer Trelicopter

If you want more waveform options in a mini pedal, the Mooer Trelicopter is a top choice at $65-$80.

Key features:

Compact, minimalist design
Rate, depth, and waveform controls
Six different waveform shapes

The Trelicopter packs a lot of versatility into its small footprint. You get all the essential parameters plus an extended range of wave shapes for crafting your tremolo effects. From sine to ramp to square, it provides a wide tonal palette at a bargain price.

Joyo JF-09 Vintage Overdrive

Joyo is known for its incredibly affordable pedals, and the Vintage Overdrive includes a great tremolo effect for only around $30 new.

Key features:

Dual overdrive and tremolo modes
Vintage sounding optical tremolo circuit
Depth and speed knobs

While it’s mainly an overdrive pedal, the JF-09’s tremolo mode is quite good. It has a smooth, warm sound at slower speeds. The simple controls make it easy to dial in everything from gentle warble to pronounced throbs.

Donner Time Wave

Lastly, the Donner Time Wave gives you tap tempo control for under $50.

Key features:

Tap tempo function for syncing to songs
Triangle, square, and harmonic wave shapes
Depth, rate, and level knobs

The tap tempo is handy for matching tremolo pulses to your music’s tempo. The harmonic wave shape is unique at this price range too, adding chorus-like textures. Altogether, it’s an impressive tremolo pedal for the money.

Best Boutique/High-End Tremolo Pedals

If you’re willing to spend more for a premium tremolo pedal with unique circuits and designs, there are several boutique options that deliver studio-quality tremolo effects. While expensive, these pedals provide unmatched tone-shaping capabilities, lush analog sound, and the ability to precisely dial in your ideal tremolo tones.

Chase Bliss Audio Gravitas

The Chase Bliss Gravitas ($349) is a top choice for a high-end tremolo pedal. It offers two distinct tremolo circuits – a traditional analog tremolo and a "harmonic" tremolo mode, which modulates the amplitude of individual harmonics for a more complex sound. With full MIDI control and the ability to save presets, the Gravitas provides deep tone-shaping options.

Key Features:

Analog and harmonic tremolo modes
Loads of waveform options
Full MIDI integration w/ preset saving
Tap tempo & subdivision controls
Expression pedal input

Gamechanger Audio Plasma Pedal

The Plasma Pedal ($349) from Gamechanger Audio is an optical tremolo that uses an actual xenon tube and photocell assembly to create vintage tube amp-style tremolo effects. From shimmering washes to throbbing pulses, the Plasma Pedal excels at lush, organic tremolo tones.

Key Features:

Real xenon tube and photocell design
Vintage optical tremolo tones
Waveform, depth, rate, and more controls
Tap tempo footswitch
Tube bias knob for overdrive

Strymon Flint

The Strymon Flint ($299) is a combo pedal, featuring classic tremolo and reverb effects. The tremolo side provides a choice of vintage or harmonic tremolo modes. With three waveform shapes and full control over depth and rate, the Flint captures classic amp-style tremolo.

Key Features:

Vintage and harmonic tremolo modes
Three waveform shapes
Independent tremolo and reverb sections
Tap tempo footswitch
True bypass switching

Beginner’s Guide to Tremolo Pedals

Tremolo pedals can seem intimidating at first, but they don’t have to be! Here’s a beginner’s guide to demystifying tremolo and getting cool sounds right away.

Demystifying Tremolo

The tremolo effect might sound complex, but it’s actually quite simple. Tremolo works by turning your guitar’s volume up and down rapidly. This creates a pulsating, rhythmic effect. The speed of the volume change is called the "rate" and how dramatic the volume shifts are is the "depth."

With just those two controls, you can create anything from a fast, helicopter-like "chop" to slow, soothing waves. Tremolo is an easy way to add interest and motion to your playing without having to change chords or notes.

Basic Tremolo Sounds and Tips

Here are some basic tremolo sounds to try as a beginner:

Set a slow rate and medium depth for a shimmery, dreamy effect. This works great with chords.
Max out the depth and set a medium rate for a "chopper" sound. Fun for single-note riffs.
For a vintage amp vibe, use subtle depth and play with the rate.
Put tremolo after reverb for a spacey, atmospheric swell.
Use fast rates and shallow depth as an alternative to vibrato.
For texture, combine tremolo with distortion or overdrive.

Take it slow at first and experiment with the rate and depth controls. Tremolo may seem imposing, but it can be tamed with practice!

Easy Tremolo Techniques

Once you’ve mastered the basics, here are some easy tremolo techniques to try:

Volume swell – Use your guitar’s volume knob or a swell pedal to control tremolo intensity.
Kill switch – Turn tremolo on/off for stuttering effects.
Slow fade-out – Lower the depth gradually for natural-sounding fades.
Tap tempo – Sync your tremolo rate to the beat with tap tempo control.
Texture rolls – Combine tremolo with delay or reverb for pulsating soundscapes.
Chord accents – Emphasize certain chord changes with faster tremolo rates.

Tremolo might seem complicated, but starting with these simple techniques will unlock a world of cool sounds. Don’t be intimidated! With a little practice, anyone can use tremolo creatively.

Creating a Leslie Speaker Sound

The Leslie rotating speaker cabinet is a classic effect used on guitars, keyboards, and other instruments. The rotating horn and bass speaker creates a lush, undulating sound that has become iconic in rock, blues, and jazz music. Many guitarists strive to recreate those rotary speaker tones with their tremolo pedals. Here are some tips for dialing in an authentic Leslie sound:

Settings for rotary speaker tones

Set the tremolo to a slow rate between 1-5Hz. This mimics the rotating bass speaker.
Add a fast tremolo on top around 5-8Hz to recreate the rotating horn.
Set the depth fairly subtle, around 9 o’clock, to retain clarity.
Choose a sine or triangle wave shape for smooth, organic modulation.
Place the tremolo after overdrive and use amp reverb for a touch of space.

Before or after dirt pedals?

Placing a tremolo pedal before distortion and overdrive pedals allows you to modulate the gain, creating sputtery, broken up textures. This works great for adding vintage vibe to cleaner amp tones. However, for replicating a Leslie, it’s best to put tremolo after your dirt pedals. This keeps the core tone intact for a realistic rotary effect. The modulation will then add three-dimensional motion without distorting the base tone.