Pitch shifter

A pitch shifter is an effect that raises or lowers the note originally played. On the pedal, select an interval, such as a quarter. You then play all tones a quarter higher/lower, depending on the setting. It’s as if your whole instrument is tuned a quarter higher/lower. An octaver is actually also a simple shifter, where you raise or lower the original tone an entire octave.

Many have the ability to mix the original signal with the effect. Strictly speaking, this is a harmonizer. Popularly, however, we also talk about pitch shifters here.

The effect is widely used. For example, the well-known bass intro from Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes, was created with an electric guitar and a pitch shifting effects pedal set one octave lower. Furthermore, in the 1960s, The Beatles took advantage of the effect by playing certain songs a semitone higher and then slowing down the music. And listen to Tom Morello who made it his trademark.

When buying one, make sure that the pedal has all the possibilities you are looking for. Some pedals have a foot controller that allows you to change the pitch in real time. Other pedals operate at a preset interval.