If you’re a guitarist, producer, or music enthusiast eager to expand your sound palette, understanding how to achieve bigger chords and a fuller tone is key. This list covers essential gear, techniques, and tips inspired by Lordes’ signature style—focused on green light-inspired sound enhancements. Whether you’re looking to amplify your chords, deepen your tone, or simply make your music more powerful, these insights will help you elevate your playing and production.
1. Using Overdrive Pedals for Richer Chords
One of the simplest ways to achieve a bigger, more resonant sound is by incorporating overdrive pedals like the Ibanez Tube Screamer or the Fulltone OCD. These pedals add harmonic complexity without sacrificing clarity, allowing chords to sound fuller and more expressive. When used properly, overdrive can push your guitar tone into a lush territory similar to Lordes’ layered sound, especially during chorus or solo sections.
2. Incorporating Chorus and Modulation Effects
Chorus effects, such as the Boss CE-2 or the TC Electronic Corona, can thicken your sound significantly. They work by duplicating your signal and slightly detuning the copies, creating a shimmering, spacious sound that enhances chords and overall tone. This effect is a staple in achieving that lush, expansive feel found in Lordes’ arrangements, especially when combined with reverb.
3. Upgrading to a Full-Range Amp or PA System
To get bigger sound, your amplifier choice matters. A solid-state PA system or a tube amp with a wide frequency response, like the Fender Twin Reverb or the Kemper Profiling Amp, can produce more volume and clarity across the spectrum. This helps your chords sound more massive and fills the room, mimicking the immersive quality of Lordes’ live performances.
4. Using Larger Chord Voicings and Open Tunings
Expanding your chord vocabulary with open tunings such as Open D or Open G allows for richer, more resonant voicings. These tunings enable you to play full, ringing chords with fewer fingers, creating a bigger sound naturally. Many of Lordes’ most memorable riffs utilize open tunings, which contribute to their spacious, atmospheric feel.
5. Employing Compression for Sustain and Power
A good compressor like the Studio VCA compressor or the Keeley 4 Knob Compressor helps sustain your chords and keeps dynamics even. This results in a more powerful, consistent sound across all strings, making your playing sound larger and more impactful without increasing volume. Compression is especially useful in recording or live settings where clarity and power are essential.
6. Adding Reverb and Space for Depth
Reverb is crucial for creating a sense of space and grandeur. Using a high-quality reverb pedal such as the Strymon BlueSky or a plate reverb plugin can make chords sound as if they’re filling a larger room. Lordes’ lush soundscape is partly achieved through careful reverb application, enhancing the perception of a bigger, more immersive tone.
7. Layering Multiple Guitar Tracks
In studio settings, layering multiple guitar tracks with different voicings and effects can create a thick, expansive sound. For example, combining a clean open-tuned chord with a distorted, overdriven version can produce a richer harmonic texture. This technique is common in achieving the larger-than-life sound that Lordes often employs in her recordings.
8. Upgrading Your Guitar and Pickup Selection
The guitar itself plays a vital role. Instruments with humbuckers or wide-ranging pickups like the Gibson Les Paul or Fender Stratocaster with humbuckers can produce thicker, more powerful tones. Choosing pickups with higher output and wider frequency response helps in crafting a bigger sound, especially when combined with effects and amplification.
9. Mastering Proper Playing Techniques
Playing with sustained finger vibrato, deliberate strumming, and proper muting can significantly influence the perceived size of your sound. Lordes often employs dynamic control and expressive techniques that make chords resonate more fully. Developing these skills ensures your sound is not only big but also emotionally compelling.
10. Leveraging Digital Plugins and Amp Sims
Modern digital tools like Neural DSP plugins, AmpliTube, or Logic’s Amp Designer allow you to craft massive sounds without physical gear. These plugins offer a variety of amp models, cabinets, and effects that can emulate the big, lush tones heard in Lordes’ music. Experimenting with these can help you achieve a bigger, more polished sound in recordings or live setups.
How to Choose
When selecting gear or techniques to get bigger sound and chords, consider your specific needs—whether for live performance or studio recording. Focus on the quality of effects, amp response, and your playing style. It’s also important to balance gear investments with your skill level; sometimes, technique and proper settings matter more than the most expensive equipment. Prioritize versatility, ease of use, and how well the gear complements your existing setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I achieve a bigger sound with just my guitar and amp? Yes, by optimizing your amp settings, using effects like reverb and chorus, and employing open tunings, you can significantly enhance your sound without extra gear.
- What effects are best for making chords sound fuller? Reverb, chorus, and compression are the most effective. Combining these effects can create a spacious, powerful sound similar to Lordes’ style.
- Do I need a special guitar to get bigger chords? Not necessarily. However, guitars with humbuckers or wider pickups can produce thicker tones. Open tunings also help create fuller chords naturally.
- How important is playing technique in achieving a big sound? Extremely important. Techniques like sustained vibrato, precise muting, and dynamic control greatly influence how powerful and resonant your chords sound.
- Are digital amp sims a good alternative to physical gear? Yes, they offer a wide range of tones and effects that can emulate large, lush sounds effectively, especially for recording and practice.
Final Thoughts
Achieving bigger sound and chords inspired by Lordes involves a combination of gear, effects, technique, and tuning choices. While investing in high-quality pedals, amps, and guitars can help, mastering how you play and utilize effects is equally vital. Experimenting with open tunings, layering tracks, and carefully applying reverb and modulation effects will unlock a fuller, richer sound. Whether you’re performing live or recording, these tips will guide you toward creating expansive, powerful musical textures that resonate with the lush aesthetic Lordes exemplifies.
Related
- What Is a Tritone? Examples and Musical Significance
- What to Cover in Your First Drum Lesson: A Complete Guide
- How to Practice More Effectively for Better Skills