Tremolo
Rhythmic volume pulsing — the signal's loudness rises and falls in a steady cycle.
What it does
Tremolo rapidly and rhythmically increases and decreases the volume of your signal. The classic tremolo sound is heard in vintage Fender amplifiers, rockabilly, surf guitar, and country music — a hypnotic, pulsing quality that adds movement and groove without changing the tone character itself. The Shape control lets you move from a smooth sine-wave pulse to a more clipped, aggressive waveform.
Parameters
| Parameter | Range | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rate | 0.1–12 Hz | 4 Hz | The speed of the volume pulse. Slow Rate (~1–2 Hz) = lazy, gentle pulse; moderate Rate (~4–6 Hz) = classic tremolo feel; fast Rate (~8–12 Hz) = chopper / helicopter effect |
| Depth | 0–100% | 70% | How much the volume varies. Low Depth = subtle, barely-there wave; high Depth = the volume drops to near silence at the bottom of each cycle, creating a more dramatic stutter |
| Shape | 0–100% | 0% | Morphs the LFO waveform from a smooth sine wave (0%) to a more clipped, asymmetric wave (100%). Intermediate values produce a rounder but noticeably asymmetric pulse |
| Mix | 0–100% | 100% | Blends the tremolo effect with the dry signal. Reducing Mix softens the tremolo depth by bringing the constant dry signal underneath the pulsing wet signal |
Tips
- Set Rate to match your song's tempo. A quarter-note tremolo at 120 BPM = 2 Hz; dotted-eighth = 2.67 Hz; eighth note = 4 Hz. Lock the pulse to the groove and the effect reinforces the rhythm.
- Depth at 60–80% is the sweet spot for most players — deep enough to hear clearly, not so deep that the signal disappears between pulses.
- Shape above 50% produces the staccato "chop" used in reggae and certain funk rhythms — the volume cuts off sharply rather than easing in and out.
- Tremolo after the amp and cab, before reverb. Putting reverb after tremolo means the reverb fills in the gaps slightly, which can sound natural and musical.
- Classic tremolo tone: clean amp, Rate ~4 Hz, Depth ~65%, Shape 0% — smooth and musical.