Fuzz is a distinctive type of distortion effect used in guitar playing, known for producing a thick, saturated, and buzzy tone. Unlike other distortion effects that aim to mimic the sound of overdriven tube amplifiers, fuzz pedals create a more extreme and aggressive distortion by severely clipping the guitar signal. This results in a unique sound characterized by rich harmonics, extended sustain, and a pronounced edge. Key features of fuzz pedals include gain, tone, and level controls. The gain control adjusts the amount of distortion applied to the signal, with higher settings producing more aggressive tones. The tone control allows musicians to shape the frequency response of the effect, ranging from dark and bass-heavy to bright and treble-focused sounds. Lastly, the level control sets the overall output, ensuring that the fuzz effect matches the volume of the rest of the signal chain or amplifier.

Fuzz pedals are popular across various music genres, particularly in rock, blues, and psychedelic music, due to their ability to enhance different guitar-playing styles. For rhythmic riffs, fuzz pedals create thick and aggressive tones with plenty of sustain and grit, adding depth to power chords, riffs, and palm-muted passages. In lead solos, they allow guitarists to achieve soaring, saturated tones with singing sustain and harmonically rich overtones, helping solos stand out in a mix.

Fuzz pedals are versatile tools for creating experimental sounds, capable of producing oscillating feedback, glitchy textures, and otherworldly tones when pushed to their extremes. Overall, fuzz pedals offer guitarists a powerful means of shaping their tone and adding character to their playing. Whether used subtly for warmth or dialled up for extreme distortion, fuzz pedals inspire creativity and expand the sonic palette of any guitarist.