The Guitar Pedalboard
Effects order matters. Wah→distortion sounds completely different from distortion→wah. The pedalboard IS a signal chain you can rearrange.
Order Matters
Each effect transforms the signal for the next one in line. Distortion before reverb means the reverb processes an already-distorted signal, normal for rock guitar, where the amp's natural overdrive feeds into the room. Reverb before distortion means the distortion crushes the reverb tail along with the dry signal, producing a chaotic, washy texture popular in shoegaze. Same two pedals, opposite order, completely different sound.
The Chain
Guitarists arrange pedals on a physical board in a specific order. The most common convention is: wah → distortion → chorus → delay → reverb. But rules are made to be broken. Drag the pedals below to reorder them and hear why the convention exists, and what happens when you break it.
Try it: start with "Classic Rock" and listen. Then drag Reverb before Distortion to hear the difference. Click a pedal to bypass it.