Best Electric Guitar Pitch & Octave Effects of 2025

* We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
Electric guitar pitch and octave effects are essential tools for any guitarist looking to add depth and character to their sound. These effects allow players to shift the pitch of their guitar up or down by varying degrees, creating unique harmonies and melodies. Octave effects, on the other hand, can double or halve the frequency of the guitar signal, producing a fuller or thinner sound. Common pitch and octave effects include pitch shifters, harmonizers, and octave pedals. These effects can be used in a wide range of genres, from rock and metal to funk and jazz.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Electric Guitar Pitch & Octave Effects
Boss OC-5 Octave Pedal
The Boss OC-5 is a polyphonic octave pedal designed for electric guitar and bass players. With mono/poly modes and 2/-1/+1 octave controls, you can create rich, layered sounds that add depth to your music. The dry direct output ensures that your original sound remains pure even when adding the octave effects.
DigiTech DROP
The DigiTech DROP Compact Polyphonic Drop Tune Pitch-Shifter is a versatile pedal that allows you to easily drop tune your electric guitar. With the polyphonic drop tune feature, you can quickly shift the pitch of your guitar from 1 semi-tone to a full octave down, without having to retune manually. This is especially useful for guitarists who want to experiment with different tunings or play songs that require a lower pitch. The momentary or latching mode footswitch gives you flexibility in how you engage the effect, whether you want it to be temporary or engaged for a longer duration. The true bypass ensures that your guitar's original tone remains unaffected when the effect is not in use. With 33 pitch modes to choose from, you have a wide range of options to create unique sounds. The DigiTech DROP comes with a 9VDC power supply, so you can start using it right away.
BOSS Oc-5 Octave
The BOSS Oc-5 Octave Pedal combines classic BOSS octave tones with advanced tracking technologies to deliver unparalleled performance. Building upon the success of its predecessors, the OC-2 and OC-3, this pedal offers vintage warm mono tones as well as a poly mode for enhanced chord playing. The poly mode allows you to set the note range where the effect is applied, making it perfect for adding depth and richness to your chord progressions. Additionally, the pedal features a new octave-up effect that can be used on its own for 12-string sounds or blended with the octave-down effects for extended chord voicings and fat leads. With a dedicated mode switch for guitar or bass, the OC-5 ensures accurate response and a natural feel with no latency. Experience the next level of octave pedal performance with the BOSS Oc-5 Octave Pedal.
Donner EMBARK 06 Octave Pedal
The Donner Octave Guitar Pedal is designed to enhance your playing experience with three distinct octave sounds, allowing you to create unique tones reminiscent of vintage 8-bit music and classic organs. You can personalize the pedal's appearance with DIY stickers or decorations, showcasing your creativity. With its low latency circuit, this pedal minimizes audio delays, ensuring crisp sound for both high and low frequencies. Its solid aluminum alloy construction makes it durable enough for regular use on stage, maintaining consistent performance through every gig.
TC Electronic NETHER OCTAVER Pedal
The TC Electronic NETHER OCTAVER is a classic all-analog octave pedal that enhances your guitar's sound by adding one or two octaves below the original signal. This feature is perfect for musicians looking to enrich their tone with warm, deep bass notes. It also includes true bypass, ensuring that your signal remains pure when the pedal is not in use. The pedal's sturdy metal chassis is built to withstand the rigors of performance, making it a reliable choice for any guitarist. With this pedal, you can elevate your music to new depths and dimensions.
Behringer ULTRA OCTAVER UO300 Pedal
The Behringer ULTRA OCTAVER UO300 Pedal is a versatile effects pedal that can create a monster sound by adding two additional tones to your guitar—one and two octaves below the original tone. The pedal is designed to compete with other leading products in the market and features volume controls for all three tones, allowing for optimal sound shaping. Additionally, it includes a flexible 3-mode Range switch for ultimate bass performance, and a Status LED to indicate effect on/off and battery check.
DigiTech Whammy DT Effects Pedal Bundle
The DigiTech Whammy DT offers true polyphonic pitch shifting and Whammy effects all in one compact pedal, making it perfect for guitarists seeking versatility. You can easily drop or raise your tuning by up to seven half steps or even an entire octave, allowing you to explore a wide range of sounds. The momentary footswitch feature lets you create Hammer-on and Pull-off effects effortlessly, enhancing your playing style. Additionally, the FS3X input enables you to select Whammy and Drop Tune settings hands-free, giving you more freedom to focus on your performance.
MXR M288 Bass Octave Deluxe
The MXR M288 Bass Octave Deluxe is an electric guitar pitch and octave effects pedal that provides exceptional headroom and tracking with its Constant Headroom Technology (CHT). Its true bypass feature ensures that your guitar's tone remains organic and analog. With two independent octave voices, you can achieve a wide range of sounds. The Mid+ switch allows for a midrange boost at a user-selected frequency, adding further versatility to the pedal.
DigiTech DROPBK Drop Tune Pedal
The DigiTech Drop Tune Pedal offers exceptional versatility for musicians. With its polyphonic drop tuning feature, you can easily lower your pitch from one semitone to a full octave, allowing for creative experimentation in your music. The pedal includes a momentary or latching mode footswitch, giving you control over how you activate your effects. Plus, it comes with a 9VDC power supply, ensuring you’re ready to play right out of the box. With nine different pitch modes, you have a wealth of options at your fingertips, making it convenient to explore various soundscapes.
SONICAKE Modulation Pedal 11 Modes
The SONICAKE Modulation Pedal offers 11 digital modes, including Chorus, Vibrato, Flanger, Phaser, Tremolo, Univibe, Auto Wah, Bitcrush, and more. Its tap tempo function allows for real-time RATE control, and the special design buffer bypass circuit keeps your sound pristine. This pedal requires a 9V center negative regular pedal power supply (not included).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are octave pedals good for?
Octave pedals add an octave above or below a played note, creating a doubling effect. They can balance the volume of the doubled note with the clean signal, allowing for a harmonious blend. Originally, analog octave pedals could only pitch one note at a time, limiting them to monophonic use.
2. Should octave pedals go before or after distortion?
Traditionally, octave pedals are positioned before any distortion or drive effects. This is because they work best when receiving a clear signal. Placing them before distortion allows for effective note tracking and optimal combination with other effects in the signal chain.
3. What octave should my guitar be in?
The standard tuning for a guitar, in scientific pitch notation, is E2–A2–D3–G3–B3–E4. It's important to note that the guitar is a transposing instrument, meaning the music for guitars is notated one octave higher than the actual pitch.
4. Is the 12th fret an octave higher?
Yes, the 12th fret on a guitar is an octave higher than the open string. This octave distance can be divided into 12 semitones, with each fret representing one semitone. For example, playing the open 1st string (high E string) and then playing the same string at the 12th fret will produce an E note, but an octave higher.
5. What octave pedal did Hendrix use?
Jimi Hendrix used the Octavia, an effects pedal designed for him by his sound technician, Roger Mayer. The Octavia reproduces the guitar's input signal one octave higher in pitch and combines it with the original signal, creating a unique sound with added distortion and fuzz.
6. What is the difference between pitch shifter and octaver?
Pitch shifters and octavers are both types of pedals that change the pitch of the guitar's signal. Octave pedals usually add a tone that is one or two octaves above or below the original note, while pitch shifters can produce various pitch changes, including thirds, fifths, and multiple octaves up or down.
7. What is the best order to put guitar effects pedals in?
For pedalboard setups, some common placement suggestions are: dynamics (compressors), filters (wah), pitch shifters, and volume pedals typically go at the beginning of the signal chain. Gain-based effects like overdrive and distortion pedals usually come after these effects.
8. Where does an octave pedal go in the chain?
Octave and pitch effects are commonly placed at the front of the signal chain, after tuners and volume pedals. This placement ensures a clean input signal, allowing for accurate note tracking by the octave pedal.
9. How do I make my electric guitar sound like a bass?
To make an electric guitar sound like a bass, you can use an octave effects pedal. This pedal adds an octave below the played notes, giving the guitar a bass-like tone. Other techniques to achieve a bass-like sound include using the neck pickup, lowering the tone control, and using heavier gauge strings.
During our electric guitar pitch & octave effect research, we found 24 electric guitar pitch & octave effect products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 24,052 customer reviews through our big data system to write the electric guitar pitch & octave effects list. We found that most customers choose electric guitar pitch & octave effects with an average price of $163.24.
The electric guitar pitch & octave effects are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of electric guitar pitch & octave effects, including BOSS, DigiTech, Donner, TC Electronic, Behringer. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Joseph Hubbard is a music producer and runs a musical instrument store in Chicago. Joseph is happy to help others choose the instrument that best suits their needs. He loves everything related to music and often publishes articles related to music on key websites.
Electric Guitar Pitch & Octave Effects Comparison Table
#TOP1
|
#TOP2
|
#TOP3
|
#TOP4
|
#TOP5
|
#TOP6
|
#TOP7
|
#TOP8
|
#TOP9
|
#TOP10
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brand | BOSS | DigiTech | BOSS | Donner | TC Electronic | Behringer | DigiTech | MXR | DigiTech | SONICAKE |
Style | Bass | Pedal only | OC-5 | octave | Classic | ULTRA OCTAVER UO300 | Classic | Bass Octave Deluxe | Black Limited Edition | Buffer,Wah,Chorus,Modulation |
Item Weight | 1.15 Pounds | 1 Pounds | 1.08 pounds | 7.4 ounces | 0.4 Kilograms | 11.7 ounces | 1.38 pounds | 2.46 ounces | 1 Pounds | 8.1 ounces |
Color | Brown, Black | Red | Black | - | Brown, Black | Black and Silver | Red, Black | Blue | Black | Modulation |
Voltage | - | - | 9 Volts | 9.0 | 9 | 9 | 9 Volts | 18 Volts | 9 Volts (DC) | 9 Volts |
Color Name | - | - | Black | - | - | Black and Silver | Red, Black | Blue | - | Modulation |
Signal Format | - | - | Analog | - | - | Analog | Analog | Analog | - | Analog |
Power Source | - | - | Corded Electric | - | - | Stud | Corded Electric | Battery Powered | - | Corded Electric |
FTB Score |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Where to Buy |