Towards a Lexicon for Distortion Pedals

This chapter identifies and investigates the auditory impact distortion pedals impart on the source signal and how best to define, discuss, and classify their individual and collective, sonic signatures. Focusing on four classic pedals, the Ibanez Tube Screamer, Boss DS1, ProCo Rat and Electro-Harmonix Big Muff, the research consists of two qualitative studies using text mining, grounded theory, and a listening experiment. The studies aim to gather semantic descriptors about the pedals and explore the objective meaning of these terms. Additionally, differences in terms used for low, medium, and high gain amounts are examined to ascertain common parlance as a function of gain. The results suggest that certain descriptors fit specific distortion styles and that terms can be mapped to gain and coded as positive or negative terminology.