TOM MORELLO’S GUITAR STYLE & MUSICAL IMPACT

Music lovers may have first found themselves introduced to Tom Morello in the mid-’90s and early aughts with his work with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. Morello made an impact on the sound of modern guitar with his eclectic, experimental style – getting creative with pedals, effects, feedback, and finding innovative ways to make new sounds.

Morello has lent his originality to countless collaborations and spanned multiple genres with his own solo projects, working with both established and emerging artists. As The Nightwatchman, Morello got to flex some of his folk music muscles as a solo project, tapping into a genre near and dear to his heart. He’s also played with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, as well as created memorable collaborations with Knife Party, The Pretty Reckless, Phantogram, Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and GZA, and even more musicians that reads like a who’s who list.

One of the most recognizable features of Tom Morello’s playing is his use of effects. While too many effects can often overpower a song, Morello makes great use of them – creating soundscapes that work with the song instead of against it, all without sacrificing genuine feelling.

Morello’s signature Fender Stratocaster features a locking tremolo system and built-in kill switch, giving guitarists the opportunity to tinker with some of the techniques Tom is most known for. The kill switch allows you to cut the guitar tone or switch it on and off, producing an effect that really packs a punch.

Morello also favors a variety of pedals and effects strung together and run through an effects loop. Guitarists inclined to replicate his tone or experiment with their own sound can eventually take a page out of Tom’s book, chaining together a custom configuration of pedals or experimenting with Fender Tone Presets that work with select amps.