Minimalist Ambient Guitar Setup: How To Create Amazing Ambient Songs With Only 2 Pedals

►► A Beginner's Guide To Ambient Guitar: Free Mini-Course 🎁
→ www.ambientguitaracademy.com/...
►► Get your EHX Canyon Delay here (this Sweetwater affiliate link supports my work at no extra cost to you. Thank you! 😊)
→ sweetwater.sjv.io/KjvWQa
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There are no more excuses not to write your own ambient guitar looping music.
Even if you have a very small budget for only 1 or 2 mid-priced guitar pedals, you can make amazing music, and I am proving it in this video!
I show you how I take a single delay pedal and stretch its limits to create all sorts of sounds and textures to create layers for an ambient song.
I hope this will inspire you to start making music even if you don't have a big pedalboard like everyone else.
The truth is that you don't need to have one to get started. 1 pedal is enough!
Enjoy the video :-)
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► Full list of the pedals and gear I use to make music (these Sweetwater affiliate links support my work at no extra cost to you. Thank you! 😊)
- Singular Sound Aeros Looper Gold Edition (get 10% off by entering ANTOINE10 at checkout): www.singularsound.com/product...
- Strymon BigSky: sweetwater.sjv.io/rQqBPR
- Strymon Timeline: sweetwater.sjv.io/JzvW0R
- Strymon El Capistan: sweetwater.sjv.io/4PxqY9
- Strymon Ola: sweetwater.sjv.io/21LJ6O
- Strymon Iridium: sweetwater.sjv.io/zN5O2M
- Mission Engineering VM Pro: sweetwater.sjv.io/6eQD4N
- EHX Micro POG: sweetwater.sjv.io/eK5jjZ
- EHX Mel9: sweetwater.sjv.io/m5J1NM
- TC Electronic Polytune: sweetwater.sjv.io/PyvnnM
- Vox AC15 with Alnico Blue speaker: sweetwater.sjv.io/QyvEE9
- eBow Plus: sweetwater.sjv.io/4PxMoo
- Mogami Gold Cables: sweetwater.sjv.io/XYvKBg
- George L’s Patch Cables: sweetwater.sjv.io/OrvWjA
- Arturia Keylab 88: sweetwater.sjv.io/ZQvR51
- Arturia Keylab 49: sweetwater.sjv.io/AW1537
- Focusrite Scarlett 18i8: sweetwater.sjv.io/AW155J
- Shure SM57: sweetwater.sjv.io/VmvddJ
- Shure SM7B: sweetwater.sjv.io/XYvE5y
- Sennheiser MKE 600: sweetwater.sjv.io/0ZMzBY
- Yamaha HS8 Studio Monitors: sweetwater.sjv.io/OrvELK
- Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 4x4: sweetwater.sjv.io/R5NED2
- Sennheiser HD280 Pro: sweetwater.sjv.io/4PxMBL
- Pedaltrain Classic Pro: sweetwater.sjv.io/NkvEYP
- Cubase Artist: sweetwater.sjv.io/Y9vKkK
- Strymon BigSky Plugin: sweetwater.sjv.io/m5J1ky
More lessons and music:
► Ambient Guitar Academy: ambientguitaracademy.com/
► My Studio Albums : monochromeseasons.bandcamp.com
Subscribe:
►► kzbin.info...
This is the Ambient Guitar youtube channel of Canadian multi-instrumentist Antoine Michaud. Through original ambient music, chordal guitar lessons and tips on guitar pedals, Antoine is looking to educate and inspire aspiring ambient musicians to learn everything about the world of ambient guitar and chordal voicings on guitar.

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

►► Get your EHX Canyon Delay here (this Sweetwater affiliate link supports my work at no extra cost to you. Thank you! 😊) → sweetwater.sjv.io/KjvWQa

[@attentionaddicts]

For anyone on a budget, check out the Ammoon pockverb (reverb+ delay) or pockecho (delay+looper)

[@adamwieczorek7701]

Inspiring, simply, the best. Nice combo, like hammer & nails😊

[@stockholm1752]

Even with some experience, it’s good to watch. You picked out some simple methods for interesting textures, and showed how to apply them with the basic tools. 👍

[@CSGPhotos]

This was a great tutorial for layering

[@zosojstro]

Excellent video!! Love your content always gain new insights

[@anamorphica6863]

thanks, that was quite informative and inspiring

[@petergraham9267]

That was superb! I have both of those pedals and never thought I could do this with them! Every other ambient video would have me spending thousands to get this sort of sound. Great video 👍

[@jasonbukovinsky4512]

Canyon pedal is awesome!!!!!!! Really all you need for great ambience

[@rustysguitar1]

I like this video! Keep it simple!

[@micPfleAmig]

Thanks so much thats awesome simple but madgic ambient sound

[@tuvalpollack5131]

Thanks Antoine, after buying the Oceans 11 this year and being completely surprised by it I really wondered about the canyon. This video totally sold it on me, gonna order one right away!

[@BrianPellerin]

Perfect presentation

[@softpillow9596]

Very inspiring! 👏

[@crnkmnky]

I just searched for ‘how ambient pedals minimal’ and the algorithm pushed this fresh upload to the top of the list! 👍

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Very timely!

[@BrianPellerin]

Same!!

[@vondoobie4203]

Me too

[@johnsmith-lb4mo]

Fantastic example, love your channel

[@thewindowguy43]

Excellent lesson 🙏

[@MbahEndro]

great ideas🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@scooter5005]

Yep, inspiring and instruction! Thank you

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Thank you for watching, Carl :-)

[@romannievas3646]

Great tip!!! Thanks

[@rishi9881]

Really like the kind of music you're playing

[@meganserhan3258]

I learn so much quality information from your videos, Antoine. It is really appreciated, thank you! 🙏

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

My pleasure, Megan!

[@karelkin9]

I like all of your tutorial videos... simple & inspiring... well done and keep it up ❤️👌

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@johnfrewin7717]

Very well done bravo 👍🇬🇧🎸

[@kylemitchell6866]

Antoine! This is exactly what I was looking for. I just got back into guitar recently, I grew a little tired of playing rock riffs and stumbled across the ambient guitar and fell in love. Now that I see I can do it on a budget, this is just what I needed. Also, your mini-course I will dive into shortly as well. Thank you for your videos, they are great, love your music as well.

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Thanks Kyle :-)

[@sebastian36333]

Cant stop replaying 3:23-3:30 🙌

[@leighpilkington-gittus618]

Very inspiring video

[@micPfleAmig]

Thank u so much...greetings from tambobo bay philippines..

[@GaveMeGrace1]

Thank you

[@franqkbernard]

Good job, ca donne des idées

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Ça fait plaisir!

[@micPfleAmig]

Thank u friend

[@liaisons6227]

Smart!

[@ericarcher203]

Hi Antoine. Great lessons, I'm enjoying them a lot and learning lots of cool stuff. What are you thoughts on playing ambient guitar on an acoustic? Would for instance the same delay pedals work for acoustic or do you need another set-up? Thanks, Eric

[@niloben659]

Nice video.

[@gebhardmeilinger8578]

MOOER Ocean Machine: 2 Delays + freakin Reverb (give a shit on hifi-quality) and a built in looper !!

[@mijit.859]

That sounds really good 👍🏻 😨

[@jp_guitarmusic]

Just got a Flamma FS22 . Cost me 90eur new. Couldn't be happier

[@johnduval482]

Excellent! Once again I have to re-think my approach. LOL.. going from a sixteen panel Serge Modular to essentially nothing I’ve had to embrace “less is more” and you are helping immensely.

[@analogdistortion2906]

for a followup vid would be interested to see how good a minimalist stereo setup could sound, like just a flamma ekoverb and the ditto stereo or something, might have to pick those up and try it

[@redskysaturn75]

The mooer d7 and sonicake sonic ambience are two other affordable pedals great for minimalist set ups.

[@joellebrodeur1015]

I have more than two pedals (EQD Astral Destiny, EQD Space Spiral, TC Flashback 2, TC 3rd Dimension Chorus, TC Honey Pot Fuzz, Joyo Vintage OD). I also have the Mooer GE150 (multi effect) which has a looper function, so I could mess around just on that or use it in conjunction with the others. In the end, I may ditch the Mooer, Joyo and fuzz in favor of the others and add the Ditto looper. I love ambient, but I do other music hence why I have those other pedals.

[@speedwell0560]

Can’t decide which pedal to buy next, Canyon, Memory Man, Memory Boy or Digitech Obscura. Have a few EHX which I love, not sure to stick with EHX or try Digitech. Canyons seems more versatile Nice vids, subscribed 👌

[@sathor9721]

I use the Grand Canyon. Very nice pedal

[@VideoGameStoryTime]

I have watched this video a dozen times over the past two days, it's so interesting! As someone who wants to learn ambient guitar and who doesn't have any pedals yet, I've been trying to find how to get started. This video is great for showing me the basics of how to get a lot out of a minimal set-up. I particularly appreciate how you talk through the process of finding different effects and show the process in real time. In my experience there are a lot of KZbinrs who think they can teach skills just because they have the skills themselves, but they're often very bad at actually explaining what they're doing in a way that makes sense. In contrast, I think you do a great job of actually teaching, not just playing a pretty song. This video is exactly what I've been looking for. I've subscribed to your channel and checked out a few other videos, and I'm going to try out your beginner's course as well. Thank you!

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Awesome! Thanks a lot :-)

[@MrKeefelm]

It’s interesting that EHX make clones of their own pedals

[@pratyulmusic]

how owuld you recommend boss DD8 ? love your channel susbscribed

[@SandauxBeats]

This is awesome, maaan! I have the Canyon and 720 Looper. By the way, have you tried mixing your ambient sound with like a dirt pedal?

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Sometimes, yes. I talk about it in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmiQl5KPZbqjntU

[@adventurelover6955]

hello, ypur videos are amazing. I have one question, probably extremely basic one for you :) I see in subways some guitarists that play (ang generally sing) some famous songs but they have base guitar and drum playing at the background. Like a guitar karaoke. How it is being done?

[@coreyw5981]

Video is great but i almost cant go without reverb lol. so much id almost choose that over delay as the one and only. Or just get good ol dispatch master!

[@bass3966]

Tasty 👍

[@teknical100]

You can do it on a Boss ME-80, it has two delays, freeze and a volume pedal too.

[@galenanderson2541]

My me-80 has 3 delays. I also have the me-50 and me-70.So that makes 6 delays.Good stuff!🥴

[@teknical100]

@@galenanderson2541 Blimey the 80 does have 3 delays! However, it's at the expense of almost everything else. I can't seem to part with my 70 and 50 too, they are all different.

[@wretch1]

The canyon has a built in 62 second looper also.

[@BluegumCounterpoint]

Zoom multistomp is brilliant for low budget / minimalist ambient

[@alienboy2783]

Thats crazy. I literally just got mine in the mail yesterday. Can't wait to mess around with it.

[@noesunyoutuber7680]

A Zoom MS-70CDR and a looper could easily do a whole ambient guitar album, especially with the slow attack and slow attack delay effects.

[@wretch1]

The Gx1 four with a separate looper is all you need. It has fantastic delays and reverbs. If it had a longer lopper time, it would be the only pedal needed.

[@cryora]

@@wretch1 Is the volume pedal on it good? Doesn't look like the output is stereo.

[@mr.d.572]

I am looking to get a new reverb pedal for lush ambient tones, not sure which to pick yet. I currently have the EHX Canyon and really like a few of the settings but want something with even more reverb functions. I like the Walrus Audio Slö or Slötvå, but also like the Earthquaker Devices Dispatch Master, Earthquaker Devices Avalanche Run, Wampler Ethereal Ambient Delay & Reverb, Walrus Audio Fathom, Source Audio Collider, etc. And now there is the Line 6 DL4 Mkii. It's overwhelming to figure out which to choose!

[@garthosborn8400]

Hey Mr. D. I have done tons of ambient guitar research and watched hundreds of pedal demos and reviews The first pedal that got my attention was the Walrus Audio Slo. I was going down the ambient rabbit hole. So many choices, many of the same you checked out. I went with my first instinct and got the WA Slo. No regrets at all! It's full of dreamy textures but can do dark and creepy as well. I already have a Nu-X Atlantic reverb/delay, so I can work on my tones and technique. Good luck to you!

[@mr.d.572]

@@garthosborn8400 Thanks - about a month ago I actually bought a Walrus Audio Slo from eBay. It was horrible, I had to send it back! It generated all these weird clanging noises that drive me nuts. I thought there was a defect in the pedal but the seller did not and we argued for a while until I told her I'd pay to send it back. She accepted but wasn't too happy, but at least I got my $130 back. Haven't decided on anything else so far but I did get a Fender Champion amp that has effects so I've been playing with that lately. Glad you found something you're happy with. I'm still watching the odd reverb pedal video here and there but I'm not as eager as I was after that last experience...!

[@Kendall_Rogers]

Check out the beautiful noise effects when the sun explodes. It’s pricey but a phenomenal reverb. If I could only have one pedal that’s the one I’d choose and I wouldn’t even have to think about it

[@KevinLaurico]

Can’t you do both with just the Grand Canyon Delay/Looper?

[@CousinOlivier]

Less is more! 👍👏😉

[@ufosigma]

The canyon is an excellent pedal. Have you tried the *secret* functions? It really shows the power of that little pedal.

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Yes, I did adjust them before filming this video. That's why the shimmer sound had some tasty modulation on it ;-)

[@ufosigma]

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar Excellent! It really gives you a lot of options in the sound.

[@mr.d.572]

I have the EHX Canyon....how do I access the "secret functions"?

[@mr.d.572]

@Dob Gob Thanks. I'll look up some videos on what to do next to tweak settings.

[@marcusstrymon693]

Unpopular opinion (bill from chords of orion would disagree so much) :i would picka reverb pedal over delay if i had just 1 pedal. also on the bigsky there is a delay (magneto) which is beside the point as we were talking about minimalist setup for which bigsky is too expensive. I guess if i could have 2 cheap peadals i would pick up a boss rv6 and a fuzz/distortion hybrid pedal and for loops you have cubase. of course only if i already had an amp if i didnt have an amp then it would be reverb plus iridium and cubase.

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Delay or reverb, any of them would be fine, but in my opinion there is more variety in multi-mode delay pedals to stretch them and make reverb, chorus, and all kinds of modulations. But some reverb pedals might be interesting for that too.

[@marcusstrymon693]

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar Most ambient guys would pick delay but nah not for me

[@alienboy2783]

Thats why you get a pedal that does both

[@marcusstrymon693]

@@alienboy2783 Or you are like most ambient guitarists and get 1 reverb pedal and 50 delay pedals XD

[@marcusstrymon693]

@@alienboy2783 Jokes aside, i am so very glad that i could finally afford all 3, the strymon mobius, timeline and bigsky about a year ago. That definately changed the way I do recording nowadays.

[@StevieZero]

Cheap£25 Behringer fx600 pedal works just as good

[@thomasor7920]

Could you also use ONLY the canyon? Because it also has a looper function right?

[@shaunkemp9710]

I think the problem with only using the canyon for looping is that the loop option is one of the effect choices so you couldn’t then switch to different effect option and layer up like he does in the video

[@thomasor7920]

@@shaunkemp9710 Oh that would make sense, thanks!

[@theswanlake2886]

What brand strat is that

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Suhr

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

Boss DD-7

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

The Boss DD-3 was my first delay pedal about 15 years ago!

[@noesunyoutuber7680]

I own a DD-7, it would be great if it could loop and act as a delay at the same time. But it can't, so functionally it's just a more expensive Ditto or a less useful delay.

[@Rebecca-ho5nh]

Hey, I’m really new to pedals, I wanted to know if this pedal(or pedals of similar specs) are only powered by 9v batteries? Can it be powered by a power plug? Also, what’s the additional function of the ditto pedal when it looks like the canyon can also do the same thing by itself...

[@joellebrodeur1015]

Not many pedals run off battery and for those that do (TC Electronic, for example) can be run on 9v DC plug. You're not stuck either way👍

[@chrisb3389]

You need the Ditto looper because the looper on the Canyon pedal cannot be used at the same time as the delay/reverb effects, so if you want the Canyon effects looped, you need a different looper pedal.

[@luizreiiz]

A totally newbie question. Can I just use a guitar, an audio interface, a headphone, on Studio One 4 PRO (using some amps and effects plugins), to pratice and record ambient guitar music?

[@chantsfax]

yes

[@noesunyoutuber7680]

All of that would be good, but you'll want to explore the world of free plug-ins for the best reverbs and delays to fit that ambient sound. Looping also might be difficult without a foot pedal to stop and start looping while playing. Midi ones that you can use for digital effects that have midi capability exist.

[@coolusername9077]

*Minimalist set up* Me: niceee all the things I could do with that sweet pedal *costs +200 dollars* *Takes out dusty classical guitar and cries while playing a Latin waltz*

[@macewen1]

Couple hundred bucks? The canyon costs about $150 all by itself :)

[@crnkmnky]

😬 quality over quantity? I ought to sell a few budget pedals that don’t _spark joy,_ and look for a used Canyon. _… grammatically, $250 does count as a couple of hundred of bucks…_

[@drb9223]

Why are you playing a $3000 guitar on your budget setup?