Octave pedals are one of those effects that instantly make your guitar sound bigger, wider, and way more fun to play. Want fat, bass-like riffs? Easy. Need your solos to jump out of the mix? Done. Chasing synth-style or ambient textures? An octave pedal gets you there fast.
In this post, we’re looking at the best octave pedals available right now, covering everything from compact budget options to pro-level pedals that track beautifully on chords.
What Does an Octave Pedal Actually Do?
An octave pedal takes your guitar or bass signal and adds notes one or more octaves above or below what you’re playing.
Some pedals work best with single notes (old-school, gritty, analog vibes), while others are polyphonic, meaning they can handle full chords without glitching out.
Quick things to think about:
- Do you want octave down, octave up, or both?
- Are you playing mostly single notes or chords?
- Do you want clean, digital sounds or rougher analog character?
- How much pedalboard space do you have?
The Best Octave Pedals Right Now
Boss OC-5 – Best All-Round Octave Pedal
If you just want one octave pedal that works in almost any situation, the Boss OC-5 is hard to beat. It tracks really well, sounds great on both guitar and bass, and even includes a vintage mode inspired by the classic OC-2.
Why it’s so popular:
🔥Great tracking, even on low notes
🔥Polyphonic mode for chords
🔥Vintage mode for classic octave tones
🔥Built like a tank (it’s Boss, after all)
Best for: Players who want one solid, no-nonsense octave pedal.
Electro-Harmonix Pico POG – Clean, Polyphonic, and Simple
The Pico POG is a smaller version of EHX’s famous POG pedals, and it sounds fantastic. You get super clean octave up and down sounds, and it handles chords with no problem.
What’s good about it:
🔥Excellent polyphonic tracking
🔥Very clean, clear sound
🔥Small footprint on your pedalboard
Best for: Clean tones, ambient playing, worship, and chord work.
TC Electronic Sub ’N’ Up – Most Flexible Option
The Sub ’N’ Up is a really versatile octave pedal. You can switch between clean polyphonic octaves and more old-school mono sounds. On top of that, you can load custom TonePrints if you like tweaking.
Why it’s cool:
🔥Multiple octave modes
🔥TonePrint support for custom sounds
🔥Works well on guitar and bass
Best for: Players who like to experiment and dial things in.
Mooer Tender Octaver X2 – Small, Affordable, Gets the Job Done
If pedalboard space (or budget) is tight, the Mooer Tender Octaver X2 is a great little pedal. It’s easy to use, sounds good for the price, and does both octave up and down.
What to expect:
🔥Compact size
🔥Simple controls
🔥Solid performance for a mini pedal
Best for: Small boards, home setups, and gigging on a budget.
Digitech Whammy V – For Big, Wild Octave Sounds
The Whammy is a classic for a reason. It’s not just an octave pedal — it lets you sweep between pitches using an expression pedal, which opens up a whole world of crazy sounds.
Why people love it:
🔥Expression-controlled pitch shifting
🔥Huge octave jumps
🔥Instantly recognizable sound
Best for: Rock, experimental playing, and expressive solos.
EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2 – Raw Analog Octave Up
If you like fuzz and old-school weirdness, the Tentacle V2 is a fun pedal. It’s an analog octave-up effect that sounds aggressive and slightly unpredictable — in a good way.
Good stuff:
🔥Analog octave-up circuit
🔥Simple layout
🔥Tons of character
Best for: Fuzz fans and vintage-style tones.
Best Budget Octave Pedals
If you don’t want to spend too much, these are solid picks:
Mooer Pure Octave – Cheap, simple, and usable
Mooer Purer Octave – A bit more control, still affordable
They’re not as fancy as the big-name pedals, but they’re great for getting started.
Tips for Using an Octave Pedal
Use octave down to fatten up riffs or fake bass lines
Add octave up to solos for extra cut
Stack octaves with fuzz or distortion for synth-like sounds
Pair with delay and reverb for ambient textures
Try it before and after drive pedals — it changes everything
So, Which One Should You Go For?
Want a safe, reliable choice? → Boss OC-5
Playing lots of chords? → EHX Pico POG
Like tweaking and presets? → TC Sub ’N’ Up
Tight budget or small board? → Mooer Tender Octaver X2
Want wild, expressive effects? → Digitech Whammy V
Love raw analog tones? → EQD Tentacle V2
Final Thoughts
Octave pedals are insanely fun and surprisingly useful. Once you add one to your board, you’ll start finding excuses to turn it on all the time.
Whether you want subtle thickness or full-on pitch-shift madness, there’s an octave pedal out there that’ll fit your style — and probably inspire a few new riffs along the way.
