Volume Swells for Guitarists

The Art of Volume Swells: How to Make Your Guitar Sing Like the Legends

Learn how to do volume swells on guitar like the pros. Discover pedal steel sounds, chord swell progressions, country bends, and legendary tricks to make your guitar sing with emotion. Perfect for beginners and advanced players.

Why Volume Swells Are a Secret Weapon for Guitarists

Volume swells are one of the most expressive guitar techniques, often used to create smooth, violin-like tones or pedal steel-style bends. By controlling your guitar’s volume knob or using a volume pedal, you can make notes appear out of silence, swell into life, and fade away — perfect for country, ambient, and soulful lead playing.

Guitar greats like Eric Johnson, Jeff Beck, and The Edge have used volume swells to add drama and emotion to their music. Once you learn the technique, you can instantly make your guitar parts sound more polished and professional.

Volume Swells for Guitarists

Volume Swells for Guitarists

What is a Volume Swell?

A volume swell is when you play a note or chord with the volume turned down, then quickly raise the volume to bring the sound in smoothly, avoiding the pick attack noise. It’s like the note fades in naturally, almost like a bowed instrument.

  • The Hidden Guitar Trick That Makes You Sound Like a Pro in 5 Minutes. Why Every Guitarist Should Learn Volume Swells — Even Beginners

How to Do a Volume Swell — The Basics

There are two main ways to do volume swells:

1. Using the Guitar Volume Knob

  • Pick the note or chord with the knob rolled all the way down.

  • Immediately roll it up smoothly while the note rings.

  • Roll it back down before striking the next note.

Exercise:

  1. Set your guitar to a clean tone with light delay or reverb.

  2. On the high E string, fret the 12th fret.

  3. Pick the note with the knob at zero, then swell up to full in one second.

  4. Repeat slowly until smooth.

2. Using a Volume Pedal

  • Play the note with the pedal fully back (volume off).

  • Push forward smoothly to swell in the note.

  • Pull back before the next note to reset.

Pro Tip:
A volume pedal allows both hands to stay in playing position, making it easier for long passages.

Chord Progression Volume Swells

Volume swells aren’t just for single notes — they’re stunning with chords.

Example progression in G major:

Gmaj7 – Cadd9 – Em7 – Dsus4

Play each chord with the volume at zero, swell in over a beat, then let it fade with delay.

Rhythm Chart for Swells:

Beat: 1 2 3 4
Volume: 0 → ↑ ↑ ↓

The Country Bends & Volume Swells Combo

If you want that pedal steel sound, combine country bends with swells.

Example:

  • Fret the G string at the 7th fret and the B string at the 8th fret.

  • Bend the G string a whole step while keeping the B string steady.

  • Swell in the volume so it blooms like a steel guitar.

Artists like Brent Mason and Vince Gill use this for emotional country leads.

Using Volume Swells for Ambient Music

If you’re into post-rock or worship music, swells are essential for creating lush soundscapes.

Gear Tip:

  • Add reverb and delay after the volume pedal for infinite sustain.

  • Layer simple triads and let them fade into each other.

Bands like Explosions in the Sky use this to create cinematic guitar textures.

Advanced Volume Swell Tricks

  • Harmonic Swells: Play natural harmonics at the 12th fret and swell in.

  • Double Stops: Play two notes together for richer swells.

  • Slide into the Swell: Pick a note with volume down, slide up to target fret, swell in.

  • Octave Swells: Play the same note on two strings an octave apart.

Practice Routine for Mastery

Day Exercise Focus
Mon Single-note swells (knob) Smoothness
Tue Chord swells Timing
Wed Country bends + swells Pitch accuracy
Thu Harmonic swells Tone control
Fri Ambient swells with delay Texture
Sat Combine all Musicality
Sun Improv with swells Creativity

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Turning too fast: Causes a harsh attack.

  • Not muting strings: Can create unwanted noise.

  • Too much gain: Makes swells sound messy.

  • No reset: Forgetting to roll down volume before the next note.

Learn From the Legends

  • Jeff Beck – Uses subtle whammy bar vibrato with swells.

  • Eric Johnson – Adds delay and reverb for lush pads.

  • The Edge – Combines swells with rhythmic delay for U2’s ambient textures.

Final Takeaway

Volume swells aren’t just a flashy trick — they’re a way to make your guitar sing, breathe, and cry. Whether you’re after the sweet country pedal steel vibe, the atmospheric ambient wash, or the soaring lead line, this technique adds pure emotion to your playing.

About the Author: James Stratton
James Stratton is deeply passionate about helping guitarists realise their musical potential. His mission is to make music feel accessible, inspiring, and empowering for every learner, no matter their starting point. He believes that with the right guidance, consistent encouragement, and a spark of determination, anyone can learn to play guitar