Tone Settings for Kids by MGMT (guitar and amp)

1. Volume

• Set guitar volume knob to around 8–10 for full clarity and attack.
• Let your amp or effects chain handle overall loudness control.
• Avoid turning volume too low, as it can impact clarity of synth-like tones.

2. Tone

• Keep tone knob at full (10) or slightly rolled down (7–8) for smoother highs.
• Use amp settings with moderate bass, scooped mids, and bright treble—focus on clarity.
• Dial in effects like chorus, flanger, or phaser to replicate the modulated, dreamy vibe.

3. Pickup Selector

• Bridge pickup for sharper, cutting synth-style leads.
• Middle pickup can provide balance for rhythm parts.
• Avoid neck pickup unless purposely going for darker textures.

4. Humbucker or Single Coil Preferred?

• Single-coil preferred for bright, jangly, and articulate tones.
• Humbucker can work if coil-splitting is available—opt for cleaner, chimey settings.
• Overall, a Strat-style guitar with single coils gives the most authentic tonal base.

5. Ideal Guitar Type (Electric – Strat-style)

• Fender Stratocaster or similarly styled guitar with standard single-coil pickups.
• Maple neck and alder or ash body for added brightness and sustain.
• Comfortable access to modulation and expression pedals is essential for tone shaping.

• Fender Jazzmaster: Ideal for jangly, modulated tones used in synth-heavy indie rock.
• Boss CE-2W Chorus: Provides lush stereo chorus textures reminiscent of the song’s dreamy atmosphere.
• Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi: Delivers smooth, sustaining fuzz for gritty melodic lines.
• Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler: Useful for ambient delay layering and looping parts of the song.
• MXR Phase 90: Adds subtle movement and psychedelic swirl to clean guitar parts.
• Strymon Flint Tremolo & Reverb: Emulates vintage amp tremolo and lush reverb for added space.
• TC Electronic Hall of Fame Reverb: Versatile reverb essential for atmospheric depth.
• Gibson SG Standard: A humbucker-loaded alternative for thicker rhythm tones.
• DigiTech Whammy: Useful for pitch-shifting effects and synth-like swells during solos.
• Ernie Ball Volume Pedal: Great for controlling dynamics and fade-ins throughout ambient parts.

• Use a bright, clean guitar tone with light chorus modulation for the riff.
• Apply medium reverb on synths to maintain spatial depth without washing out detail.
• Utilize crisp hi-hats and snares with light compression for a punchy rhythm section.
• Dial in a warm analog synth patch for the lead melody, slightly detuned for texture.
• Keep the bass tone synth-driven, rounded, and centered in the mix.
• Avoid overdriven guitar distortion; maintain clarity and articulation.
• Use stereo imaging on backing synth pads to enhance width.
• Set tempo around 125 BPM with a straight 4/4 groove for authenticity.
• EQ vocals to emphasize presence (3–5 kHz) and reduce muddiness (~250 Hz).
• Match overall dynamics with moderate bus compression; avoid over-limiting.