Distortion, also known as overdrive or fuzz, is an effect applied to the electric guitar, 
the electric bass, and other amplified instruments such as the Hammond organ, 
synthesizers, and even harmonica and vocals. Accomplished by electronically 
compressing and/or clipping the input signal, this effect adds sustain and additional 
harmonics and overtones to the signal, creating a richer sound. The most subtle types 
of distortion add a "warm" thickness and sustain to the original tone; the more 
extreme types of distortion range from the noisy, buzzy sound of a late 1960s-era 
fuzztone pedal to the screaming, "bite", "grit",and "crunch" of a late 1980s thrash-
style distortion pedal. Distortion is used across a wide range of musical genres, from 
the subtle overdrive used in tradtional blues to the hard-edged distortion featured in 
noise music, hardcore punk and metal.