One thing that most guitarists try to do is re-create the sound of their guitar heroes in their own playing. You have to determine what kind of amp you want, what kind of pedals you intend to use (if any), and even what sort of guitar you should have to make that sound possible. One thing guitarists like to use is distortion. It gives your guitar that classic crunch which everyone loves, but it can work against you as well. Too much distortion means your notes will become muddy and inarticulate. In short, all the crowd will be able to hear is a wall of noise (with no specific notes being heard). Believe me, this is awful! It just sounds amateurish. Use your distortion in moderation, and focus on having good volume. Another problem in addition to too much distortion is poorly equalized tone. Setting the levels of your bass, treble, and mid-range frequencies is very important. Too much treble will lead to a super-shrill and painful sound. Too many lows or mids will make your guitar sound flabby. You’ll want a good balance of all 3 generally, but specific moments will call for little changes. For example, during a guitar solo, it might be tempting to step on the craziest distortion possible, but it’s usually far more beneficial to add mid-range frequencies in. They add a lot of “perceived” volume (it will seem like you’re louder without really increasing your decibels), and really help cut through other instruments such as bass or rhythm guitar.

In the end, it’s all personal preference, but don’t overdo it on the distortion side of things and make sure you take the time to properly equalize your tone. You’ll sound better as a result, and being satisfied with your tone is one of the most inspiring things you can do for yourself as a guitarist.