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Ok, now i did actually spend some time trying to find this out myself first....so please don't think I am tryin to leech information of you all that have done the work....ok, here's the question..when reading a schematic(for a pedal or amp)... I know about left to right....but what about up and down?

for example..looking at the schems fora triangle big muff...you've got the line from the input(that isn't goin to ground) goin to the first resistor(3k3 which is R1 on the board), then a line goes down to another resistor(1m which is R2) but also goes straight to a cap(1uf maybe c1?) and also upwards to another resistor(can't remember the value, but I know it is higher than the 3k3 which is maybe R20 something?). ok
in this situation, I am assuming that the signal is goin to go the path of least resistance( 1uf cap maybe?),but having actually built the pedal(just finished last week..first build...pink led I'll post pics when I get a hot minute!!) I know that the actual traces go from R1 to C1(?) to R2(which I think has a higher value than R1 but lower than R20 something) . It all makes a lot more sense to me looking at the actual circuit board rather than the schems.

Looking at the schems...especially ones that don't have the R,C,D,T labels(ala R15).....I get confused and think "how do I know which way the circuit is goin...." I know that electrical current flows all through it when it is on, but it looks like the signal flows all through it too....like the input goes to R1,C1,R2,and R20 all at the same time...but I know that isn't right.

so...to sum it all up...when looking at a schematic, what rules do I follow to determine what direction the signal is goin(up or down, left or right) so that when I look at a schematic I will know how to layout the actual circuit board for the design? sorry about all the wordiness...

I'm sitting here trying to think of an easily understandable answer.

Ok looking at the schematic (this one doesn't have the components numbered), the signal flows through the 33 K resister, then the .1 uf cap to the bass of the transistor.

The 1m and 82K resisters are to keep the signal above ground, kind of like set volumes.

at the top of the transistor you see a 22k resister from the 9v supply. that provides the proper operating voltage.

Ok basically for your purposes signal flows through any thing that isn't attached to the power (9v) or to ground.

I'll come back and edit as my brain functions more efficiently

MM.

I kinda see what you are saying. I forgot that a transistor has 3 legs, 2 of which need to be grounded(?). so on a schem where the tranny has a 100k resistor beneath it and also has another 100kr beneath it, but also seems to have a line that goes to a .1uf cap, we would say that the signal goes from the tranny to the cap since the 2 100k's are going to ground...is that right?

so for example, where R1(3k3) goes left to a cap, but also stems downward to R2 and stems up to R20, we would say that the signal goes from R1 to C1 because R2 goes to ground and R20 goes maybe to the power supply....

I meant from R1 goes right (direction) to a cap