Wah learning process.

[Dr.Mavashi]

How did you guys learn how to use Wah? Websites? books? .... I am in to subtle use of wah like Schenker, YJM, Zakk not like Kirk Hammet or Vai(although my pedal is Bad Hoarsie 1) What was the breaking point of your progress. THanks.

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: Wah learning process.

I don't think theres a method to learning how to use it. Just turn up and play.

 

[Mike7771]

Re: Wah learning process.

There are books that try and explain wah methods (check amazon) but really you are better off just playing with it for an afternoon or two. Learning to use a wah pedal takes very little time, just play with it and you'll catch on.

 

[Bob Zombie]

Re: Wah learning process.

Yep just try to learn various songs that have wahs. You'll start to get it to make some cool sounds after a little bit of experimentation

 

[Tom M]

Re: Wah learning process.

See: "White Room."

As others have said, just start playing with it. Learn that you don't need to make a full sweep through the range every time you press the pedal. Leaving the pedal on and at a certain spot (toward the bass side) in its sweep range can also make for a pretty cool lead tone.

 

[Closed Eye]

Re: Wah learning process.

Play a lick while pushing the treadle down.
Play the same lick while bringing the treadle back up.
Then play that same lick again while "wahing" on the up-beat.
Then, yet again, play the same lick while "wahing" on the down-beat.

...you get the picture...there's so many possibilities...

 

[midnite_man]

Re: Wah learning process.

Listen to songs by Hendrix like "Voodoo Chile," "Crazy Mama" by J.J. Cale, or Cream's "White Room." You just have to get a wah and start using it to get the feel for what it can do. I don't know anybody who ever learned it from a book.
Combining it with different frequencies of distortion and echo can make it quite fun, too. Just use your imagination!
Good luck!!

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Wah learning process.

Thanks guys. I felt that Vodoo Chile and White room would be musts, just never got in to learning stuff to play "exactly like" ... oh well. I have some cool trick I figured out for my rythm stuff, but my leads is another question, I already know the sweet "still" spot for a different brighter/sustainier tone but its the sweeps during runs and slow sweeps during the bends and dives to accent the phrases that I am totally unhappy with .........

 

[midnite_man]

Re: Wah learning process.

Thanks guys. I felt that Vodoo Chile and White room would be musts, just never got in to learning stuff to play "exactly like" ... oh well. I have some cool trick I figured out for my rythm stuff, but my leads is another question, I already know the sweet "still" spot for a different brighter/sustainier tone but its the sweeps during runs and slow sweeps during the bends and dives to accent the phrases that I am totally unhappy with .........

Cool tricks is what it's all about....but just to set the record straight, I didn't mean to imply that you should play the wah "like" Hendrix or Clapton but was only giving those songs as examples of some cool wah sounds. Another song worth mentioning for some of the cleanest wah sounds heard is "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" by The Temptations. Sweet stuff.
Playing wah is simply hand and foot coordination along with some creativity. The rest is magic.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Wah learning process.

How did you guys learn how to use Wah? Websites? books? .... I am in to subtle use of wah like Schenker, YJM, Zakk not like Kirk Hammet or Vai(although my pedal is Bad Hoarsie 1) What was the breaking point of your progress. THanks.

Wahs are not complicated............ you step on it, when you rock the pedal it makes the guitar go Wah- Wah.....:fingersx:

 

[B2D]

Re: Wah learning process.

The trick, I've found is getting your left and right hands and one foot to work in concjuntion WITHOUT moving your mouth. :laugh2:

 

[Erlend_G]

Re: Wah learning process.

The trick, I've found is getting your left and right hands and one foot to work in concjuntion WITHOUT moving your mouth. :laugh2:

My mouth goes up and down, and i make orgasm-like facial expressions even when i play WITHOUT a wah!

Im not doing it on purpose either! :laugh2:

 

[B2D]

Re: Wah learning process.

Oh yes and for a GREAT recent tune with som killer wah on it... listen to Is There Love In Space? by Joe Satriani.

SRV's Voodoo Child is a superb example of masterful wah useage, too.

I got better with it just by playing with one a lot... learning how to control the accents and subtleties of the shifting midrange. It's much easier to do standing up, as well.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Wah learning process.

Just listen and try to mimic some great wah users...Guys like Clapton with Cream,SRV,Jimi Hendrix,Robin Trower,etc..

 

[Erlend_G]

Re: Wah learning process.

... learning how to control the accents and subtleties of the shifting midrange.

Excactly! SO MANY people use the wah as a "on-off" button, leading to this nasty, stupid oi-oi-oi-oi sound. The hard part about using a wah, is getting a vocal, smooth "omuaah, wwaaa, waaoheeeh" sound

 

[Robbiedbee]

Re: Wah learning process.

I think Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden makes good use of wah. I think Wildest Dreams then 2 Minutes to Midnight and The Mercenary (both live at Rock in Rio) are best to illustrate this. He uses an up or down of the paddle in the middle or a trill which makes a cool 'Wahalalalalalah' sound.

 

[Perry D]

Re: Wah learning process.

i would recommend you just turn it on and play. i wouldnt waste your time lookin for a book or anything. just play what sounds good.

 

[Matt Blackett]

Re: Wah learning process.

Here's what Nile Rodgers once said (at least I think it was Nile Rodgers):
"Don't keep time with the wah. Keep time with your hands and use the wah for expression."
Personally, I really dig doing slow sweeps through the whole range. It's a great way to emulate some cool electronic textures and it takes you out of the whole whocka-whocka-whocka thing (which is still cool but a little obvious).

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: Wah learning process.

Wah is mostly about feel... can't teach this...
I see you are mostly into heavey metal... try holding the wah somewhere int the middle and really gently and slowly moving it never the whole way up or down (you should find your own range). That would give you that vocal sound.
For a firey ending or start to the solo push it down and get the whole screaming thing on... also workd if you want to get freaky durin playing rhythm.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Wah learning process.

'70s porn soundtracks?











*surrogate 'foamy response*