What song shows the best use of the Wah Wah pedal....

Rocker · February 2014

Even a quick glance at 'Show us your pedalboard' type threads will confirm that most of us have a wah wah pedal as part of our rig. I have one myself, an old but perfectly serviceable Cry Baby. Despite many efforts I have never quite come to terms with this pedal. In fact there seems to be very little recorded music that shows the creative or musical side of a pedal that goes weeeooowwww weeeoooowwww and so on.

Everyone knows that Mark Knopfler used a half cocked wah wah pedal on 'Money for nothing'. This can be discounted as it is a set and forget job. There is a few wah wah coloured notes in the intro of Thin Lizzies 'Jailbreak' and the Lizzie guitarists used it now and then in their other songs.

One song that I think ticks all the boxes is Mechanical Wonder by Ocean Colour Scene [album - Live One For The Road]. Slash used one in the solo of Sweet Child 'O Mine to good effect.

What songs do you think have benefited from the use of the wah wah?

monquixote · February 2014

Shaft!

d8m · February 2014

randomhandclaps · February 2014

All Along The Watchtower for me is the greatest musical use of Wah. Everyone thinks of Voodoo Chile for Hendrix wah, but it is the subtlety with which he coaxes different tones and styles out in AATW that is stunning.

Zappa on Sexual Harassment In The Workplace is a very close second. At points the guitar sings almost vocally. No up and down wah-wah rocking. The wah is really at one with his fingers.

ICBM · February 2014

Jimi Hendrix, All Along The Watchtower

Eric Clapton (Cream), Tales Of Brave Ulysses

and what monquixote said.

All you really need to know about how to use a wah is in those three tracks.

octatonic · February 2014

I couldn't imagine this song without the wah.

guitarcookie1 · February 2014

monquixote said:

Shaft!

All the way

vasselmeyer · February 2014

Rocker said:

Everyone knows that Mark Knopfler used a half cocked wah wah pedal on 'Money for nothing'. This can be discounted as it is a set and forget job. There is a few wah wah coloured notes in the intro of Thin Lizzies 'Jailbreak' and the Lizzie guitarists used it now and then in their other songs.

@Rocker I would suggest that Knofpler's supposed use of wah on "Money for Nothing" is an urban myth. Check out the section labeled "Signature Sound" on this Sound on Sound article:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may06/articles/classictracks_0506.htm

Anyway, for me it's "Shaft", "Voodoo Chile" and "See the Light".

monquixote · February 2014

guitarcookie1 said:

monquixote said:

Shaft!

All the way

I was waiting for someone to say: "You're damn straight"

[Deleted User] · February 2014

Slash, Civil War by G'n'R, Use your illusion 2 - same with pretty tied up on the same album, 2 great wah sounds.

Any Hendrix,

Bad love - Clapton.

How to not use a wah = Kirk Hammet.

Kebabkid · February 2014

The Professionals and Grange Hill!

+1 to Shaft, Sweet child o'mine, Voodoo Chile and how about some Santana (Moonflower album) and Thin Lizzy (The Rocker & this is an edit, various stuff off of Live & Dangerous).

koss59 · February 2014

I'll Be Creepin' by Free

ThePrettyDamned · February 2014

darcym;163778" said:
Slash, Civil War by G'n'R, Use your illusion 2 - same with pretty tied up on the same album, 2 great wah sounds.Any Hendrix, Bad love - Clapton.How to not use a wah = Kirk Hammet.

Kirk Hammett used to be good with it, but yeah, don't take his technique now!

John frusciante - sir psycho sexy. Pure porn funk.

viz · February 2014

Steve Vai - the audience is listening. Check 2:10 for a demonstration on how to use a sprung wah.

not_the_dj · February 2014

Robbo's solo In Thin Lizzy's Don't Believe a word

xSkarloey · February 2014

All the tracks listed above but I'd add two personal faves.

First Michael Schenker for any track where he shreds and riffs with the wah balanced around the sweet spot.

Miles Davis- 1975 live album Agharta. Plays his trumpet through a wah. He also has Pete Cosy in his backing band who knows a wah trick or two.

stickyfiddle · February 2014

The Riverboat Song. (Yeah yeah I know they're still not cool again yet..). Steve Craddock is really quite excellent here.

equalsql · February 2014

not_the_dj said:

Robbo's solo In Thin Lizzy's Don't Believe a word

THIS!!! A stunning solo and a beautiful example of how to use a wah properly

LastMantra · February 2014

Fools Gold.

Rocker · February 2014

I can't help thinking that there is an element of desperation setting in here - the wah wah looks cool but is actually used very infrequently in songs. Unlike overdrive, delay, distortion etc.

drwiddly · February 2014

Got to agree with @Skarloey about Michael Schenker.

Mick Box's solo in Uriah Heep's Salisbury has great use of wah.

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What song shows the best use of the Wah Wah pedal....

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