How to best learn to use a Wah pedal?

aggietom

How did you do it? I've been playing for a while, but I just started using a Cry Baby Classic w/Fasel Wah. What practice techniques are good to get in the rhythm of the thing?

who's_pearljam?

Think of it as a speaking voice and adding an accent to your playing, because out of all effects, thats what it is.
You want to learn to coordinate your foot in time with the music at first, obviously, but to me, I think it's good to be kind of subtle with it and learn ways to add a bit of drama,,, like going from bass to treble slowly in a solo.
You don't have to crank it full tilt all the time, and not use it all the time, otherwise it sounds like the soundtracks in all those '70's porn movies!
Try to record yourself with it if you can. That way you can listen back to what you played and decide if you like it.

Always learn the theme song to Shaft, too!

Pearl Jam and toast

i say to all of you with ryhthm problems just dont be a dumbass..;)

i never got how anyone can have trouble with ryhthm or timing.

just frigging play it right,.. its not hard.

i dont mean to come off angry, if thats how you read this.

aggietom

Well...I was more talking about the art of using it rather than the technique to it. For example, I can hear Mike using it in parts of the solo for Down, but he doesn't use it throughout the whole solo (if so, I'm just not hearing it); whereas other guitarists will stick with it throughout the song. That is where I get all the "it is easy, just stick to the beat/rhythm" explanations.

Well, I just don't feel that vibe. I feel like it is something that should just be thrown in occasionally when things get cookin'. Maybe that is what I'm having more so than technical difficulty...I guess it is artistic difficulty. I just like to use it on hammer-ons and pull-offs and combos and bends and stuff like that. Sometimes it sounds like some people overuse the damn effect.

mccreadyisgod

It really comes down to feeling the part. Like, you're writing a solo or lead or riff, and you get this idea, "You know what would sound cool here..."

Once you're familiar with how it works with YOUR sound, you'll be able to *hear* it in your head, and it'll be a lot more intuitive.

But you're right, it can (and often does) get overused.

Jeremy1012

well wah is like an expression. its never an over the top sounding effect because you use it to speak with your guitar. rock it in which ever way expresses what you are trying to get across. works for me, i am fairly anti -monarchy and play a deliciously butchered version of god save the queen. i dont mess with the notes but i chop it to pieces with feedback and wah wah to convey my anger which i often get carried away with. i use a complete random but vicious rocking method to get the sound i want

ps. this post was not meant to incite any nationalist feelings among any brits here.

MetalGod75

dont just rock the pedal in time with whatever music you're playing like the previous guy said use it like an expression pedal to accent bends and notes.Ive heard too many players just rocking it back and forth with the music!Listen to the masters(Hendrix,Satriani,Brian Robertson,Clapton,McCready etc) and then get your own voice with it.

Pearl Jam and toast

aggietom wrote:

Well...I was more talking about the art of using it rather than the technique to it. For example, I can hear Mike using it in parts of the solo for Down, but he doesn't use it throughout the whole solo (if so, I'm just not hearing it); whereas other guitarists will stick with it throughout the song. That is where I get all the "it is easy, just stick to the beat/rhythm" explanations.

Well, I just don't feel that vibe. I feel like it is something that should just be thrown in occasionally when things get cookin'. Maybe that is what I'm having more so than technical difficulty...I guess it is artistic difficulty. I just like to use it on hammer-ons and pull-offs and combos and bends and stuff like that. Sometimes it sounds like some people overuse the damn effect.

mike (and i as well) use it to slur notes and get that nice little waka'wah accent. it allows you to play somewhat cleaner at a faster pace i think. if its used right. Mike turns it on right when he goes into fast-mode on Down. Its easy to hear in that song, good example

aggietom

I think the solo on Down is one of the more appropriate uses of Wah that I've heard. I don't understand why people still teach to use it as a rhythm tool, though. That was the origin of my question -- was that really the best way to do it (in beat)? I think the resounding answer is no...So now I can quit feeling like I need to be hitting it on certain beats, which I found extremely annoying.

That's enough for now...I think I've exposed my novice enough for this week.