24 Go far with wah

You think a wah pedal is only about percussive wacka wacka funkateering? Have we got news for you…

A Sweetspot

Mick Ronson loved it, Michael Schenker still does and even Paradise Lost’s Greg Mackintosh is partial to a cocked wah. Oooh-er! Simply position the wah with your foot until it’s enhancing your midrange in a sweet spot – bingo! You’ve got a distinctive tone that’s great for leads.

B Slowsweep

The wah doesn’t have to be used in an intense flurry of notes to be impactful; slowly pressing down on the treadle with your foot as you play a riff with gain is highly effective for intros or breakdown parts as it gradually allows more high-end frequencies to filter in.

C Openingchords

Similar to our slow sweeps, pressing down as you play a chord opens its higher frequencies to accent it – reggae guitarists do this a lot and Bob Marley’s Stiritup is a case in point.