plural wah-wahs
1
: a fluctuating muted effect produced on a brass instrument by use of a mute (see mute entry 2 sense 1) or on an electric guitar by use of a pedal (see pedal entry 1 sense 1b) connected to an amplifier
[Elizabeth] Start uses a lot of "effects"—trumpet wah-wahs, … glissandi galore.—
John Y. Lawrence
John Y. Lawrence… begins with funk guitar wah-wahs …—Philip Brandes
—often used before another nounPhilip Brandesa wah-wah effect
In 1931, [American jazz trumpeter Clyde McCoy] recorded "Sugar Blues," utilizing his muted wah-wah sound, which became his theme song.—William F. Lee
William F. Lee2
: a mute or pedal that is used to produce a wah-wah
He [Miles Davis] began to play his trumpet through the wah-wah, which Jimi [Hendrix] had used, trying to sound like Jimi.—Yunus Momoniat
Yunus MomoniatWhen the … grinnin' bluesman kicks on a wah-wah during a band performance, it's almost too cool to bear.—Guitar Player
—often used before another nounGuitar PlayerA saxophonist clicks his keys; … a trumpeter manipulates a wah-wah mute; …—Alex Ross
Alex RossThe wah-wah pedal can be heard clearly at 2:15 during the third eight-bar section of Hendrix's longest guitar solo on this recording ["All Along the Watchtower"].—Timothy Rice and Dave Wilson
Timothy Rice and Dave WilsonExamples of wah-wah in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Much of that otherworldliness derives from Jimi Hendrix venturing forward into unknown sonic territory, blending a stately harpsichord with a plucked guitar, running his vocals through a phaser, and taking his new wah-wah pedal for a test run.
—Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2024
The sonic effects — all the stereo panning, the way the drums shimmer, that omnipresent wah-wah guitar — are placed with wizardly detail.
—Vulture Editors, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2024
The funky wah-wah guitar, one of the very uses of a guitar talk box, and just a groove that lasts all day long.
—Peter Larsen, Orange County Register, 29 May 2024
Patterson Mill girls basketball An inclined guitar riff bellows, shook by this legendary song’s wah-wah pedal as the Huskies storm the court.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 29 Jan. 2024
Cobain keeps the Arabic scale employed by Dutch psych-rockers Shocking Blue in their 1969 original, but replaces the sitar-heavy riff with a wah-wah pedal and a Boss delay.
—Ana Leorne, Spin, 21 Sep. 2023
The next year, Cadet released a Muddy Waters album with wah-wah and fuzz pedals.
—John Seabrook, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
One of them, Attila, was a duo featuring Joel playing distorted organ lines with a wah-wah pedal through a Marshall stack, backed by drummer Jon Small.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 22 Feb. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2024
The sonic effects — all the stereo panning, the way the drums shimmer, that omnipresent wah-wah guitar — are placed with wizardly detail.
—Vulture Editors, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2024
The funky wah-wah guitar, one of the very uses of a guitar talk box, and just a groove that lasts all day long.
—Peter Larsen, Orange County Register, 29 May 2024
Patterson Mill girls basketball An inclined guitar riff bellows, shook by this legendary song’s wah-wah pedal as the Huskies storm the court.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 29 Jan. 2024
Cobain keeps the Arabic scale employed by Dutch psych-rockers Shocking Blue in their 1969 original, but replaces the sitar-heavy riff with a wah-wah pedal and a Boss delay.
—Ana Leorne, Spin, 21 Sep. 2023
The next year, Cadet released a Muddy Waters album with wah-wah and fuzz pedals.
—John Seabrook, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
One of them, Attila, was a duo featuring Joel playing distorted organ lines with a wah-wah pedal through a Marshall stack, backed by drummer Jon Small.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 22 Feb. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near wah-wah
Cite this Entry
“Wah-wah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wah-wah. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share