Guitar Wah & Volume Pedals
A wah pedal, more commonly known as a wah-wah pedal, has been around since the 1960s and is one of the contributing factors as to why heavy metal and similar styles of rock and roll became popular around that time. A wah pedal creates a sound that is similar to the human voice and is a staple of guitar solos. It and other guitar volume pedals are controlled by the guitarist's feet and the sound emanating from the guitar can be adjusting by stepping on the pedal, some of which are known as stompboxes.
What does a guitar wah pedal do?
A wah pedal works as a filter to the sounds coming from the guitar. These filters work at both the low end and the high end of the sound scale and can actually bend the sound, altering what the human ear hears. In this manner, stepping on a wah pedal creates a distinctive tone that is similar to the human voice. Although any musical instrument that can be amplified can be connected to a wah pedal, electric guitars and bass electric guitars are the ones that these pedals work best with.
What does a guitar volume pedal do?
A guitar volume pedal allows guitarists to adjust the volume of their guitar's sound without having to lower the volume on the guitar or the amplifier. This means that the quality of the sound coming from the guitar remains the same and can be adjusted quickly while the guitarist is actively playing his or her instrument.