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There are a large handful of electric guitar effects that have revolutionized the way we hear modern guitar music. Distortion, reverb, and delay are some incredibly popular options, as they alter and improve the tone of your playing. However, there is one pedal that goes beyond the utility of just an “effect.” The wah-wah pedal aside from the envelope filter effect it provides, is also like an instrument of its own. When applied to rhythm guitar, especially, the groove it sets is irresistible.

In his course, Wah Guitar Grooves, Carl Burnett shows you his approach to “playing” the wah-wah pedal, so you can open a whole new world of sonic options and rhythmic genius.

Here are six video wah-wah guitar lessons from the course. For the full course, check out Carl Burnett’s Wah Guitar Grooves on TrueFire!

Wah-Wah Pedal Guitar Lesson – Hang with Me: Overview


Download the tab & notation for this wah-wah guitar lesson

Are you hip to Wah Wah Watson? If not, he was an iconic master of the wah. Simply add Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite to your library and check out all that’s there. Though I didn’t mention this is the video, the other essential listening is the Herbie Hancock tune co-written with Wah Wah, “Hang Up Your Hangups”. This is a song I always have in my performances. This live version is killer (sounds like Wah Wah is using a phaser) and also has Ray Parker (yes, from Ghostbusters). Did you know about the funk he can lay down on guitar? This is perfect to show that the Wah doesn’t make you funky…first you have to BE funky!

Wah-Wah Pedal Guitar Lesson – Hang with Me: Performance


Download the tab & notation for this wah-wah guitar lesson

Now, I’ll perform this for you up to tempo. This way you can get a feel for how it sounds, and how I am using the pedal in the context of the jam track.

Wah-Wah Pedal Guitar Lesson – Hang with Me: Breakdown


Download the tab & notation for this wah-wah guitar lesson

Let’s take a closer look and break down how I performed this.

Wah-Wah Pedal Guitar Lesson – Peculiar Cat: Overview


Download the tab & notation for this wah-wah guitar lesson

We conclude with a shortened performance of a song from my first CD Life Before MIDI, “Peculiar Cat”. Included is the full song! I give a tutorial and you can use the jam track to try all out all the ideas and concepts out. Crank up the gain and think about being a jungle cat when you create your sounds!

Wah-Wah Pedal Guitar Lesson – Peculiar Cat: Performance


Download the tab & notation for this wah-wah guitar lesson

Again, I’ll play this one up to speed. Watch how I use the pedal, and we’ll break that down next!

Wah-Wah Pedal Guitar Lesson – Peculiar Cat: Breakdown


Download the tab & notation for this wah-wah guitar lesson

Finally, let’s break this one down step by step so you can understand why I put accents in certain places.

Digging these free wah-wah guitar lessons? Check out Carl Burnett’s full course, Wah Guitar Grooves.