Guitar Dictionary | A-Z
- Wah
A guitar effect that alters the tone of the sound. Wah is used via a pedal to allow sudden or fluctuating changes in tone. It gets its name from the sound that can be made by wobbling the pedal back and forth.
Synonymous With: Wah-Wah
- Wah Pedal
A pedal that is used to apply wah.
- Wah-Wah
Another term for wah.
- Waist
The middle part of a guitar body that curves inward. On acoustic guitars the waist separates the upper bout and lower bout.
- Whammy Bar
The removable metal bar that can be attached to the bridge. The bar is depressed to cause a drop in pitch and raised to cause a jump up in pitch. Also can be used for vibrato.
Synonymous With: Vibrato Bar, Tremolo Bar, Tremolo Arm
Full Article on: whammy bar techniques
- Whammy Bar Bend
Another term for vibrato bar bend.
Full Article on: whammy bar techniques
- Whole Bend
A technique where the string is bent until the pitch is one tone higher (equal to two frets higher).
Synonymous With: Full Bend
- Whole Note
A note that lasts for the duration of one bar.
See Also: Bar
Full Article on: note duration
- Whole Step
Another term for tone.