I recently taught a workshop focussing wholly on modern guitar heroes and did some extensive research on tracks that used the Digitech Whammy pedal to great affect.
Here is my Top 5 Whammy Pedal moments, including: Steve Vai, David Gilmour, Joe Satriani and of course, Tom Morello!
Killing In The Name – Rage Against The Machine
Listen from 3mins 52secs for Tom Morello’s excellent sixteenth note, alternate picked, single-string solo. Check out his LH legato hammer-ons and pull-offs – cool!
‘Killing In The Name’ can be found on RATM’s self-titled debut album, which was released in 1992.
Searching – Joe Satriani
Listen from 55secs in to hear Joe use the whammy pedal to great affect on those melodic triad arpeggios.
This track is featured on Joe’s 2004 album ‘Is There Love In Space?’.
Marooned – Pink Floyd
Listen straight from the start to hear David Gilmour’s subtle whammy pedal delights. You could easily be misguided into thinking that he was playing a lapsteel guitar on some of the long and slow slides up!
This track is found on Pink Floyd’s ‘Division Bell’ album, which was released in 1994.
Like A Stone – Audio Slave
Listen from 2mins 54secs for Tom Morello’s second solo on the list. Notice the slight splash of delay to create harmonies.
This track can be found on the supergroups self-titled debut album ‘Audioslave’, which was released in 2002.
Touching Tongues – Steve Vai
Listen from 2mins 10secs for the introduction of the whammy and delay to create luscious harmonised melodies.
This track is featured on Steve’s 1993 album called ‘Sex & Religion’.
