Try these techniques next time you plug in your wah...

The downbeat

This is the most obvious execution of a wah effect, and whether you own one or not, you’re probably tapping your foot in time already. Simply place your foot on the pedal starting in the heel-down position, and rock out a crotchet rhythm. You can also start off in the toe-down position for a reverse filter sweep. Simple, but hours of fun.

The backbeat

Accenting beats two and four with your wah will lend your sound some extra laidback funk. Here, the picking is exactly the same as in the first example, but notice how the feel changes.

The accent

Listen to Voodoo Child (Slight Return) and pay attention to how the wah filters the sound. Jimi used his pedal to accent particular notes by moving his foot in a less rigid pattern than the first examples.