WAH-WAH Definition & Meaning

wah-wah

or wa-wa

[ wah-wah ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

producing a muted, bawling sound like that of a trumpet with the hand moved momentarily over the bell:
a wah-wah effect on a synthesizer; a guitar with a wah-wah pedal.

noun

a sound or effect like the muted sound of a trumpet, especially in music.
an electronic device or attachment to produce such a sound, often used with an electric guitar.

wah-wah

/ ˈ��ɑːˌ��ɑː /

noun

the sound made by a trumpet, cornet, etc, when the bell is alternately covered and uncovered: much used in jazz
an electronic attachment for an electric guitar, etc, that simulates this effect

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of wah-wah¹

First recorded in 1925–30; imitative

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of wah-wah¹

C20: of imitative origin

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Drawing from the canon of vintage rap, “Tranky Funky” gallops forward to the sound of congas, chunky piano chords, wah-wah guitars and a nod to Mobb Deep.

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Bell-like electric pianos and wah-wah bass sounds combined with whispers and chants about brown rice all over a deep repetitive groove.

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The set contained hits and nothing but: “Witchy Woman” into “Peaceful Easy Feeling” into “Tequila Sunrise” into “In the City,” the last with room for Walsh to take both a slide-guitar solo and a wah-wah solo.

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Richard E. Grant’s formative years in 1960s Swaziland provide the backdrop for the affecting ‘Wah-Wah.’

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His past diaries produced two fun books about his day job: “With Nails: The Film Diaries of Richard E. Grant,” which takes its name from his breakout role in “Withnail and I”; and “The Wah Wah Diaries,” about directing an autobiographical movie, “Wah-Wah.”

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