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That Whacky Whammy Bar
What would the last twenty years have been without the outrageous excesses of the whammy bar. Too much of a good thing, huh? Well, moderation might be the key here. Nah! My ears were never the same after Van Halen made that big fat dive bomb in "Eruption". Sqealing and obnoxious vibrato ensued. I, too, am a whammy addict. I bless the day that Floyd Rose was delivered unto this Earth. |
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No guide to the whammy would be complete without first addressing the first and most over used trick of the trade - the "Dive Bomb". So simple to perform, yet it produces a show stopping roar. For those who missed the past twenty years on guitar, here are the instructions. Now pay close attention...hit any note, anywhere and then depress the bar in a fit or convulsion. Don't be shy. Press down so far that the strings flap and sound like a Harley. Now you got it! Give a listen...Example 4 - The Dive Bomb |
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Isn't screaming what it's all about? What better way to display your musical angst? Okay, well it is the b*st*rd son of the dive bomb, but we're just putting some ideas on the table. Actually, this requires the opposite technique of the dive bomb. First, depress the bar as far as desired, pluck the note or harmonic, and let go. This can produce dramatic effects over 32nd note triplets pounding away on a drum kit and a singer performing his own version of the scream. Once again, if your going to rely on this sort of cheap technique, don't be shy. Give a listen...Example 5 - Screaming |
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Ever get sick of just regular notes ringing out clearly during your solos? Ever need that perfect trick to make your guitar sound like its growling? Let's do the gargle. As always, lay on the distortion thickly for this one. This involves a little abuse on your guitar, however, it is healthy and cathartic for your guitar to let these sounds out once in a while. Simultaneously and continuously perform pulloffs between any two notes (usually a whole-step apart), and then hit -yes, I said hit- the upper right part your guitar's body. Be sure to strike a pose low to the ground and snear. Give a listen...Example 6 - Guitar Gargle |
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