imported>Popcornfud at 19:29, 7 March 2025

2025-03-07T19:29:13Z

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{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{short description|Pitch-shifting effect pedal}}
{{Infobox effects unit
| name = Whammy
| image = DigiTech Whammy DT (2011) - NAMM 2013.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Digitech Whammy DT
| manufacturer = [[DigiTech]]
| dates = 1989–present
| price =
| effects_type = [[Pitch shifter]]
| hardware = [[Digital signal processing|Digital]]
| pedal_control = Expression pedal {{nowrap|  for pitch bend}}
| ext_control = [[MIDI]] I/O (on ''{{smaller|[[#DigiTech Whammy IV|Whammy IV]]}}'') {{nowrap|  for pitch bend via [[MIDI messages|CC]]}}
| sample =
}}

The '''DigiTech''' '''Whammy''' is a [[pitch shifter]] pedal manufactured by [[DigiTech]]. It raises or lowers the [[Pitch (music)|pitch]] of an [[audio signal]] by up to two [[Octave|octaves]], controlled with a [[treadle]]. The first model, released in 1989, was the first mass-market digital pitch shifter.

The Whammy has a distinctive artificial sound, and ''[[Guitar World]]'' described it as one of the most iconic [[guitar pedals]]. Its users include [[Jonny Greenwood]] and [[Ed O'Brien]] of [[Radiohead]], [[Matt Bellamy]] of [[Muse (band)|Muse]], [[Tom Morello]] of [[Rage Against the Machine]] and [[Audioslave]], [[David Gilmour]] of [[Pink Floyd]] and [[Jack White]] of the [[White Stripes]]. 

== Features ==
The DigiTech Whammy uses digital processing to [[Pitch shifting|raise or lower the pitch]] of an [[audio signal]] by up to two [[Octave|octaves]].<ref name="Vallese-2012">{{Cite web |last=Vallese |first=Nick |date=2012-06-05 |title=Digitech releases new Whammy with chord shifting |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/uncategorized/digitech-releases-new-whammy-chord-shifting |access-date=2021-09-16 |website=[[Guitar World]] |language=en}}</ref> The [[pitch detection algorithm]] was licensed from IVL Technologies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Paul |date=August 1996 |title=Fred Speckeen (IVL Tech): pitch craft |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/fred-speckeen-ivl-tech-pitch-craft |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=[[Sound on Sound]]}}</ref> The degree of shift is controlled by a [[treadle]].<ref name="Lynham-2019">{{Cite web |last=Lynham |first=Alex |date=2019-08-02 |title=The FX files: DigiTech Whammy |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-fx-files-digitech-whammy |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=[[MusicRadar]] |language=en}}</ref> Users can set pitch-shifting [[Interval (music)|intervals]], add [[harmony]], or detune the signal for a [[Chorus (audio effect)|chorus]]-like effect.<ref name="Lynham-2019" />

The first model was introduced in 1989.<ref name="Lynham-2019" /> Later models added more accurate [[polyphony]], [[Drop tuning|drop-tuning]] modes, a [[MIDI]] input for external control, and a "dive bomb" setting that emulates the sound of a [[whammy bar]] dropping the pitch.<ref name="Vallese-2012" /><ref name="Lynham-2019" /><ref name="Greeves-2013">{{Cite web |last=Greeves |first=David |date=April 2013 |title=Digitech Whammy (5th Gen) |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/digitech-whammy-5th-gen |access-date=2021-09-16 |website=[[Sound on Sound]]}}</ref> DigiTech also released the Bass Whammy, a model for bass guitars.<ref name="Lynham-2019" />

Early models were [[Monophonic (synthesizers)|monophonic]], meaning they could only accurately track one note at a time.<ref name="Total Guitar-2018" /> According to ''[[Sound on Sound]]'', playing [[Chord (music)|chords]] created a "strange and artificial" sound, with distinctive "wobbly" [[Artifact (error)|artifacts]].<ref name="Greeves-2013" /> ''[[MusicRadar]]'' described it as a "distinctive warble".<ref name="Lynham-2019" /> Later models introduced more accurate pitch tracking for chords, with the option to switch to the "classic" sound.<ref name="Greeves-2013" />

''[[Guitar World]]'' described the Whammy as one of the most iconic guitar pedals.<ref name="Vallese-2012" /> According to ''[[MusicRadar]]'', "It's hard to overstate the effect of a mass-market digital pitch shifter becoming available for the first time."<ref name="Lynham-2019" />

== Users ==
[[File:Arto lindsay 05N3758cr.jpg|thumb|[[Arto Lindsay]] using the Whammy]]The [[Radiohead]] guitarists [[Jonny Greenwood]] and [[Ed O'Brien]] both use the Whammy. For the introduction of the 1994 song "[[My Iron Lung]]", Greenwood uses it to pitch-shift his guitar by an octave, exploiting the inaccurate pitch tracking for chords to create a "glitchy, lo-fi" sound.<ref name="Total Guitar-2018">{{Cite journal |date=19 October 2018 |title=Iron man |url=https://www.pressreader.com/australia/total-guitar/20181019/283016875682882 |journal=[[Total Guitar]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |via=[[PressReader]]}}</ref> For "[[Just (song)|Just]]", he shifts his solo into a high, piercing frequency.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lowe |first=Steve |date=December 1999 |title=Back to save the universe |journal=[[Select (magazine)|Select]]}}</ref><ref name="EXIT">{{cite book |last=Randall |first=Mac |title=Exit Music: The Radiohead Story |date=12 September 2000 |publisher=Delta |isbn=0-385-33393-5}}</ref> On the 2001 song "[[Dollars and Cents]]", O'Brien uses the Whammy to shift his guitar chords from [[Minor chord|minor]] to [[Major chord|major]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Ross |first=Alex |date=August 20, 2001 |title=The Rest Is Noise: The Searchers: Radiohead's unquiet revolution |url=https://www.therestisnoise.com//2004/04/mahler_1.html |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214053947/http://www.therestisnoise.com/2004/04/mahler_1.html |archive-date=14 February 2008 |access-date=2016-08-02 |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |df=dmy}}</ref>

[[Tom Morello]] of [[Rage Against the Machine]] and [[Audioslave]] uses the Whammy to create otherwise impossible effects.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Newquist |first1=H. P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xir98WSaTukC&pg=PA34 |title=The New Metal Masters |last2=Maloof |first2=Rich |publisher=Hal Leonard |year=2004 |isbn=9780879308049}}</ref> For "Voice of the Voiceless", he uses the pitch knob to cycle between intervals.<ref name="Lynham-2019" />

[[Matt Bellamy]] of [[Muse (band)|Muse]] uses the Whammy on several songs. For the 2007 song "[[Map of the Problematique]]", he programmed the Whammy to shift his [[Power chord|power chords]] rhythmically, creating octave patterns.<ref name="Charupakorn-2022">{{Cite web |last=Charupakorn |first=Joe |date=11 August 2022 |title=Muse's Matt Bellamy: Natural-Born Disruptor |url=https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guitarists/muse |website=[[Premier Guitar]]}}</ref> On the 2022 song "[[Kill or Be Killed (song)|Kill or Be Killed]]", he plays a [[tapping]] solo through a Whammy programmed to shift rapidly between octaves, creating broad [[Arpeggio|arpeggios]].<ref name="Charupakorn-2022" /> In 2020, Bellamy worked with the guitar maker Manson to develop a guitar with a built-in Whammy effect.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Stuart |date=2020-05-14 |title=Matt Bellamy reveals plans for Manson Guitar Works pedals, plus a Whammy-loaded guitar |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/matt-bellamy-reveals-plans-for-a-new-range-of-manson-guitar-works-pedals-plus-a-whammy-loaded-guitar |access-date=2021-09-15 |website=[[MusicRadar]] |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Pink Floyd]] guitarist [[David Gilmour]] used the Whammy to achieve "wild, octave-wide bends" on the track "[[Marooned (instrumental)|Marooned]]" on the 1994 album ''[[The Division Bell]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tolinski |first=Brad |date=September 1994 |title=David Gilmour discusses guitars, blues and ''The Division Bell'' in 1994 ''Guitar World'' interview |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/gw-archive/david-gilmour-discusses-guitars-blues-and-division-bell-1994-guitar-world-interview |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=[[Guitar World]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Jack White]] of the [[White Stripes]] recorded the riff for "[[Seven Nation Army]]" (2003) with the Whammy set one octave down.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gill |first=Chris |date=2020-07-09 |title=The secrets behind Jack White's guitar tone on the White Stripes' Seven Nation Army |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/the-secrets-behind-jack-whites-guitar-tone-on-the-white-stripes-seven-nation-army |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=[[Guitar World]] |language=en}}</ref> The Whammy is used by [[math rock]] acts such as [[Three Trapped Tigers]] and [[Adebisi Shank]] to create "video game"-like tones.<ref name="Lynham-2019" /> Other users include [[Steve Vai]], the [[Smashing Pumpkins]], [[Swervedriver]], and [[Justin Chancellor]] of [[Tool (band)|Tool]].<ref name="Lynham-2019" /> 
== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.digitech.com/products/Pedals/Whammy.php Digitech's page on the Whammy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311030650/http://digitech.com/products/Pedals/Whammy.php |date=March 11, 2011 }}
*[http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2011/Nov/DigiTech_Whammy_DT_Pedal_Review.aspx DigiTech Whammy DT Pedal Review by Premier Guitar with sound clips] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230205213/http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2011/Nov/DigiTech_Whammy_DT_Pedal_Review.aspx |date=December 30, 2011 }}
[[Category:Effects units]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 1989]]

DigiTech Whammy - Revision history

imported>Popcornfud at 19:29, 7 March 2025