# Bow-chicka-bow-wow: What instrument does this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-chicka-bow-wow-what-instrument-does-this/298501 "2005-04-09T00:56:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Side_of_the_Floyd)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-chicka-bow-wow-what-instrument-does-this/298501/1 "2005-04-09T00:56:22Z")
You know the sound. That lusty, cheap-70’s-porn-film-sound, imitated (and ridiculed) by many. I believe it was used in the song for Shaft. What instrument is used to make this sound? Or do people do it vocally? It can’t be guitar. Can it? If so, what type? And can I reproduce the sound without buying any extra equipment? I have FruityLoops 3, an acoustic guitar, and a bass. With my friend, we’re going to be doing a song called “Busted Balls” that starts out with this type of sound and suddenly shifts to driving, heavy electric guitar (using the same melody.) Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-chicka-bow-wow-what-instrument-does-this/298501/2 "2005-04-09T01:00:34Z")
A Wah Wah or Crybaby guitar effects pedal. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-chicka-bow-wow-what-instrument-does-this/298501/3 "2005-04-09T01:02:26Z")
[More about the wah wah pedal than you probably want to know](http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/wahpedl/wahped.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-chicka-bow-wow-what-instrument-does-this/298501/4 "2005-04-09T01:05:52Z")
[A sample](http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM02/Content/Vox/PR/Clyde-McCoy-Reissue-large.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-chicka-bow-wow-what-instrument-does-this/298501/5 "2005-04-09T01:11:32Z")
Note: “Cry Baby” is actually a brand of wah-wah pedal, made by the Dunlop company. And the secret to the “bow chicka” sound is _muting the strings_ while strumming and pumping the wah-wah. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-chicka-bow-wow-what-instrument-does-this/298501/6 "2005-04-09T02:46:03Z")
Think intro to “Voodoo Chile” by Hendrix for a more rock-oriented use of the same thing. You should be able to pick up a Crybaby for fairly cheap on eBay. I got mine for $40. They’re not the greatest wah pedals on the market, but they’re more than serviceable. Get two and rig them up opposite of each other. I believe that’s what SRV used to do with his. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-chicka-bow-wow-what-instrument-does-this/298501/8 "2021-12-28T13:27:50Z")