How to Use a Wah Pedal
Updated Nov 12, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Buying through the Amazon links on this page costs you nothing extra. Full disclosure
A wah pedal changes your guitar tone as you rock the treadle with your foot: heel down keeps the low frequencies, toe down lets the high frequencies through. Plug your guitar into the pedal and the pedal into your amp with 1/4-inch cables, switch the pedal on with the footswitch, and move the treadle to shape the sound.
Plug the pedal into your chain
Run a 1/4-inch cable from your guitar to the input jack on the pedal, and another 1/4-inch cable from the output jack to your amp. Put the wah at the front of the chain when you want the sweep to shape the raw guitar signal, before gain or distortion pedals. Check that both cables sit fully in their jacks before you switch the amp on.
Power the pedal with 9V
Each pedal here runs on 9V DC power, and the SONICAKE, the Donner and the JOYO need a power adapter that is not included. The Vox takes a 9-volt power supply input and can also run on a 9V battery. Use a regulated 9V DC supply with the polarity the pedal states, and check the adapter before you blame the pedal for noise.
Rock the treadle to shape the sound
Rest your foot on the treadle and press the toe down to switch the pedal on, then rock it back and forth. Heel down keeps the low frequencies and toe down lets the high frequencies through, so a slow rock gives a wide sweep and a fast rock gives a quick sweep. Let the pedal sit in the middle for a neutral sound between sweeps.
Set the knobs before you play
The Donner has four knobs: SENS for sensitivity, RES for filter sharpness, DECAY for how the filter falls back, and RANGE for the filter frequency range. The JOYO has a Range knob with 6 sweep ranges and a Q knob that shapes the wah from sharp to mellow. Set the knobs with the pedal on, move the treadle, and adjust one knob at a time until the sweep suits your guitar.
Use volume and wah on one pedal
The SONICAKE and the JOYO work as both a wah and an active volume pedal. Switch between the modes with the footswitch on the SONICAKE or the side switch on the JOYO. On the JOYO, a Minimum Volume knob sets the heel-down volume floor, from silent to 50% or more of the maximum. Use the volume mode for swells and the wah mode for the sweep.
What you need
SONICAKE Active Volume & Wah Guitar Effect
A 2 in 1 volume and wah pedal with a hidden footswitch for mode changes, two LED lights and a 9V DC power input.
- Pedal type: Wah
- 90-day warranty stated
Donner Mini Auto Wah Pedal Dynamic Wah
An auto wah with four knobs for sensitivity, sharpness, decay and range, plus an LED indicator and true bypass.
- True bypass
- Pedal type: Wah
- 2-year warranty stated
Vox V847-A 1960s-Style Reissue Wah Guitar Effects
A 1960s-style reissue wah with true bypass, a 9-volt power supply input and a sturdy metal housing.
- True bypass
- Pedal type: Wah
- 1-year warranty stated
JOYO Compact Wah/Volume Guitar Pedal
A compact wah and volume pedal with 6 sweep ranges, an adjustable Q knob and true bypass in wah mode.
- True bypass
- Pedal type: Wah
- 1-year warranty stated
These come from our ranked list Best Wah Pedal, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a separate volume pedal with a wah?
No, if your pedal covers both jobs. The SONICAKE and the JOYO work as a wah and an active volume pedal, so one pedal covers volume swells and the wah sweep. The Donner and the Vox are wah-only pedals.
Where does a wah pedal go in the chain?
Put it at the front of the chain, before gain or distortion pedals, so the sweep shapes the raw guitar signal. Run a 1/4-inch cable from the guitar to the pedal input and another from the pedal output to the amp.
What power supply does a wah pedal need?
Each pedal here runs on 9V DC power. The SONICAKE, the Donner and the JOYO need a power adapter that is not included, while the Vox takes a 9-volt supply input and can also run on a 9V battery.
Ranked wah pedals lists
Product details come from each Amazon listing and can change. Check the listing before you buy.