whammy bar
techniquesWAM-ee bar
A tremolo arm attached to an electric guitar bridge that alters string tension to bend pitch up or down.
The whammy bar (also tremolo arm or vibrato bar) allows guitarists to create smooth pitch bends, dramatic dive bombs, and shimmering vibrato effects. Floyd Rose locking tremolos enable extreme pitch manipulation while maintaining tuning stability. Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and Eddie Van Halen are among the most creative whammy bar users, each developing signature techniques that expanded the instrument's expressive range.