Hi Guys,

I've been thinking about this for a while. In some (funk in particular) music, the electric guitarist can create a very cool backing sound. Sort of like rapid stabs. I'm going to describe it as "Waka Waka Waka Waka". Not helpful I know.

The most famous example I can think of is the Chilli Peppers song, I think it is 'By the Way', with a very famous bass riff laid over the top of this effect. I (think) the 'effect' (whose name is?) is created at least in part via the use of a 'Wah' pedal.

My question is, could a digital piano (or more precisely; Kawai MP5 , with the right equipment) replicate that effect?

Thanks,
Simon

I'm not familiar with the MP5, and I don't hear anything like you describe in the little iTunes sample of "by the way", but I'm pretty sure what you're looking for is a clav sound with an "auto-wah" effect. You might try a phaser effect, as well.

Clav is short for clavinet, which was an extremely funky, vintage sort of plucky electric piano made by Hohner in the 70's. Most synths have some clav sounds, but I'm not sure about the MP5. But it's likely.

Even if that's not the sound you're talking about, it is seriously one of the funkiest sounds ever made

I'm sure the MP5 has clav sounds. You might be thinking of Higher Ground which was a RHCP reworking of Stevie Wonder's clav-tasmic hit of the same name.

Okay, MP5 definitely has clavinet (i've spent quite a while messing around with it). I'll have to try and "auto-wah" it somehow and see what happens... thanks for the ideas anyway!

Looks like it has auto-wah in the internal effects.