The "wah wah wah waah" muted trumpet sound is usually used in TV shows, from Sesame Street to comedies (though it's cliched at this point) to indicate disappointment or ironic situations. People usually make that sound in conversations or even in blog posts. Where did this originate from and who was the first to use this? I suspect vaudevillian roots, but am unsure.
2006-11-01 05:40:55 · 8 answers · asked by schav_2000 2 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
By the way, this has nothing to do with wah-wah guitar sounds. It's a sequence of descending notes played for comical effect when someone ends up in a ironic or "haha, that sucks" situation.
2006-11-01 05:59:37 · update #1
Sorry, to clarify, I don't mean to ask what instrument makes this sound.
I am asking, where did this 4 note song come from? Was it from a vaudeville show? Was it from an old radio or TV show? How did it enter popular culture?
2006-11-01 06:46:38 · update #2
I have heard it in 1930's films .So you could be on the right track about vaudeville.
2006-11-01 05:51:08 · answer #1 · answered by eva b 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its from a trumpet. they use a sort of muting device to tweak the sound by slowly pulling it fron the sound hole and fluttering it. if not a trumpet than another similarly voiced wind instrument. now its just samples made with computer editing software.it was a sound that jazz players made when they were expressing emotions. or so I,m told it could just be all giberish. I really don't know. my sources are usualy wrong. good luck.
2006-11-01 14:39:20 · answer #2 · answered by B Johnson 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that sound comes from an electric guitar played through a wa-wa pedal. I don't know the inventor, but I wouldn't be surprised if Les Paul or Leo Fender had something to do with it. Jimi Hendrix used that pedal several times, and he was a Fender disciple.
2006-11-01 13:54:53 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm gonna say Looney Toons, Bugs Bunny cartoons... Warner Brothers made a lot of sounds and other stuff up that we use as cultural norms, like Acme and Anvils.
2006-11-01 13:44:24 · answer #4 · answered by Tim 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it was from The Honeymooners circa 1960.. When Ralph Kramden would have a get rich quick scheme blow up in his face. He would look to the camera & the sound would play.. Brilliant show
2006-11-01 13:47:23 · answer #5 · answered by Jaded 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I no what you are talking about...I just don't no where it originated from(wah wah wah waah)
2006-11-01 13:59:34 · answer #6 · answered by ♀Mañana♥^¥ ♪☺↕♫©⢠size= 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats sounds like a baby crying
2006-11-01 13:42:11 · answer #7 · answered by eddiep969 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The way it sounds
2006-11-01 13:42:37 · answer #8 · answered by unknown 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋