Should You Buy a Talkbox? 5 Killer Tracks That Use Them
In your mouth?!
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Should You Buy a Talkbox? 5 Killer Tracks That Use Them · Source: Alamy Stock Photo / MediaPunch Inc
Should you buy a Talkbox? This niche piece of gear is rarely used, but when it is, magic happens. Let’s check out 5 songs that use them.
Classic Talkbox Songs:
What is a Talkbox?
- A Talkbox takes your guitar sound through a small speaker driver and then into a plastic tube. This tube allows the sound to be directed into the player’s mouth over a conventional speaker.
- By opening and closing your mouth with the tube, you can shape vowels, consonants, and speech-like sounds. A microphone then captures these changes and sends them to the PA or recording system.
- Unlike digital vocal effects, a talkbox is totally analogue and only the player is responsible for the sounds that you can achieve, rather than a digital processor.
Should You Buy a Talkbox?
This is a bizarre topic. We’ve all heard them across various rock, pop and grunge songs. From Alice in Chains to Bruno Mars, they are used. But should you buy a talkbox? Well, as ever, there are plenty to choose from:
Talkboxes are old school in that the player decides how to use them. No digital processing, all you have to do is open and close your mouth to achieve various sounds. Here are 5 examples that use them terrifically. You can decide for yourself if you should buy a talkbox.
Rocky Mountain Way – Joe Walsh
Our first pick for classic talkbox songs comes from way back in 1973. This is just one awesome and iconic 1970s guitar track. Joe Walsh’s Rocky Mountain Way has big riffs and a strange sound in the solo. That’ll be the talkbox then!
I love that to accompany the huge riff in E, we have a subtle piano part to work with it. What isn’t so subtle is the guitar solo in which Walsh uses the talkbox.
Pedal steel guitarists began using talkboxes in the mid-1960s; therefore, it was still a relatively new sound when Rocky Mountain Way came out. Overall, in the solo, it adds some character and makes it sound quite alien-like. Definitely one to try!
Kickstart My Heart – Mötley Crüe
Up next in our debate, we’re jumping forward a decade to the 1980s. Mick Mars is behind the guitar genius in this track. This peak Super Strat era, where Mars ditched the Les Paul Custom, and leaned towards a Floyd Rose and that all-important talkbox.
Opening with those legendary divebombs that sound like a motorcycle roaring down the highway, the solo of Kickstart My Heart is where the talkbox soars. You can really hear the opening and closing of Mars’ mouth to achieve the aggression in the solo.
Moreover, if you listen until the end, you can hear the chorus lyric, ‘kickstart my heart’, but via the talkbox. This is a nice touch and is a very literal use for the device. For me, this is a big positive for deciding if you should buy a talkbox.
Sweet Emotion – Aerosmith
Back to the 1970s now. I’ve deliberately linked to the somewhat R-rated music video for this next pick. The use of the talkbox really aids the saucy nature of the theme of the video.
Unlike in the other picks that we’ve seen and heard, Sweet Emotion uses the talkbox to add extra vibes to the track, rather than another effect in the signal chain.
Notable devices used in this track are some great guitar harmonies, along with a classic rock riff in A with plenty of power chords and pull-offs. It ticks a lot of boxes! As far as this track is concerned, should you buy a talkbox? It’s certainly used sparingly in this track, but it does make a big impact.
Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
Air guitar and karaoke anthem up next! Rather than adding extra layers to the tracks and guitar sound, the talbox in this track is an integral part of the song’s identity. Maybe this will help you to decide if you should buy a talkbox…
Compared to the rest of the picks, it’s actually quite easy not to notice the talkbox. It fits into the main riff of the song so well, but without it, you’d know that something was missing.
You could get by with a wah pedal, perhaps, but it wouldn’t sound the same. Richie Sambora was behind many legendary riffs, and this one has the accolade of being Bon Jovi’s biggest hit.
Man In The Box – Alice In Chains
Concluding our look at if you should buy a talkbox, we’re adding in a drop of 90s grunge to the mix. What’s not to like here? Eb tuning, screaming vocals, and a moody attitude.
Just like with Bon Jovi, Man In The Box uses a talkbox as part of the main riff of the song. In this instance, the talkbox is as compulsory as the guitar itself. Moreover, its use is very staccato-like. It feels either on or off, with very little in the way of gradual modulation.
Plus, I love how the talkbox is also used for the little descent down the minor pentatonic scale just before the chorus. It really sets the tone for Layne Staley’s vocal in the chorus.
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