The DigiTech Whammy 5 is a digital pitch-shifting pedal made by DigiTech, the fifth generation of the Whammy line that began in 1989. It combines the classic Whammy treadle sound, where you rock an expression pedal to bend pitch in real time, with chordal pitch-shifting and true bypass1. Players can shift notes up or down by as much as two octaves, creating harmonies or detuned textures2.
The original DigiTech Whammy, first released in 1989, is widely regarded as the first mass-market digital pitch shifter2, and the Whammy 5 carries that lineage forward. Pedal of the Day called it "the premier pitch-shifting pedal for any guitarist's board" and noted how widely it has been adopted:
"This pedal is so unique and well-designed, and is used by so many artists it's hard to count1."
Mike B., Pedal of the Day1
What it does to your sound
The Whammy 5 is built around real-time pitch shifting controlled from a treadle. In its classic modes it shifts single notes up or down by as much as two octaves, so you can dive, rise and detune with your foot the way you would bend a whammy bar, but with a much wider range2. Beyond the classic sound, this generation added chordal Whammy pitch-shifting, so full chords can be shifted rather than only single lines1. Pedal of the Day described the pedal as covering both the classic Whammy sound and new chordal and ambient pitch effects, and found it fits ambient and spacey playing styles as well as more conventional uses1.
Connections and technical specs
The pedal takes a standard instrument in and gives a single unbalanced out, with a MIDI input for external control1.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Instrument input | 1/4" unbalanced TS1 |
| Output | 1/4" unbalanced TS1 |
| MIDI input | 5-pin DIN1 |
| Input impedance | 1 MΩ1 |
| Output impedance | 1 kΩ1 |
| Max input level | +5 dBu1 |
| Max output level | +10 dBu1 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz to 20 kHz1 |
| Signal to noise ratio | > -105 dB (A weighted), ref = max level, 22 kHz bandwidth1 |
| THD | 0.004% @ 1 kHz, ref = 1 dBu with unity gain1 |
| A/D and D/A conversion | 24 bit1 |
| Sample rate | 44.1 kHz1 |
| Power consumption | 2.4 Watts1 |
At 2.4 Watts the Whammy 5 draws far more current than most compact pedals, so it needs its own power supply rather than a battery, and it is a poor candidate for sharing a daisy chain with low-draw analog pedals.
The MIDI input means pitch changes can be driven from external MIDI gear, not only from the treadle1. That Pedal Show covered the Whammy 5 during its octave pedals episode, with discussion and sounds starting at 6:233.
Where it came from
The Whammy line began with the DigiTech WH-1 Whammy in 1989, widely regarded as the first mass-market digital pitch shifter2. The Whammy 5 sits later in a line that includes the Whammy 4 and the Whammy DT, and its descendants include the compact Whammy Ricochet and Mini Whammy Ricochet. Gearnews listed the Whammy 5 at $179.00 in March 20262; guitar.com had it at £199 in the UK in 20234.
The MonoNeon version
At NAMM 2025, DigiTech showed a signature Whammy developed with bassist MonoNeon. In Premier Guitar's demo video, DigiTech's Johnny was clear about what it is:
"it's not a new whammy pedal it's not a whammy 6 but it's a mono neon with some new features"
Johnny (DigiTech), Premier Guitar NAMM demo5
The MonoNeon Signature is a version of the Whammy 5, the pitch-shifting pedal DigiTech describes as built for any guitarist's board5. Like the standard Whammy 5, it is a pitch shifter, taking a single 1/4" unbalanced TS instrument input and covering a 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response1. You can read more on the DigiTech MonoNeon Signature Whammy page, and see the wider family on the octave and pitch pedals page.
Videos
That Pedal Show
DigiTech
Bax-shop | Bax Music Goes
Questions
Is the DigiTech Whammy 5 true bypass?
Yes. The Whammy 5 added true bypass alongside the chordal pitch-shifting modes, so with the pedal off your dry signal passes through without the conversion circuitry in the path. Earlier Whammy units were not built this way.
Is the Whammy 5 digital or analog?
It is digital. The pedal converts your signal with 24 bit A/D and D/A conversion at a 44.1 kHz sample rate. The original DigiTech Whammy, first released in 1989, is widely regarded as the first mass-market digital pitch shifter.
Does the Whammy 5 have MIDI?
Yes. The Whammy 5 has a 5-pin DIN MIDI input, which lets you control pitch changes from external MIDI gear rather than only from the built-in treadle.
Does the Whammy 5 shift chords?
Yes. Alongside the classic single-note Whammy sound, the Whammy 5 added chordal Whammy pitch-shifting, so chords can be shifted as well as single lines. Players can shift notes up or down by as much as two octaves.
What is the MonoNeon Whammy?
A signature version of the Whammy 5 developed with bassist MonoNeon and shown at NAMM 2025. It is not a new Whammy model but a Whammy 5 with new features, and it is optimized for use with both electric guitars and basses.
How much power does the Whammy 5 use?
The Whammy 5 draws 2.4 Watts. That is a substantial draw for a pedal, so it runs from its own power supply rather than a battery, and it is worth checking before sharing a daisy chain with other pedals.
Sources (5)
- Digitech Whammy 5, Pedal of the Day, 2014-04-07
- The 5 Best Pitch Shifter Pedals for Wild Sounds and Perfect Tracking, gearnews.com, 2026-03-16
- That Pedal Show, That Pedal Show, 2016-10-07
- Gamechanger Audio’s Bigsby Pedal is more than a vintage wobble machine, guitar.com, 2023-06-23
- DigiTech Whammy 5 MonoNeon Signature & HammerOn Demos, Premier Guitar, 2025-01-25
MonoNeon
