Tom Morello reveals the "uncool" origins of his toggle-switching technique

Tom Morello performs live
(Image credit: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect)

Tom Morello’s electric guitar playing style is founded around three core concepts: a molotov cocktail of killer riffs, Whammy pedal abuse and toggle switching - and now the Rage Against The Machine founder has revealed the unlikely origins of the latter technique.

During a recent Reddit Ask Me Anything, one fan asked about Morello’s kill-switching technique, to which the guitarist replied, “It’s not a kill switch; it is the toggle switch, standard issue.

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Michael Astley-Brown
Editor-in-Chief, GuitarWorld.com

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.