Slidemeister (Chromatic & related only - no Diatonic discussion) > Chromatic Playing Techniques

Has Anyone Ever Really Nailed down Their Vibrato?

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ejacob4:
Okay. I’ve been working on my vibrato for . . . 17 years. Yup. And it’s not one. There are a few, and some I never did, never will do. Thinks first 3/4 of green eggs and ham. That might have worked out better with bacon . . . Anyhow.

Way back when Bill Romel said, “Start working on two thinks: tone and a vibrato’” I Sid not know it was a spiritual calling or a life of penance for some youthful sin.

Nevertheless, here i sit, too often wondering if it was too much (probably yes if I’m asking), not enough (same note), or just wrong then and there (never will be sure).

All of this is reflection. I may correct em brochure on the fly, or purposely work at inhale vibrato, but most of the time something inside guides me, and I don’t think about it. I play and get what I get.

Is yours a done deal, long ago selected and settled? Are you still working it out? Discovering it?

Best regards,
Ed

brorat:
Ed,

For whatever reason (and I accept it as a gift!), I seem to have a "natural' vibrato.  I haven't worked much on it, but ... there it is.  I've listened to it, and at least to my ears and sensibilities, it's ok as is.  Not TOO warbly; not obnoxious.  So, I think I'll just let it be.  Not certain why it's there or how I do it. 
I do know that when I stopped my tenure in church choir, the reason I stopped was mainly because I couldn't control a vibrato that bothered me in singing.  I've decided it was just something that was handed to me, for good or for bad.  I'll take it!

Scotty:
I can still only hit a very mild inhale vibrato (same when I sing). I did consider trying Robert Bonfiglio's masterful hand (actually finger) vibrato but with my painful hand issues, had to give that idea up. Sigh. He showed it in some detail to those of us who gathered for his seminar at the Grand Canyon in 2006. Very neat. He's a cool guy. I've watched tons of his performances (and videos). Also own all of his CD's. Some people don't like his type of playing vibrato, but it works for him.

For me, I'm still trying to get a diaphragm-type or throat vibrato but not being overly successful. Lomor here on S/M (Laurent Maur) has some great teaching vids showing everything about breathing and vibrato, I believe (might be on his own site....he's on the Member list) -a brilliant player. I do get excited when I achieve my 'mini' vibrato here and there but quite honestly am fairly happy to play pretty straight since most of the songs and music I love are melodies which didn't really have vibrato originally.

scotty

Grizzly:
My vibrato came "naturally" more than 60 years ago while playing flute. I never had to work on/at it.

Until harmonica. On inhales, I'm now at over 90% comfortable (i. e. don't have to think about it). Exhales transferred easily. I rarely have to resort to hand/finger vibrato, and don't use any others (jaw, "ya-ya" etc.).

Tom

SlimHeilpern:
In my view, there's always room for improvement when it comes to phrasing and vibrato -- a lifelong pursuit.

I worked really hard on vibrato back in the 80's and once I got good at it (with the exception of the top two holes, and using slightly different approach on the bottom 2 holes (12 hole instrument)) I started over-using it (without thinking about it) for quite a long time. These days, I try to use it a bit more sparingly.

Here's one tip: On long notes, try not applying the vibrato until the last third (or so) of the duration. That can be super effective. And don't use vibrato on every note, less is more.

And here's an exercise to strengthen your vibrato muscle: Start with a super slow and wide (in pitch) vibrato (one that you may never want to use in performance). This is to strengthen your ability to lower the pitch (aim for a half step bend, use a tuner if that helps) as well as gaining control over the vibrato speed. Try to make it as smooth as possible, falling and raising evenly. Then gradually increase the speed of the vibrato, maintaining the wide pitch range as best you can. Do this across the range of the instrument (perhaps excepting the top two holes), blow and draw. Once this gets easier, the less extreme vibrato (which is almost certainly more desirable) will come more naturally and sound better. (IMHO of course).

- Slim

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