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

Vibrato

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Sea Born:
Howdy, Happy Harpers!

So I'm trying to sound groovy and cool (ha! 'groovy & cool'! I'm OLD!) by using vibrato.  I think I'm doing ok with the low blows (pun!), but I find it more difficult with the high notes where I can use my hand, unless it's on the button, in which case, I just shake the whole harp.  Draw notes are trickier, but do-able.  But both blow and draw are slow.  Blow: ≈305 bpm.  Draw: ≈200
The draw, especially, sounds kinda kwap.  Uneven.  Actually, it sounds terrible.   :'(

Do the groovy & cool (sorry) players among you use more diaphram or throat to get vibrato?  How do you do the draw?  Any tips?

Thanks!

Keith:
I quite often get it when I'm running out of breath. ;)

Yes I can get a sort of vibrato, not quite sure how, throat &/or diaphragm, but I'll leave it to the experts to explain it. :)

John Broecker:
There are at least 13-14 different vibrati types.
That is, 7 exhale and 7 inhale vibrati for each type,
with performer-controlled variable speed.

Before we get started on harmonica vibrati,
we should understand that, in music, the words
vibrato and tremolo are often interchangeable.

1. hand vibrato

2. finger vibrato

3. wrist vibrato

4. jaw vibrato

5. tongue vibrato

6. throat vibrato

7. diaphragm vibrato

Some of the vibrati stop the air flow,
without changing the reed's pitch
(nos. 1-5, above). This is useful in
classical music, where stylistic pitch
changes aren't common practice.

Some of the vibrati stop the air flow,
and change the reed's pitch, like bending
(possibly nos. 5-7 above). Those are
useful in popular music, where pitch
changes are used for effect, or to add
extra scale notes not factory-installed on
Richter harmonicas.

Also, vibrati are subject to manufacturers'
tuning systems: ET, JI, or Compromise tunings.
Those tunings will determine the type of vibrati
produced.

Depending on the brand and model of the
harmonica used, some vibrati may be easier
or more difficult to perform.

Then, add the performer's playing experience
on the specified harmonica.

I asked a famous harmonica player who had
an excellent throat vibrato and an excellent
diaphragm vibrato, how he produced them.

He said that he didn't know, but, if we see our
throat moving while playing a vibrato, that's a
throat vibrato. And, if we see our belly moving
while playing a vibrato, that's a diaphragm vibrato.

I use only the external vibrati (nos. 1-3 above), and
occasionally, the internal vibrati (nos. 4-5 above).

Best Regards

JB

SlideMeister:
If you're anything like me, you go all the way back to "swell," "gee thanks," "golly gee, " "dames & cool cats"  and so on. But, I am kinda with ya on the vibrato thing.

I pretty much refuse to do a hand flap cuz I look stupid doing one, and my "throat vibrato" (if you can call it that) sux, and I'm not even sure how I do it. Probably fair to say more "Cough" than "Throat" on lower notes, and lip pressure/shake on the higher notes. At least that's what I'm doin' this week  ::) 

SlideMeister:
My least favourite, by far,  is the tongue/ya-ya vibrato. Very few can do it justice and the rest sound somehow "syrup-ily" obnoxious to me.  :P No matter how well the artist plays, they all kinda lose me when they turn on the "Ya-Ya." Yeah, I know, I'm bad. :-[

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