TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Let's talk about Vibrato
Good question ... I have no idea.
Good question ... I have no idea.
Let's talk about Vibrato
- Thread starter JammerMatt
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JammerMatt
New member
Re: Let's talk about Vibrato
Mine sounds like CC Deville's and Kirk Hammett's, so that's why I gotta get workin' on it
Mine sounds like CC Deville's and Kirk Hammett's, so that's why I gotta get workin' on it
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Let's talk about Vibrato
Sally Van Meter, a highly respected and virtuoso Dobro player I took a couple of lessons from, gave me the best advice about vibrato I ever received.
She noticed that I started my vibrato as soon as I picked the note. That's cool, and kind of a bluesy way to do it.
But she pointed out that it's classier, and in a way more mature and expressive, to sound the note and then add your vibrato a little later sometimes. That's the way classical violinists tend to do it and it doesn't sound as nervous and hurried as younger rock players often sound.
Also, if you watch players like Robben Ford and BB King, they don't bend as many notes as most rock players do. It's easier to get a controled vibrato if you're not also having to hold a bent note up to pitch.
Lew
Sally Van Meter, a highly respected and virtuoso Dobro player I took a couple of lessons from, gave me the best advice about vibrato I ever received.
She noticed that I started my vibrato as soon as I picked the note. That's cool, and kind of a bluesy way to do it.
But she pointed out that it's classier, and in a way more mature and expressive, to sound the note and then add your vibrato a little later sometimes. That's the way classical violinists tend to do it and it doesn't sound as nervous and hurried as younger rock players often sound.
Also, if you watch players like Robben Ford and BB King, they don't bend as many notes as most rock players do. It's easier to get a controled vibrato if you're not also having to hold a bent note up to pitch.
Lew
Re: Let's talk about Vibrato
Craig said it, but I want to say it again for emphasis. To me, a controlled, slow vibrato is one of the key differences between a pro-type technique and a beginner's style. Lew also mentioned hitting the note and waiting a bit before beginning vibrato, and I agree with him, too. Vibrato style is one of those things that isn't discussed very much, but I think that it's a huge part of the way that I perceive someone else's playing. If they have a fast, tight vibrato, they're going to have to really blow me away with content to overcome it. I've just always been a fan of and employed a slower, wider vibrato.
I think that you can overuse vibrato, BTW. It's just like anything else in that it's cool when it's used to flavor the dish, but it sucks when it's the equivalent of a mouthful of raw onions.
Craig said it, but I want to say it again for emphasis. To me, a controlled, slow vibrato is one of the key differences between a pro-type technique and a beginner's style. Lew also mentioned hitting the note and waiting a bit before beginning vibrato, and I agree with him, too. Vibrato style is one of those things that isn't discussed very much, but I think that it's a huge part of the way that I perceive someone else's playing. If they have a fast, tight vibrato, they're going to have to really blow me away with content to overcome it. I've just always been a fan of and employed a slower, wider vibrato.
I think that you can overuse vibrato, BTW. It's just like anything else in that it's cool when it's used to flavor the dish, but it sucks when it's the equivalent of a mouthful of raw onions.
AmirH
New member
Re: Let's talk about Vibrato
I played started on violin, and moved to string bass and played that for years and years before I even touched a guitar. I had already developed a vibrato on those instruments so it carried over naturally to guitar. I never thought of it as something to be really proud of though.
I played started on violin, and moved to string bass and played that for years and years before I even touched a guitar. I had already developed a vibrato on those instruments so it carried over naturally to guitar. I never thought of it as something to be really proud of though.
Re: Let's talk about Vibrato
To me, it's one of those things that you get to after you get past the point of just being able to play the notes. After you achieve a certain level of proficiency, you start concentrating on not just being able to play the notes, but on how you play the notes. How you pick them, how you finger them in which position, how you vibrato the note, whether you bend or slide to the note(s), up-stroke or down-stroke, hammered-on, pulled-off, etc. The various nuance variables are virtually endless.Death's Acre said:
AmirH
New member
Re: Let's talk about Vibrato
Oh, well if you put it that way- I always rerecord various parts over and over regardless of if they're technically right to get the right "feel" so to speak, so I can totally see what you guys are talking about. It definitely has to be "just right" not just there if you know what I mean. My vibrato varies I guess, I do it differently when I play different things. Normally I guess it's not overly fast, but not super drawn out either. It really sounded good when I demo'd that triple x last month and it was sustaining seemingly forever. Wouldn't want that amp so bad I don't think had that been a dry note I was holding.
Oh, well if you put it that way- I always rerecord various parts over and over regardless of if they're technically right to get the right "feel" so to speak, so I can totally see what you guys are talking about. It definitely has to be "just right" not just there if you know what I mean. My vibrato varies I guess, I do it differently when I play different things. Normally I guess it's not overly fast, but not super drawn out either. It really sounded good when I demo'd that triple x last month and it was sustaining seemingly forever. Wouldn't want that amp so bad I don't think had that been a dry note I was holding.
Re: Let's talk about Vibrato
Oh, one more thing on this... There are times that if I'm really hyped up in what I'm playing, I'll catch myself in a faster vibrato and have to slow it down. I would've thought that it would just be habit after playing this long, but it's not. It happens more than I care to admit.
Oh, one more thing on this... There are times that if I'm really hyped up in what I'm playing, I'll catch myself in a faster vibrato and have to slow it down. I would've thought that it would just be habit after playing this long, but it's not. It happens more than I care to admit.
Ocifer
New member
Re: Let's talk about Vibrato
Can't really "practice" it. You can try to control it if you're aware, which is different. It develops with time. That's what puts the experienced players apart from the beginners. Many beginners don't really have a concept of vibrato, or how to develop one. Also, I believe there's different styles of vibrato in different styles of music. A vibrato you'd use in a metal context while hitting pinch harmonics is way different from one you'd use in a blues context for example...
Can't really "practice" it. You can try to control it if you're aware, which is different. It develops with time. That's what puts the experienced players apart from the beginners. Many beginners don't really have a concept of vibrato, or how to develop one. Also, I believe there's different styles of vibrato in different styles of music. A vibrato you'd use in a metal context while hitting pinch harmonics is way different from one you'd use in a blues context for example...
JammerMatt
New member
Re: Let's talk about Vibrato
Whilst playing last night, I tried to make a mental note to slow down the vibrato and go for a wider oscillation. It's tough when it's ingrained, but even warming up I tried to keep it in mind. I suppose admitting you have a problem is the 1st step.
"Hi, My name is Matt Chase, and I have no vibrato."
Whilst playing last night, I tried to make a mental note to slow down the vibrato and go for a wider oscillation. It's tough when it's ingrained, but even warming up I tried to keep it in mind. I suppose admitting you have a problem is the 1st step.
"Hi, My name is Matt Chase, and I have no vibrato."
Jeffrec
New member
Re: Let's talk about Vibrato
Hi Matt!!! :laugh2:
The way I learned my vibrato was from listening to/watching Clapton and Leslie West. ANother good source it to watch the Gary Moore vidoe where he's playing with Albert King and Albert Collins. Gary shakes the hell out of the neck. It come from the wrist and forearm, and not your fingers. Practice pushing a note up, hold it, then using your forearm, do an exaggerated vibrato. Once you're comfortable with it, it becomes second nature. As Clapton said, "if you listen to a note after it's been played, there's a natural quavering to it". That''s what your vibrato should sound like.
Jeff
JammerMatt said:
Hi Matt!!! :laugh2:
The way I learned my vibrato was from listening to/watching Clapton and Leslie West. ANother good source it to watch the Gary Moore vidoe where he's playing with Albert King and Albert Collins. Gary shakes the hell out of the neck. It come from the wrist and forearm, and not your fingers. Practice pushing a note up, hold it, then using your forearm, do an exaggerated vibrato. Once you're comfortable with it, it becomes second nature. As Clapton said, "if you listen to a note after it's been played, there's a natural quavering to it". That''s what your vibrato should sound like.
Jeff
JammerMatt
New member
Re: Let's talk about Vibrato
That dude's got some great vibrato IMO (Gary).
Jeffrec said:
That dude's got some great vibrato IMO (Gary).
