Vibrato Help

[Jergason]

I know that this has been discussed a lot before, but I was wondering if someone could list some of the specific different techniques to doing vibrato. I am a little confused about how it all works. :confused:

Also I have problems with my own vibrato. I can do some crappy vibrato, but only on bends, and only high up on the fretboard. I bend a note while reaching around the fretboard with my thumb, and kindof skade the neck up and down quickly. The neck wobbles back and forth while I am doing it. I can't do it very well without bending or lower down the neck. Can someone give me some help with this? Thanks!

[debaser]

It sounds, without actually seeing you play, like one of your main issues is hand strength. When I had only been playing for 3-4 years, I had a lot of trouble with vibrato, and generally produced it by shaking the neck of the guitar violently. This issue was compounded by a teacher of mine at the time who couldn't understand why I wanted to "shake my hands around" while improvising. Anyway, I finally got it together by a) practicing vibrato more. I learned some Page, Hendrix, Angus Young solos, etc. Study any player who has a strong vibrato, whether it's Malmsteen, Vai, one of those blues-type guys, or whoever, and try to produce the effect that they have. It might take a little while, but you'll get there. b)This may sound a little weird, but I find that my vibrato is really improved by practicing on acoustic for a while because it's so good for my hand-strength. Just some quick thoughts - someone else may have a more detailed explanation, but I really think that hearing it in action is where it comes from most.

[JP82]

The best thing is to start out slow, and gradualy speed will come. It takes a long time though. Especially the high E en the lower strings require somewhat of a different approach

[forgottenking2]

This is something I am still working on (vibrato on bends) but an excercise that has helped (and it's a lor of fun once you ge it up to speed) is:
1. Bend up to the desired note
2. Hold that note
3. Bend a little past the note (sharpen the note a little)
4. Come back to it
5. Release a little (flatten the note a little)
6. Come back to it.

Practice with different intensities and speeds, try a very subtle slow vibrato, also a try a wild wide vibrato... start out very slow and then gradually speed it up, you'll notice that the hardest part is to come back to the note and keep perfect intonation, that takes time, like I said, I'm still working on it, but this WILL help you improve that.

I hope this helps,

Regards,

[hol0point]

I play alot of Pink Floyd and Gilmour uses alot of vibrato and bends so over time its getting a little better but I still struggle to keep the desired note when doing a bend with vibrato. I always end up bringing the note down some when I start doing the vibrato and of course that sounds horrible but I'm workin on it.


hol0

[debaser]

I play alot of Pink Floyd and Gilmour uses alot of vibrato and bends so over time its getting a little better but I still struggle to keep the desired note when doing a bend with vibrato. I always end up bringing the note down some when I start doing the vibrato and of course that sounds horrible but I'm workin on it.


hol0

Yes, Gilmour is great. I think that playing the solo from "Another Brick in the Wall" pt. 2 helped me a lot as well.

[Jergason]

I don't really listen to Pink Floyd that much, so I'll be sure to check it out. Thanks for the help you guys. From what I've seen so far, this fourm is full of very helpful people, which is a great thing!

[potshot]

This is something I am still working on (vibrato on bends) but an excercise that has helped (and it's a lor of fun once you ge it up to speed) is:
1. Bend up to the desired note
2. Hold that note
3. Bend a little past the note (sharpen the note a little)
4. Come back to it
5. Release a little (flatten the note a little)
6. Come back to it.



I always thought you were supposed to only go above the pitch and back, never above->below... ?

[forgottenking2]

Fluctuating the pitch up and down is more than acceptable, it gives that rich quality... kinda like doing circular vibrato on an unbent note (still working on that, not really coming together yet). Check out Steve Vai mini-lessons at www.Vai.com for his coments on the matter.

Regards,