Understanding Vibrato: An Expressive Guitar Technique

Okay, so I'd like to talk to you now about perhaps one of the most expressive techniques that guitar has to offer, and that's vibrato.

Where to Apply Vibrato

Firstly, I'd like to discuss where you might apply vibrato within a melody.

• Sustained Notes: You would usually apply it over a sustained note in a melody.
• Busy Melodies: If you've got a busy melody with lots of notes passing by quickly, you don't need to apply vibrato to every single note.

Vibrato really shines when you allow a note to ring out and breathe for a moment. You can finesse it with a bit of vibrato at the end.

Example of Application

For example, a simple phrase might be something like this:

"So I'm not applying vibrato to every one of those notes. That would sound terrible, and I don't even think I can do it quick enough."

• Result: As you can hear, it sounds out of tune when overused.

Picking the Moment

We've chosen our moment. Often, it's at the end of a phrase. I'm applying the vibrato there using my first finger only.

Factors to Consider

When you're working on adding vibrato, consider:

• Style of the Piece: The style of the piece you're playing.
• Tempo of the Piece: The tempo can influence how you apply vibrato.
• Feel of the Piece: The overall feel is crucial.

Example Scenarios

• In a chilled-out slow ballad, a huge aggressive vibrato may not make sense. Instead, you'll want something a little more subtle and refined.
• For heavier pieces, like those by Gary Moore, a broader vibrato can be appropriate.

Variations of Vibrato

Two things you can easily vary are:

• Speed: How fast or slow you're vibrating the string.

• Width: How far you're displacing the string compared to something really wide.

• A great example of wide vibrato is Zakk Wylde. If you're into heavier music, you might appreciate his style.

Unique Personalization

Vibrato is personal and unique to every guitar player. Everyone's vibrato is slightly different, so it's something you'll want to spend time developing your personality with.

• Circular Vibrato: Some players use a circular motion for more subtle vibrato.
• Classical Approach: Others may go with the grain of the string, moving from side to side rather than up and down for a more delicate effect.

Common Misconceptions About Vibrato

One common misconception is that you need to go both ways with vibrato.

• Correct Approach: When I play a note, my vibrato goes towards the floor and returns to center.

Demonstration

• Correct Vibrato: "To demonstrate: here's how it should be done, either just down or just up."
• Incorrect Vibrato: "And here's it going both ways. As you can see, it just doesn't work."

Experimentation

• Choose your direction based on personal preference. For example, with my first finger, I usually go towards the floor, as it feels more controlled for me.

Practice Tips

Experiment with:

• Different speeds
• Different widths of vibrato

Start off slow, controlled, and gradually increase speed and width.

Timing the Vibrato

Another important factor is how soon you introduce that vibrato to the note.

Comparison Exercise

Let's go back to that phrase we had earlier. Listen to the difference:

• Version One: I will apply vibrato immediately on the last note.
• Version Two: I'll let the note breathe for a moment before applying vibrato.

Results:

• Sounds better when the note breathes a little before the vibrato is introduced. This way, you let the pitch settle before decorating it.

Using Different Fingers

Lastly, you can do vibrato with any finger you like. It doesn't have to be your first finger.

Finger Support Technique

• When playing with your third finger, you can achieve more width and control by supporting the leading finger with another finger behind it.
• For example, when using the third finger, add a second finger on the string for better control of vibrato.

Additional Tips

• You can rest your first finger across the strings to keep everything quiet if you're using a lot of overdrive.

Final Thoughts: I hope that this discussion on vibrato is useful. It's definitely worth incorporating into your playing as soon as possible. Regardless of your current skill level, vibrato is a really expressive tool that can elevate your guitar proficiency. So, do check it out!