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Well... as we all know, a players vibrato is very important. But very overlooked! Personally, i've spent alot of time practicing my own vibrato, and giving it a certain style. I have two types i use; a violin vibrato which comes from alot of fretless bass playing, and a gentle quot;up-and-downquot; vibrato with varying speed.

So, tell me about your vibrato style and technique!

-Erlend

Interesting thread. I use the up-and-down style exclusively but feel it's probably my biggest weak spot in terms of technique.

I'd love to know if there are any exercises people have found useful in developing their up-and-down vibrato. Zakk Wylde's vibrato is totally over-the-top and I wouldn't use it that often but I'd love to have that ability in my arsenal.

- Keith

Mostly mine is quot;widequot;..varies in tempo from slow to medium-fast...think John Sykes... On occasion I can pull off the super fast one he's capable of...the quot;woo wooquot; (where I honestly think Zakk got his inspiration)

one thing I do alot too is quot;shakequot; my power chords...not alot of folks do that..at least these days...Adrian Smith used to alot...Blackmore (when he actually played a chord)...Jake...

I've been working on my vibrato much more lately as I find I tend to get quot;staticquot; and forget to use it....

Depending on what I'm playing, most of the time it's like Gary Moore's or Neal Schon's.

I don't how I do it, it just came naturally. I notice that I vibrato with either of the 4 playing fingers individually.

Mine is very Zakk and Lynch inspired, maybe a little Friedman in there too. I like using vibrato on my chords like Jeff pointed out. It sounds really cool when used in the right spot.

Edit: How could I forget. Ace Frehley and Mark Kendall, 2 others who I picked up vibrato from.

I would best describe mine as inconsistant and awful. The kind of sounds that send cats running for cover!

mine tends to have the bigger bends like claptons... but i dont really practice it too much.... cough...

My vibrato is about the only thing I like about my playing.

It tends to be pretty wide (about 1/4 step) and smooth.

There's also the fun little trick of bending a note downwards (no whammy involved )


Originally Posted by AkrinThere's also the fun little trick of bending a note downwards (no whammy involved )

How?

I got mine from BB King (The Hummingbird), Leslie West (fast amp; wide), Carlos Santana (Slow amp; soulful). If I could get a handle on Jeff beck's vibrato I would be a happy camper. I also use classical style vibrato in moderation.

a display of Parkinsons disease involving my entire left arm

at least thats probably how it looks lt;similar motion to that (the hand not the face)

I know that my vibrato isn't great, but it can sound pretty sweet occasionally. It is usually very wide, but I do some subtle vibrato as well, when I feel it's needed. Wide and soft can be used either clean or dirty... it's always whatever fits the song right?

My other guitarist complained to me once that my vibrato is.. well, TOO wide most of the time. I've noticed that Steve Vai employs all sorts of crazy vibratos but his wide one is something I copped before I even heard him play, albeit not very well . The other guitarist on the other hand says he fashions his vibrato to be like the human voice; personally I don't think he puts enough emphasis into it. But then again I model myself after metal soloists and shredders who tend to take that note and SHAKE IT like there's no tomorrow.


Originally Posted by Tux789a display of Parkinsons disease involving my entire left arm

at least thats probably how it looks lt;similar motion to that (the hand not the face)

^subtle whats that?

Either Zakk style or B.B. King style. I happen to love Gilmour's bend-delay-vibrato but when I try that I end up sounding zakk-ish. Basically, I'm over the top and need to practice slowing it down and narrowing the range.


Originally Posted by PFDarksideEither Zakk style or B.B. King style. I happen to love Gilmour's bend-delay-vibrato but when I try that I end up sounding zakk-ish. Basically, I'm over the top and need to practice slowing it down and narrowing the range.

yeah thats about half the battle

Vai and Satriani employ a circular vibrato, which is a combination of up-and-down and classical (side-to-side) vibrato. They pull back on the string toward the neck, bend up on the string toward the low E, push forward on the string toward the bridge and bend up toward the high e.

That's waq!

I'v got two styles. One is the classical style, pivoting your wrist/thumb so your fretting finger kind of shakes side to side. My other style is a wide, up-down kind of vibrato

I suck at both


Originally Posted by Tom MHow?

Push the string towards the bridge while fretting a note. I can usually get about 1/4 step or so.

I just shake my hand from side-to-side really. It's not really wide vibrato, just enough so that the note doesn't sound dead.

..and JeffB, I do the vibrato on power chords thing like Smith does.