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intermediatetechnique
Vibrato & Expression
Develop slow, wide finger vibrato for emotional bends.
Objective
Produce consistent, wide, in-control vibrato on a sustained note in three speeds: slow, medium, fast.
Concepts
- ▸Vibrato is a slight, rhythmic fluctuation of pitch above a sustained note.
- ▸Classical vibrato oscillates above and below the pitch. Guitar vibrato goes above the pitch only (unless on a whammy bar).
- ▸Two types: wrist vibrato (most common in rock/blues) and arm/finger vibrato (classical, jazz).
- ▸Wrist vibrato: the wrist rocks back and forth as if turning a small knob, pulling the string up and relaxing.
- ▸Width: how far the pitch rises. Narrow (quarter-step) = subtle. Wide (whole-step) = dramatic.
- ▸Speed: fast vibrato = excitement, urgency. Slow vibrato = vocal, soulful.
Diagram / Notation
Vibrato notation: e |--9~~~~--| (tilde marks = vibrato) Wrist motion for vibrato on string 2 (B): Neutral: finger on fret 9 Pull: wrist rotates → string bends up ~quarter step Return: wrist releases → back to neutral Repeat: smooth, even oscillation Wide, slow vibrato (SRV style): Width: half to whole step above pitch Speed: 2–3 oscillations per second
Exercises
1.Slow metronome vibrato
- 1.Fret B string fret 9. Let it ring for one beat.
- 2.On beat 2: begin vibrato. One oscillation per metronome beat at 60 BPM.
- 3.Slow vibrato is the hardest to control — every imperfection is audible.
- 4.Increase speed to 2 oscillations per beat, then 4.
2.Width comparison
- 1.Vibrato with quarter-step width. Record it.
- 2.Vibrato with half-step width. Record it.
- 3.Vibrato with whole-step width. Record it.
- 4.Play back all three — choose which feels most expressive for you.
3.Delayed vibrato entry
- 1.Strike a note. Hold perfectly still for 2 beats.
- 2.On beat 3: add vibrato slowly, gradually increasing width.
- 3.This "swelling" technique is used by BB King, Clapton, Gilmour — it is deeply emotional.
Tips
- 💡Vibrato is your singing voice on the guitar — develop your signature sound, not a copy of someone else's.
- 💡Bad vibrato (wobbly, uneven, inconsistent) is worse than no vibrato. Practice control before width.
- 💡Keep the thumb behind the neck — it anchors the wrist rotation.
- 💡Listen to: BB King (wide and fast), David Gilmour (wide and slow), Carlos Santana (medium, very controlled).