Vibrato, what is it and the key to it

Whether you are playing an instrument or using your voice, vibrato is an important effect that can greatly color your interpretation of a song. Before attempting this effect, it is recommended that you have mastered (or at least have a solid basis) of technique as without it imperfections become as noticeable as the attributes. The right notes, the correct breathing….these are all fundamental prerequisites to know before launching into vibrato.

What is vibrato?

Before going any further, let’s define vibrato. Vibrato is the phenomenon of oscillation, of vibration as the name implies, around a held note. If you are listening to it, it’s like a quiver or an earthquake in your voice. From a visual point of view, it could be described as undulating waves. In the case of a song, it’s the reach and intensity that fluctuate. Certain singers have their signature voice: Beyoncé, Steven Tyler, Mariah Carey… This effect varies widely depending on different musical styles.

Vibrato is particularly present in modern R&B. A genre that is often associated with having a "vibe," a term that not surprisingly is rooted in this vocal effect.

The key to vibrato: a relaxed body

Good vibrato requires a relaxed body as it balances between what is natural and what is mastered. The more that you use your body, the more that vibrato will be forced and the more it will resemble a tremolo (a variation in volume rather than just high pitch). We can also sometimes be tempted to use vibrato incorrectly in other ways that aren’t adapted to our body.

The first of these "unnatural" things involves the jaw and its movement. Whitney Houston gives us the perfect example the incorrect use of the jaw to carry sound upwards in her song I Will Always Love You. If you watch her music video from The Bodyguard, you will notice that Houston sings the famous lyrics with a jaw that quickly opens and closes while trembling, a technique that is highly unrecommended when learning to sing. Despite the quality of sound and a stunning performance, Houston reaches such a high level of tension that a natural vibrato isn’t possible and the singer is forced to unlock the natural vibrato via the movements of her jaw.

Vibrato is not a shake

It’s normal to be tempted to unlock vibrato via stomach movements but this actually isn’t natural and if it isn’t controlled well it can result in a panting effect. That said, here is a good way to get startd... try to replicate the sound of an engine starting and accelerating. You should arrive at a point where your vibrato gets to the desired oscillation. Another interesting exercise to try is to imitate the sound of a child pretending to be a ghost, a “Woo” sound. Do this little by little, gradually increasing towards the higher notes.

An exercise amongst others for mastery

Here’s one to try alongside an instrument. Play a note, this will become your main note. Now play the one just above and below (these become your secondary notes). Next, sing and hold your main note and switch back and forth to the secondary ones. Continue doing this slowly and accelerating gradually between transitions to the point where the transition is no longer evident and only the vibrating sensation remains. Note that there is no correct speed for vibrato: David Bowie had a fast vibrato, Mary J. Blige’s is a bit slower.

One last piece of advice: as with any added effect, vibrato is to be used sparingly. Overuse takes away the charm that can make all the difference in your interpretation.

Julkaistu: 25. toukokuuta 2016