Vibrato

[zongeek]

Hey gang,

I've been getting more into vibrato and vibrato technique lately to add to my playing. I don't care much for straight bends anymore (unless of course it sounds good).

I suppose vibrato on fretless is easier and sort of sounds better as it has that 'mwah' we all talk about.

However, what is the secret (if any) or key to a good semi-fretless sounding vibrato on fretted basses? Are there exercises to build the technique?

I know Pino does this a lot, but the videos I've searched on YouTube don't really pin it down on him too much and it's hard to catch.

Thoughts?

[xlows]

i saw a bb king instructional video for guitar awhile ago where he went over vibrato excessively. i think it's on youtube, check it out.

[DocBop]

My old bass teacher liked my vibrato and said my technique is like a violinist would use??? The first time if heard of vibrato I was a young and dumb teen sub'ing in a Jazz trio in a bar. One of the drunks err customers on a break was an retired musicians and told me I should use vibrato to make things sound better. He showed me the motion using his arm like a bass neck.

What I do is make sure I'm right behind the fret, that helps get a suttle pitch change. Then I kind of stiffen up my fretting finger and wrist. I know most use their wrist, but I use my forearm to move my finger forward and back. I find doing this I can control the speed of the vibrato easily.

I played guitar for a long time and will use my wrist and slightly bend the string up and down for a vibrato with more pitch change.

Now when I use which is hard to say my subconscious it usually making the selection. From whating myself play part of the decision appears to come from which finger I am fretting with. If my index finger I tend to do bend vibrato, I guess because my other finger act like a counter balance. For my other fingers I tend to use the violin style I described.

Also which I use depends on why I want to use vibrato for. If to sweeten up a long note and/or get a rotor speaker effects by changing speeds I will use the violin technique. If I'm trying to make a note sustain longer then I use the guitar technique it create more friction to keep the note ringing.

I thing the bottom line is it doesn't matter what technique you use, what is important is how smooth it is and how well you control the speed.

Boy wish I could find that drunk old musician again to thank him. I've gotten years of use out of his little two-minute lesson.

[zongeek]

... now I have to go find a drunk, old musician.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by zongeek

... now I have to go find a drunk, old musician.

You're in NoHo just come over the hill plenty in Hollywood.

[zongeek]

Originally Posted by DocBop

You're in NoHo just come over the hill plenty in Hollywood.

I was there last night as a matter of fact.

[CrazyArcher]

Back on topic okay?

I have a P-clone with large frets, so when I press the string harder it gets deeper between them even at low positions, making the sound sharper. This way, apllying extra pressure is an integral part of my vibrato. Sounds rather smooth, if we are talking about semi-fretless sound...
Heh, it's like adding the 3rd dimension

[zongeek]

Originally Posted by CrazyArcher

Back on topic okay?

I have a P-clone with large frets, so when I press the string harder it gets deeper between them even at low positions, making the sound sharper. This way, apllying extra pressure is an integral part of my vibrato. Sounds rather smooth, if we are talking about semi-fretless sound...
Heh, it's like adding the 3rd dimension

You mention pressure - is your action set higher? I only ask because I set mine low, though sometimes I do apply a fair bit of pressure when I fret a note.

I have medium size frets I guess. I'll have to play around with that, thanks.

[CrazyArcher]

I woudn't say that my action is high, but definately not low. And yep, I have large frets. I generally would prefer medium frets, but in this case it has its benefits. Experiment and find our sound

[Audiophage]

Originally Posted by xlows

i saw a bb king instructional video for guitar awhile ago where he went over vibrato excessively. i think it's on youtube, check it out.

I wouldn't be surprised, his sound is all about the vibrato.