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Double Bass How to make a beautiful and obvious vibrato in low register?

I

iamfine22

Feb 29, 2012
1
0
#1
I am working on Verdi's La Forza del Destino overture from H-J.

I recorded myself and when I listened my recording, I only heard the vibrato on g string but hardly heard vibrato on other strings.

I tried to vibrate slowly in low register but it's still not working.

Is there any suggestion for the obvious vibrato in low register? Or can I find any helpful resource from any book or youtube?

Thanks!
 
#2
Are you saying you can actually hear the notes but not the vibrato? Is it just the bass on the recording? If your answer is yes to these questions, I just have to say that's friggin weird.

But seriously, I often run into this issue in my band, which is a different situation of course, but it always turns out that either I or one of the guitars has to change their sound.
 
#6
All of the above. You want to be able to manipulate the rate of speed and depth. Practising vibrato with a metronome can be really helpful -subdivide in 2,3, and 4 vibrations per beat. Scales are good, or arpeggios. Then practise the same thing with wide and shallow depths.
 
#8
The more I think about this, the more I wonder if you are on your fingertips in the lower positions? I went back to my bass and, although I'm no classical player, I had no problem getting a vibrato going in all registers. I don't use my whole arm as suggested above, at least not in a flappy obviously way. It's the same motion of rocking over the fingertips. Just double check first that you are on your fingertips....aka curved fingers, relaxed hand, using natural armweight to depress the string etc etc
 
#9
I feel that vibrato in the higher thumb positions and vibrato on the lowest notes is the hardest. In the middle register it is much easier. On the lowest notes your fingers need more movement along the string to get the vibrato going. Also in general the vibrato is slower (and wider) on these low notes. That is how I think about it.
 
#11
However you practice it, metronome or not; just make sure you have a audible difference. So many bass players I see learn to move their hands pretty convincingly. But, there isn't a actual vibrato sound, just a hand motion.

Perhaps start out slow enough so you can really hear when you bend the pitch down to when you bring it back up.
 
#12
When you say 'obvious' vibrato, I think you mean audible vibrato. Vibrato really only works well when your sound is working properly: you need the harmonic series to be sounding clearly, which takes lots of work. A good teacher will help you with this. This is the reason why vibrato is, in my opinion, more of an advanced technique. Without a great sound, it just doesn't work properly. When you can create a good, pure, free, harmonically rich sound, there are two types that function: a slower, narrower vib, which only audibly vibrates the harmonic series, and the wider, faster, vibrato which vibrates the fundamental. Both use the same type of left hand motion. There are probably many ways to practice the motion, again, a good teacher will show you. Good luck!
 
#13
Art Vandelay said:
When you say 'obvious' vibrato, I think you mean audible vibrato. Vibrato really only works well when your sound is working properly: you need the harmonic series to be sounding clearly, which takes lots of work. A good teacher will help you with this. This is the reason why vibrato is, in my opinion, more of an advanced technique. Without a great sound, it just doesn't work properly. When you can create a good, pure, free, harmonically rich sound, there are two types that function: a slower, narrower vib, which only audibly vibrates the harmonic series, and the wider, faster, vibrato which vibrates the fundamental. Both use the same type of left hand motion. There are probably many ways to practice the motion, again, a good teacher will show you. Good luck!
Click to expand...

thank you.
 
#14
A change in hand tension from string to string, Going from curved fingers on the g str to flatter on the E string, string choice, Bow placement in relation to the bridge and fongerboard all affects the vibrato projection. Also the lower the pitch, the less clear the sound usually. Clarity in tone always helps bring out vib.
 
#15
It is generally more difficult to get a good, audible vibrato on the lower strings for a couple of reasons: The low frequency of the note requires more movement from your left arm than on the highest string to really have the effect you are looking for. The thicker string also has more surface area making contact with the fingerboard when depressed as well making it difficult to get a good audible 'wobble' in the tone. Good vibratio technique takes time to really establish. Keep your arm relaxed and more fluid when you practice. As soon as you tense-up, the arm begins to shake with a quiver rather than a wider, more musical effect. Use a metronome and practice rhythmically.
 
#16
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- Steve
 
#19
Visual Vibrato is a common thing, where you can see it but not hear it.

You have to make your intent to change the pitch, decide how much and how fast based on your personal musicality. Wiggling the hand alone doesn't really get you there, you need to have the fingertip rock somehow on the string. I think rotating the finger as a reaction to your Radius going back and forth over your Ulna that lines up with your pinky is the best way on bass to describe it physically.

Try this exercise:

lay your forearm on a table with the pinky side down,
Rotate so the back of your hand moves towards the table,
then so your front of your hand moves towards the table.

notice that your arm actually moves around that bone, the Ulna, that lines up with your pinky.

pick that up in the air and keep moving, bring it back to your bass and keep shaking.

It takes some experimenting to find what feels right for your body, but that should get you vibrating pretty wide right away. I'm kind of shocked with how much you have to vibrate to get it to sound like you are.
 
#20
Listen and imitate.

=/

Sorry, the way I learned vibrato was pretty unconventional. I think I was in fifth grade and my friend was starting vibrato with her teacher, so she came into school and started using vibrato. I thought it sounded great so she tried to show me--which didn't work. But I just listened to her do it over and over again and eventually I started imitating it.

Lower register vibrato for me should be slower, but you really do have to use more arm for it. It's harder to get those notes to sound good, let alone sound good with vibrato.

Also remember that vibrato is not just done in your fingers--it's a combination between your arm and finger technique as well as your bow. There's a video on YouTube of Gary Karr doing vibrato without his fingers, actually, and if it weren't so early I'd dig it up for you.

My teacher also got me started on thumb vibrato, which I found helped me out getting a good vibrato in second and third position. Vibrate with your thumb instead of your fingers--the vibrato should (I hope) go from your thumb through the neck as well as down your fingers. With your fingers loose and not worrying about vibrato, the sound is a little freer.
 

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