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Questions about vibrato
Hand or arm? Foward and back or side to side on the hand?
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PopFiddle

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July 10, 2014 - 1:35 pm
Member Since: February 16, 2014
Forum Posts: 175
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I'm beginning to try vibrato now and I'm seeing a few things that have me stuck.

The first thing I notice is that trying to get a forward and back motion for my hand as described in the FM videos is nearly impossible for me.  I think my hand is too wide and I can't position my hand so that the fingers can pivot forward and back on the string, only side to side.  If I measure my hand at the base of my fingers, it is 3.5" , 90 mm wide.  Does that matter?  IF it doesn't matter, I need a strategy to position my hand that way.

The other thing I notice is how hard it is to get speed and control for hand vibrato versus arm vibrato.  I can get a serviceable vibrato from the elbow, but trying to get the same effect from the wrist is pretty tough.  It's coming, but slow.  Is the arm vibrato just naturally easier than the wrist?

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
July 10, 2014 - 6:15 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16430

I actually started my vibrato with the arm.

I believe your hand is not too wide. I've seen some pretty wide hands in my time play pretty good vibrato. Sometimes it just says click and happens..... Don't give up!

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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PopFiddle

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July 10, 2014 - 6:43 pm
Member Since: February 16, 2014
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Fiddlerman said
I actually started my vibrato with the arm.
I believe your hand is not too wide. I've seen some pretty wide hands in my time play pretty good vibrato. Sometimes it just says click and happens..... Don't give up!

Thanks, that's encouraging.  

I think I recall in one of your videos you cautioned against side to side vibrato and I feel like on the third and fourth fingers especially it is pretty much impossible to position the fingers for forward and back vibrato.  The best I can get so far is side to side vibrato for these.  My first and second finger are pretty close for forward and back vibrato.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
July 12, 2014 - 12:41 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16430

Actually, you are right. Same with everyone. The 3rd and 4rth finger can't be angled like that. What you need to do is to put down the tip of the finger and pull back slowly so that the finger rolls. If you are lucky it will roll at say a 45% angle but as long as you find the movement that allows the tip to roll and bend slightly, you are on the right track. :)
Good luck!

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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