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My Vibrato learning...
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (3 votes) 
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maudmaud
July 4, 2021 - 10:06 am
Member Since: January 9, 2020
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Hello !

I am starting of a difficult apprenticeship: the vibrato. I want to take my time, so as to obtain a controlled vibrato ...

Here are my first tests ... can you tell me if the movement is good ??

I will regularly post videos of my progress and, with my first video, I am looking for the right gesture ...

Thank you very much for your constructive comments

πŸ™

🎻since08.2019🎢

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AndrewH
Sacramento, California
July 5, 2021 - 2:21 am
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Looks fine as far as I can tell from this camera angle. However, it would probably be easier to comment from a different angle; from this angle your hand is blocking the view of your thumb and your finger on the fingerboard.

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maudmaud
July 5, 2021 - 7:20 am
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Thanks!Β 

Here, with a diffΓ©rent angle, with the four fingers...(hard the 4th)

Β 

🎻since08.2019🎢

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Mouse
July 5, 2021 - 8:58 am
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I am afraid I can’t help with this one. I have no idea how to do violin vibrato, but I am looking forward to what those who can do have to say. Great post, @maudmaud. Thanks for starting this.Β 

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AndrewH
Sacramento, California
July 5, 2021 - 7:34 pm
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It looks like you're squeezing the neck with your thumb, which is likely to get in the way as you speed up the motion. The thumb needs to be more relaxed; the violin should just rest lightly on the inner edge of the thumb rather than on the pad. There's a spot right above the top knuckle where it will be relatively secure.

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maudmaud
July 6, 2021 - 1:40 am
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AndrewH, thanksπŸ‘, i will try to change that! Be relax πŸ˜…

🎻since08.2019🎢

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ELCBK
USA
July 6, 2021 - 10:37 am
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@AndrewH, @maudmaud -

I'm following - very helpful information. 😊

Thank you!

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maudmaud
July 7, 2021 - 7:14 am
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Today practice again lol

🎻since08.2019🎢

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maudmaud
July 9, 2021 - 6:50 am
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Hi! Practice of the day, on the A string for a change ...

I hope I'm not breaking your ears too much with my slow vibrato videos (we know, it's going to be long😜 ...).

I try to be relaxed ... to install the gesture well...but I have the impression that my thumb is moving ... does not stay stableπŸ€”

Β 

🎻since08.2019🎢

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Gordon Shumway
London, England
July 9, 2021 - 9:00 am
Member Since: August 1, 2016
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My analysis of the mechanics of vibrato is different from others', so I'm not going to comment, as it will confuse. (For instance, I do not believe that movement in the tip joint of each finger should be conscious. I think it is possible that in pro demo videos, all the pro is trying to indicate is general looseness.)

All I will say is that slow vibrato is a hard skill, and when you have finally mastered fast vibrato, you will find it a good idea to practise slow vibrato all over again.

(this forum is slower than a snail on mogadon today)

Andrew

Verified human - the ignominy!

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maudmaud
July 9, 2021 - 10:33 am
Member Since: January 9, 2020
Forum Posts: 165
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@gordon shumway

Okay. πŸ€”

In a while, I will speed up the tempo ... with the idea of ​​going from a controlled vibrato to a more reflex movement. Some have an "electric" vibrato and I don't like it at all ... I rather want to progress towards a wide and pretty vibrato to hear (well from my point of view ..)

🎻since08.2019🎢

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SharonC
July 9, 2021 - 2:04 pm
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@maudmaud

Your hand looks like it is positioned well.Β  I’m still working on my vibratoβ€”it’s been a long journey.

There is a lot of advice out there about vibrato.Β  My teacher has given me suggestions, & some exercises to try.Β  As I’ve tried different things (her suggestions as well as those of others) with me demonstrating what I was practicing, we would discuss it.Β  However, she’s been hesitant to tell me specifically how to do it.Β  I believe she thinks each individual has to discover what works best; that it is a very individual thing.

So, I won’t try to tell you how you should specifically do it, but I can describe my vibrato journey.Β  Since I’m in the middle of it, it may or may not be helpful.

Tension is definitely the enemy.Β  As AndrewH noted, this and thumb position is importantβ€”I had a tendency of moving my thumb back (toward the peg box), which makes the vibrato motion difficult. Β 

To release tension in my thumb, I would place my finger down on the string that I was going to play, & then lift my thumb off the neck.Β  Then I would try the vibrato motion on that finger, and then place my thumb back on the neck where it best facilitated the motion.Β 

It’s made me rethink my hand positioning all the time (a good thing), and how I balance my hand to get a good, smooth motion.Β  You may find that you need to position your hand a little differently than you have been doing as you practice it on different strings, different fingers, etc.,.

After practicing for a while with exercises & scales (I started as you did, with a metronome), I’ve tried to incorporate it in music I’m already practicing.Β  I started using it on longer notes (half note, dotted half note, etc.,) played with the 3rd finger (I’ve found my 3rd finger has been the easiest).Β  Now I might use it in a specific phrase incorporating more notes (more fingers) where it seems to flow easily.Β  Not quite all the way there yet, but I’m working on it.Β 

Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
July 9, 2021 - 4:45 pm
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Keep up the work and you'll be at it in no time @maudmaud
Why are you using the metronome?

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

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maudmaud
July 10, 2021 - 2:29 am
Member Since: January 9, 2020
Forum Posts: 165
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@sharon Oh thank you for your feedback, indeed I am fascinated when my friends tell me that vibrating allowsthem to relax. I also hope to achieve this!

Next step will be to increase the movement, and to work it with scales, in an isolated way and continuously (without stopping), ideally all fingers, each string, and different positions...

I won't put it into the songs until I'm sure of myself.

Β 

@fiddlermanΒ 

I'm working with metronome to understand the gesture well, and to install a regular movement ... but I will also have to work without a metronome (which I am starting to do). And to install the regularity well should allow me to increase the tempo without tension, while remaining relaxed...

Maybe I'm thinking too much lol but it reassures me to proceed like that ...πŸ˜…

🎻since08.2019🎢

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maudmaud
July 13, 2021 - 8:45 am
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Hello! Today, I am accelerating the gesture a little ...

I am more comfortable with my 1st finger (stronger finger?)..

Do not hesitate if you have any suggestions.

🎻since08.2019🎢

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maudmaud
July 14, 2021 - 2:47 pm
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Hi, i changed my thumb ... what do you think, better ??

https://youtube.com/shorts/Csr.....B7fkWzFrdc

🎻since08.2019🎢

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stringy
July 14, 2021 - 5:00 pm
Member Since: August 23, 2020
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Funny, I find it easier with the third finger, we must all just be different, I am in no position to give advice, but I will say one thing I watched a good tutorial which said dont use your thumb at all, let your hand hang in space and move the fingers by moving the arm back and forth with only the weight of the fingers on the fingerboard this gives the feel of the movement, and use this as an exercise, obviously thethumb goes at the side of the neck when performing the vibrato, this is an exercise only you use the thumb when performing, its extremely difficult to do, but for me it does make the vibrato feel easier.

I am not using my vinrato much in tunes I am practicing a wide slow vibrato and trying to keep it smooth and even, takes some doing.

Cant beat a sunny day

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Gordon Shumway
London, England
July 15, 2021 - 11:54 am
Member Since: August 1, 2016
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The way I learnt vibrato was by playing an E on the A string with my second finger.

This is "wrist vibrato", since your forearm will be in contact with the violin's body. I read about it somewhere. I don't know where, possibly Galamian.

You could try that in addition to the exercises you are doing.

Andrew

Verified human - the ignominy!

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maudmaud
July 15, 2021 - 1:43 pm
Member Since: January 9, 2020
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@gordon and @stringy, thanks for your advices πŸ™‚

🎻since08.2019🎢

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
July 16, 2021 - 10:59 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16539









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Honestly, that looks great. In time you'll be vibrating like you were born to do nothing else. 😁

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

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