Vibrato angst, still not right Options

[inigo]

I'm disappointed with my vibrato. I always thought that by this stage in playing (post G8) it would be great- expressive, easy and natural but it just isn't and I don't know how to make it better. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)
It's fine on it's own, often sounds quite good in fact but when it comes to using it in music it's just not good enough. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I feel like a vibrato exercise expert, and can change speed, intensity, arm/finger/hand, no problem, when I'm doing it in isolation, but give me a tune to put it in and it usually goes horribly stilted and unpleasant. Where am I going wrong?

[BadStrad]

Where am I going wrong?

I can't answer that - only just starting vibrato, but with my teacher if I'm struggling with something in a "hard" piece we'll practice the technique in a simple piece until it becomes comfortable, so what I'd try is:-
Play some vibrato, get relaxed, get a good tone, then add another note. Then play vibrato + note until that feels natural and relaxed. Then add another note, maybe a note before the vibrato (note + vibrato + note) and so on gradually making up a simple tune(or choose a simple tune).

Also teacher would be wanting me to hear the sound and feel the emotion I want before playing it. So you could try that.

You probably know this stuff already. . .

[ffliwt]

I have this problem also
I daily do exercises - slow wide vibrato keeping your wrist and arm COMPLETELY free (free-er than you would if you were actually playing, completely floppy tensionless) and i also do slow vibrato in different rhythms (always keeping your hand and wrist loose) so you learn to gain control over it.
My teacher has said my vibrato is improving a lot, and finally now (i've been doing these exercises for months and months) i'm hearing a difference!

[Geranium]

I have this problem also
I daily do exercises - slow wide vibrato keeping your wrist and arm COMPLETELY free (free-er than you would if you were actually playing, completely floppy tensionless) and i also do slow vibrato in different rhythms (always keeping your hand and wrist loose) so you learn to gain control over it.
My teacher has said my vibrato is improving a lot, and finally now (i've been doing these exercises for months and months) i'm hearing a difference!

Hi ffliwt: do you have any more detail on your vibrato exercises? Are they written down anywhere? How long do you do them every day? Do you use a metronome to keep in time?

(I am at a similar level to inigo and have similar issues with my vibrato!)

(IMG:http://www.emoticonsfree.org/wp-content/uploads/fighting0080.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mornincoffee.gif)

[mcm]

Simon Fischer's Basics has a very good section on vibrato.

[willobie]

I have this problem also
I daily do exercises - slow wide vibrato keeping your wrist and arm COMPLETELY free (free-er than you would if you were actually playing, completely floppy tensionless) and i also do slow vibrato in different rhythms (always keeping your hand and wrist loose) so you learn to gain control over it.
My teacher has said my vibrato is improving a lot, and finally now (i've been doing these exercises for months and months) i'm hearing a difference!

Hi ffliwt: do you have any more detail on your vibrato exercises? Are they written down anywhere? How long do you do them every day? Do you use a metronome to keep in time?

(I am at a similar level to inigo and have similar issues with my vibrato!)

(IMG:http://www.emoticonsfree.org/wp-content/uploads/fighting0080.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mornincoffee.gif)

I LOVE that smiley!

W (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Geranium]

(IMG:http://www.emoticonsfree.org/wp-content/uploads/fighting0080.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mornincoffee.gif)

I LOVE that smiley!

W (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)
(......know any quartets like that?)
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/mornincoffee.gif)

[ffliwt]

I have this problem also
I daily do exercises - slow wide vibrato keeping your wrist and arm COMPLETELY free (free-er than you would if you were actually playing, completely floppy tensionless) and i also do slow vibrato in different rhythms (always keeping your hand and wrist loose) so you learn to gain control over it.
My teacher has said my vibrato is improving a lot, and finally now (i've been doing these exercises for months and months) i'm hearing a difference!

Hi ffliwt: do you have any more detail on your vibrato exercises? Are they written down anywhere? How long do you do them every day? Do you use a metronome to keep in time?

(I am at a similar level to inigo and have similar issues with my vibrato!)

(IMG:http://www.emoticonsfree.org/wp-content/uploads/fighting0080.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mornincoffee.gif)

Sometimes i use a metronome sometimes just keep a strong pulse in my head - sometimes its good to even not think about it. My vibrato problems were mostly caused by tension and my hand not being free so therefore i didnt have control over it and my hand would seize up, it'd be fast and tight and uncontrolled and yucky!! Still often is but it's improving (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)
I usually use the a string as i find it most comfortable, i just play 1st finger with vibrato in crotchets for one bow, then quavers for the next bow, then triplets, then semiquavers (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) so each one gets faster. then do your other fingers. sometimes i just find something that feels comfortable eg. 3rd finger on the a string and just do random vibrato with my hand as loose and free as possible. then i move up to 3rd position and do all 4 fingers up there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
it only takes a couple of minutes if that

[Geranium]

Thanks ffliwt - will try that a bit more often..

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/mornincoffee.gif)

[inigo]

Thanks for the helpful replies; to be honest I have and do use all these methods and have done so for quite a while. I guess there is no magic answer except to keep at it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I think the tension is such a deep rooted habit that it's really hard to lose it the moment I stop trying to - maybe I should down a couple of pints before practicing? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[ansatz496]

Thanks for the helpful replies; to be honest I have and do use all these methods and have done so for quite a while. I guess there is no magic answer except to keep at it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I think the tension is such a deep rooted habit that it's really hard to lose it the moment I stop trying to - maybe I should down a couple of pints before practicing? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

It doesn't really help, but my sister had similar issues (vibrato being too tight/tense) until a year or so ago and her solution was to start from scratch and relearn vibrato (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Her playing level was far less advanced though, and knowing her and her teacher I doubt she had nearly as much control over it. She could only do an arm vibrato before, so she decided to "start over" with the wrist and now has a much nicer wrist vibrato...