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From: "Jack Ely"
Date: Tue, 12 May 1998 04:00:23 -0400
Subject: 3 ways to get vibrato

To all,

Well, by popular demand (six requests is pretty popular for me -
ding... ding, whoops, eight :-). I am posting my rather wordy
descriptions of vibrato methods and exercises as I have learned over
the years from some of the masters. The following is excerpted from
my booklet "Getting Started on Diatonic" - the exact same passage is
in my "Getting Started On Chromatic" (because the methods apply to
both chromatic and diatonic) - Neither of which is available in their
entirety yet - due to drastic loss of file attributes when imported
from my main frame computer - back in my working days. I'm slowly
getting it (them) cleaned up and will advise where they can be
found. I just checked and the diatonic version (a little out of
date) is still at... http://www.island.net/~blues/jack.txt ...in
case anyone wants the whole thing.

When I get this cleaned up I will hopefully be able to put it on the
SPAH page. I had permission a couple years ago but I've been slow on
getting it ready. I credit my mentors for teaching me these things
and am thankful I seem to have an ability to put things on paper.
(with the help of spell checkers and grammar checkers).

Thanks for asking.

METHODS of PRODUCING VIBRATO

HAND VIBRATO (the simplest method, not really a vibrato) This is easy
to master yet it can be effective. Many pros use it. The hands form a
"cup" or sound chamber around the harmonica. (See HOLDING the
HARMONICA). Vibrato is achieved by opening and closing the hands. If
your hands form a good seal around the harmonica you can get vibrato
by just wavering your bottom two fingers on the left hand. Vibrato
should be smooth and not too fast and should not be over done. You
can get vibrato by moving the right hand as well.

TONGUE VIBRATO (also simple)

This method is also fairly simple to learn but should be used
sparingly. Tongue vibrato is achieved by swelling and relaxing the
tongue which changes the air flow. Say the words yoy, yoy. Try it
without the harmonica, you can feel your tongue change. Now try it
with the harmonica. Vibrato can be used with blow & draw notes.

THROAT VIBRATO (most difficult)

This is the most difficult method to learn and also the most
desirable. This is how good players achieve that beautiful tone. It
can be used constantly yet subtly for good tone and emphasized for a
pretty or "schmaltzy" effect on certain passages. It can be combined
with hand vibrato. Heavy
"schmaltzy" vibrato sometimes sounds pretty but should be used
sparingly, it too can be overdone.

Throat Vibrato is really controlled by the diaphragm, however, you
feel it mostly in your throat. That's where it seems to come from.

Here is an exercise you can do daily. It in itself will not give you
vibrato but it will exercise your diaphragm, improve your breath
control and also improve your speed playing.

(1) Take a deep breath.

(2) let it all out.

(3) Take a deep breath again.

(4) Now, while keeping the lungs inflated, exhale and inhale very
rapidly as long as you can. You are exhausting and replenishing your
air rapidly while maintaining an air reserve in your lungs. (Don't do
this too long at first as it will probably make you dizzy - practice
this daily and gradually increase the length of time you do it). The
rapid exhale and inhale is controlled with your diaphragm. Your chest
should not be puffing in and out but you should be able to see and
feel your stomach (lower abdomen) moving in and out rapidly. Kind of
like a dog panting. In fact, now that I think about it, it's exactly
like a dog panting.

EXERCISES FOR VIBRATO:

Example #1 - Play a single note at a slow tempo while tapping your
foot in time, play one note per tap. Now play two notes per tap,
(keep the same tempo). Next, while keeping the foot tap constant,
play three notes per tap. Finally, smooth out the note so that it
becomes a wavering sound instead of three separate notes. To get the
vibrato you must flat the note slightly. It is the repeated lowering
and raising of pitch which produces vibrato. This exercise should be
done in one breath. You can think of it as playing a half note, then
two quarter notes, then triplets and finally a constant, smoothed
out, wavering tone. Practice the exercise below.

VIBRATO EXERCISES #1
Tap-> ........ 1 ........ ........ 2 ........ ....... 3.......

Play-> Taaaaaaaaa Taaaa Taaaa Taa Taa Taa

Value-> half note 1/4 note 1/4 note tri - pl - et

VIBRATO EXERCISES #2

(Without the harmonica) Say AHhhhhhhhhh. Now chop up the AHhhhh with
little coughs. AHhAHhAHh etc. Practice this while exhaling and
inhaling. This will probably make you choke or gag and cause your
eyes to water, especially on the inhale. If it does, you're doing it
right. Gradually increase the speed of the "cough" and concentrate on
smoothing it out and eliminating the cough sound. (Maybe this is
where the term throat vibrato comes from because you can feel it
there). As you smooth out and eliminate the cough sound you can feel
that it is your diaphragm that is doing the work. Now try this while
playing a note on the harmonica. It is easiest in the low register,
high notes are harder to get vibrato on, so start out with the low
notes and you will see (hear) results quicker. An E (blow 5) and F
(draw 5) on a 10 hole are probably the easiest to get vibrato on.
Notes lower or higher come with a little more difficulty. Eventually
you should be able to get vibrato throughout the range of the
harmonica, then you will have good tone. Vibrato should not be too
fast, moderate speed gives best results.

Experiment with both methods above. Find out which example works best
for you and then practice daily. Good luck and good vibrato!

Jack

- --Jack Ely
Buckeye State Harmonica Club, Inc.
"Have harmonica will travel, wire CatDaddy, Columbus."