Group 2: Vibrato Veterans

Welcome Group 2! 

We're going to have a great time working on your vibrato over the next two weeks. To get started, I recommend watching this introductory video about vibrato, which is the archive of my live stream "All About the Vibe" - I like to consider it something of a "cheat sheet" that summarizes a lot of the great ideas we have from different artists on the platform, and their thoughts on vibrato. If there's a certain artist whose ideas really resonate with you about vibrato, or who show a technique you'd like to develop further, then do a deeper dive into their course!

Next, download this PDF TWI #3 - All About The VIbe - Opening Up Your Vibrato and get started with the exercises in it! Here is an instructional video to help out with it: https://youtu.be/d813Kf11IXU

You'll have 2 assignments during this TWI:

Week 1: any time during week 1 (November 18-24) post a video of yourself playing through these vibrato exercises. If you have a particular artist whose vibrato videos you followed more carefully, consider posting a video of you doing their suggested exercises, or repertoire.

Week 2: on November 28 or 29, post a video of yourself playing some of your own repertoire that features vibrato; or a scale using non-stop vibrato.

8 replies

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    • Raffaele
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    Just sharing few thoughts: The reasons that are not allowing a player to have a good vibrato are much depending on the stiffness according to which the strings are pushed down to the board. The "squeezing" of the board as produced by the left hand is the first enemy to fight because  it will never allow a proper playing technique (including being able to play a nice controlled vibrato). The players having the bad habit to squeeze the board with their left hand should probably refocus their attention on doing exercises which are aiming at decreasing such squeezing need. Avoiding squeezing  is such a fundamental topic which probably requires a 2 weeks intensive training as well. Thank you Travis for these nice opportunity you offer to us to experiment the 2 weeks intensive training on specific topics. 

      • Double Bass consultant, tonebase
      • Travis_Harrison
      • 2 wk ago
      • Reported - view

       absolutely! And focusing on getting a relaxed and beautiful vibrato is a great pathway to playing with a relaxed/"not-squeezing" hand. I hope the "light touch" part of the exercise presented helps with that as well. 

    • Double Bass consultant, tonebase
    • Travis_Harrison
    • 12 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Howdy folks, I just wanted to check in on how you're all doing - I'll be recording and uploading the next video shortly, but wanted to make sure I address any questions/concerns anyone here is having first - maybe I can address it in the next video I send here!
    And please remember to share your progress videos here.

    • Theophane_Diaz
    • 11 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Hello Travis,

    here is my first video

    https://youtu.be/PiRUcCikmAw?si=zxWUD5rOuUzOCyb9

      • Double Bass consultant, tonebase
      • Travis_Harrison
      • 11 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Looks and sounds great! I don't know what your vibrato was like before, but it seems to be working well for you now at least. Two comments:
      1. when you initially go into thumb position, it sounded like the cibrato kept creeping sharper and sharper - make sure that you're balancing weight into your thumb to help anchor your hand - otherwise the tendency can be for everything to slip further and further towards the ground. I usually suggest 60% of weight into the active finger, and 40% into the thumb to keep it anchored and balanced.
      2. in the scales (nice!) try playing them slower and with special attention to what is happening between finger changes and note changes. The vibrato conitnues for a long time, which is good, but it's not quite non-stop yet! Thinking about aligning the upward swing of the vibrato motion with a shift up; likewise the downward swing with a shift down; and keep the forearm motion continuing despite releasing weight from the string (this is all easier to practice at first using harmonics).

      • Theophane_Diaz
      • 9 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Thank you for your response, I will try to work on your suggestions.

    • Double Bass consultant, tonebase
    • Travis_Harrison
    • 11 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Hello again everyone, here's your week 2 video and an updated PDF with musical examples added at the end! For veterans, I suggest trying this out with any of these musical examples, or some similar repertoire you may be working on.
    TWI #3 - All About The VIbe - Opening Up Your Vibrato - week 2
    Please note - the PDF is the same as what was originally posted above, but with added pages. I have also changed what was originally posted above for this new version.

    • Double Bass consultant, tonebase
    • Travis_Harrison
    • 9 days ago
    • Reported - view

    For anyone interested in attending tomorrow's check-in, it will start at 2pm Eastern Time (Toronto/New York) at the following Zoom link: 

    Travis Harrison is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

    Join Zoom Meeting
    https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89721888556?pwd=FhUv3JcVC7dZk9D6pmqtjvbGmlXnBf.1

    Meeting ID: 897 2188 8556
    Passcode: 522775

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Content aside

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