Music Term
What is vibrato?
Definition
Vibrato is a rapid, small, regular oscillation in pitch around a central note -- a controlled wavering that adds expressiveness, warmth, and sustain to a tone.
Vibrato in music -- explained
Vibrato is one of the most fundamental expressive techniques in music performance. Instrumentalists produce it by rapidly varying the tension, length, or pressure of the string, reed, or air column: violinists oscillate the wrist and finger; singers vary breath pressure and laryngeal tension; guitarists bend the string rapidly; wind players vary embouchure or use the throat. Vibrato makes a sustained note sound alive rather than static -- the slight pitch variation mimics the natural imperfection of the human voice and creates perceived warmth. Different musical traditions use vibrato differently: classical violin playing emphasises continuous vibrato; jazz and folk singing use it more sparingly and as an ornament at phrase endings; opera singing uses wide, slow vibrato; bluegrass and country use narrow, fast vibrato or none at all. Electronic synthesis creates vibrato using an LFO (low-frequency oscillator) modulating pitch. Too much vibrato on a synthesizer is called 'wobbly'; controlled vibrato is often called 'expression'.
Notable examples of vibrato
What's Going On -- Marvin Gaye
Gaye's vocal vibrato is unusually wide and slow by pop standards -- it gives his sustained notes an almost operatic quality.
Eruption -- Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen's two-handed tapping solo uses extreme tremolo arm vibrato alongside finger vibrato for expressive contrast.
Blackbird -- The Beatles
McCartney's vocal on the high notes uses gentle vibrato that prevents the falsetto from sounding strained or clinical.
Related music terms
Frequently asked questions
- What is vibrato in music?
- Vibrato is a rapid, small, regular oscillation in pitch around a central note -- a controlled wavering that adds expressiveness, warmth, and sustain to a tone.
- What is an example of vibrato?
- A well-known example is What's Going On by Marvin Gaye: Gaye's vocal vibrato is unusually wide and slow by pop standards -- it gives his sustained notes an almost operatic quality.
- How is vibrato used in music?
- Vibrato is one of the most fundamental expressive techniques in music performance. Instrumentalists produce it by rapidly varying the tension, length, or pressure of the string, reed, or air column: violinists oscillate the wrist and finger; singers vary breath pressure and laryngeal tension; guitarists bend the string rapidly; wind players vary embouchure or use the throat.
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