Vibrato Lesson1

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Backing Tracks

Tab

Guitar pro tab Guitar pro tab (?)

Members practicing this lesson:
BrianM
QuikJ
Blatto
verganas
Little Wing
Bompa


   





ok, so lets talk about vibrato :)

Vibrato is, in my opinion, one of the most important things to know about guitar playing because it gives your playing a soul. What it's about is that you change the pitch of the note (without moving to another fret), and there's basically two common ways to do that:

1. using your left hand fingers to bend and release the string (most common).
2. using the whammy bar.

In this part we'll only go through the first and most common way.

One thing you must know is that vibrato is pretty much unique of each player, and I can only tell you how MY approach is. As you all probably know by now - I'm mainly into the neoclassical stuff where we mostly use a very slow and "deep" vibrato and easily bend and release the string two, or even three half notes.

You have to decide how you want your vibrato to sound; Do you like the slow and wide vibrato? or du you prefer it more faster and narrow? do you want it intense, or loose? maybe a mix of all of them?

Don't be afraid to try out many different styles. I believe you will be influenced by many guitarists, and eventually you'll end up with your own style. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to copy another guitarists vibrato to 100%. So the chances to "get stuck" with someone else's vibrato is pretty small, in my opinion. So experiment with different styles, and as soon as you like what you hear - then it IS GOOD; if it sounds good - it is good.

In this song I have included a few different vibrato styles (using the left hand): Slow & fast vibratos, and even while bending the string both up and down, or when coming from a slide or tapping note. It might be a bit overkill to use that many types of vibrato in one short song, but remember I made it as an exercise.

In this PART I just want you to play along and try to imitate me as much as you can. The only thing I ask of you is that you really, really listen to your vibrato. In PART 2 we'll do the same song but only using the whammy bar.
And finally in PART 3 we mix both methods together, and get detailed about the vibrato. We'll also talk about some great exercises to "polish" the technique.


     Lesson Questions, Feedback & Comments



JVM
post 25th June 2007


Member


Marcus. Amazing.
guitardudenr1
post 25th June 2007


Member


wow cool! i like it
m4n4g3r
post 26th June 2007


Member


good work!! Thanks!
Ben Howell
post 26th June 2007


Jazz/Fusion Instructor


Thats some serious vibrato Marcus, congratulations for such a refined technique smile.gif

-Ben
Andrew Cockburn
post 26th June 2007


Theory Instructor & Moderator


Great lesson, and a really excellent piece of music to practice to - thanks Marcus!
SLASH91
post 26th June 2007


Member


Dude I always love how your stuff sounds!
shredmandan
post 26th June 2007


Member


Great lesson,This will really help me get those sounds i have been trying on your previous lesson's
preownedguitar
post 26th June 2007


Member


Awesome, will get on it ASAP. As always grade A stuff. Love the backing.
Gen
post 26th June 2007


Member


Exellent! i love your music, and i aslo really like the visual quality of your vids smile.gif
mariogl91
post 26th June 2007


Member


Thanks a lot Marcus! This is exactly what I wanted!
Leviathan
post 26th June 2007


Member


That is so much of a bad ass solo i want to cry! seriously... so much emotion...
ZakkWylde
post 26th June 2007


Member


great work but dont get too emo about it...
guitargod
post 26th June 2007


Member


nice nice nice
Schpudd
post 26th June 2007


Member


That actually gives me chills every time I listen to it.
you
post 26th June 2007


Member


I've been waiting a long time for a sweet technique lesson like this. Keep 'em coming
shredmandan
post 26th June 2007


Member


Marcus,
The bend on video 2 on 21st fret is giving me a hrad time.I dont have a problem hearing what i need to do but rather getting that bend to pitch.I use a 21fret strat and it's everything i can do just to get in close to E but it's not quite there and sounds wrong.Any advice, i feel like if i try and push the bend any farther i will bust the string.Your lessons have been great practice for me.I havent played something that cuts my finger's and tears themup in a long time.It's the way you make your bends sound that is takingmy finger's time to get used to.You put so much intensity into them and that makes it sound so much better.Please dont stop putting out leson's,it would be great if you could keep adding them at the pace you have been.I think i speak for everyone else when i say your lessons are some of the best on here right now.
Marcus Lavendell
post 26th June 2007


Instructor


shredmandan,

Thanks for your kind comments. I use a 21 fret strat myself, and I know that the bend you refer to is very difficult. So I tried to make it a little easier by not adding any vibrato to it, but still... it is difficult. Though, the fact that you are able to hear the right pitch "in your head", means you've come a long way and I'd say you're half way there! smile.gif

Anyways, my best guess is that you need to be stronger in your left hand fingers because the way you describe it, it seems like you put in a real effort doing this bend, and it shouldn't be.

Is it possible for you to make me a video? That way It would be easier to see/hear exactly what's wrong.

Btw, I have never broken a string while doing this type of bend.
The Uncreator
post 26th June 2007


Fire Up The Blades, Moderator


Beautiful, Great Composition, And A Fantastic Lesson
David OToole
post 27th June 2007


Instructor


Great stuff Marcus - tasteful!
MickeM
post 27th June 2007


Born of NWOBHM, Moderator


Where's the smoke? There's no smoke!! laugh.gif
Leviathan
post 27th June 2007


Member


Chills...
moles
post 28th June 2007


Member


jeepers dude


amazing
MattE
post 28th June 2007


Member


haha yay
my pestering finally got a vibrato lesson
biggrin.gif

Awsome job Marcus
Gustavo
post 28th June 2007


Member


this was what i was looking for...

AWSOME
thi215
post 29th June 2007


Member


hi' Marcus!! tell me what kind the sound Effect you use,, I love you're sound, my email twomansband@yahoo.com

Thanks! Marcus
Dashooter
post 1st July 2007


Member


how the hell is your wide vibrato so fast on those big bends? Mine sounds like crap when I try to do it like that.
IDontWantThisUsername
post 2nd July 2007


Member


How do i get a good vibrato on the light E-string? Can't do it very fast if i have to push the string =P
Travelin' Man
post 14th July 2007


Member


So Marcus...just how many babes do you rake in each night you play this
Marcus Lavendell
post 16th July 2007


Instructor


Travelin' Man,
hehe... well, I would like to say: "at least one", but my girlfriend hates this stuff, so... the answer would be: none :/
Travelin' Man
post 18th July 2007


Member


At any rate..I love your style...its clean and looks like fun
atomix1337
post 31st July 2007


Member


Sounds like...wow.

I can't really explain it, but it's heavenly tongue.gif
ibanezkiller
post 7th August 2007


Member


Your guitar sounds UNREAL !!!!! AMAZING TONE
DeepRoots
post 8th August 2007


Member


marcus, i was wondering what you use to create those epic sounding backing tracks? thnx
Ben N
post 4th October 2007


Instructor


great lesson!!! smile.gif
and great sound!!! smile.gif
Plaidman
post 10th October 2007


Member


Marcus, you are the reason I signed up on this site (Besides the fact trying to teach myself was proving rather futile).

Your music is absolutely beautiful. Another great lesson. Thanks.
Marcus Lavendell
post 10th October 2007


Instructor


Thank you very much, Plaidman! I appreciate it, and I'm glad you joined GMC.

Don't be afraid to ask if there's anything I can help you with! smile.gif


-Marcus
Tjchep
post 28th October 2007


Member


I know this might be the stupidest question ever..

But how do you download the backing tracks so I can make a recording and post it on the forums?
Marcus Lavendell
post 28th October 2007


Instructor


I'd really like to hear your recording, but I'm afraid you can't download the mp3 file. I know some guys just play along to the backing track and record it all with a webcam.
Tjchep
post 28th October 2007


Member


Wish I owned a camera...
Hammerfest
post 9th November 2007


Member


So basically, i should just bend the strings as far as i feel i need to, without worrying they might break? Coz I always feel like they are gonna bust any second when i try to make the bend with a bit more power, and that gives me the creeps...

Amazing solo apart form that!
Joey van den bosch
post 5th December 2007


Member


Very learnfull lesson, thanks a lot for this. I feel like my vibrato and bends sound twice as good now! ( and thats an understatement )
EGMONT 1963
post 22nd January 2008


Member


HI MARCUS
GUDD AFTON smile.gif

WUNDERBAR --I'll NEVER CAN MAKE THIS sad.gif
crazy sound - you can tell me the settings???
have a line6 spider 3 - line6 ax2 -vox cambridge valvetube.. DIFF.GUITARS FENDER STRAT. TELEC.EPIPHONE-EASTWOOD ECT...
BUT THE SOUND ,,,,, sad.gif

UDO FROM BELGIUM
MATHUSALEM OF THE MEMBERS sad.gif
ps. I stop to play 1970 ?? and start now again smile.gif
you can understand that is a long time without practicing,but I will try -have a lot of time now smile.gif

Marcus Lavendell
post 22nd January 2008


Instructor


Thank you EGMONT 1963!
Nice to hear you started playing guitar again smile.gif

I use a PODxt, and you can get the preset here: http://www.box.net/shared/hvayxvaif3
Gwazi
post 29th January 2008


Member


Got to be the best vibrato i've seen in a... well, i'll just say ever...
Marcus Lavendell
post 29th January 2008


Instructor


Thank very much Gwazi smile.gif
Patrik Jezierski
post 8th March 2008


Member


yngwie kan slänga sig i väggen! Sjukt bra Marcus ohmy.gif
Nick Kellie
post 11th March 2008


Instructor


fantastic advice and much overlooked by many!
Carlos Carrillo
post 1st April 2008


Instructor


nice lesson Marcus!!!!!!
rockztar
post 30th April 2008


Member


I LOve IT.... simply as that
AnyJimmy
post 3rd May 2008


Member


WOW, this just improved my vibrato significantly in about 15 minutes biggrin.gif

thanks marcus!


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