Practicing Vibrato
David, my inhale vibrato SUCKS. It's very uneven and I run quickly out of breath. What is the best way to practice this to get better at it?
Smarty-pants... ;o)
...maybe you're not joking. Is there a difference with harmonica?
I know with guitar there's "technically" a difference (and Fender muddied that one up back in the 60's), but I seem to frequently hear the two being interchangeable with harp (and other instruments as well).
Hi JJ
Check/ revisit the "tremelo and vibrato" lesson, it's all there man!
I do remember that, and I checked it out again after you reminded me.
I guess I'm looking for some additional exercises/tips to help train my throat. Most of my beginner techniques are starting to gel - including bending - but this one seems to elude me.
It's important to get the tremolo first. The vibrato is something you'll work on down the road... commonly in a year or two.
For the tremolo focus on the blow without the harmonica and make sure you hear it happening in your throat (no Ka Ka ;-). Most players can do it easily with the blow... the goal is to make it happen on the more awkward-feeling draw. After doing it for a moment (blowing) without the harmonica play it softly with the harmonica. Do it again now without the harmonica, blowing and then change to draw, trying not to change anything with how you do it. It will be vary choppy at first.
After you can do this with the draw without the harmonica, then try playing very softly with the harmonica. It commonly takes three to six months for post players to get the draw happening evenly. Take your time... it's a strange technique to our body.
I know there is technically a difference in music between the two - with tremolo being volume (or amplitude) based and vibrato being pitch based. Just for fun, what is the difference in technique between the two on harp (knowing I won't be doing this until a few years down the road)?
The vibrato uses the tongue... activated by the throat (tremolo). I do speak and demonstrate this in the Tremolo & Vibrato lesson, so take a peak at it again.
I've been looking at the wrong video. I looked at the tremolo video in the Beginners Fundamentals section. I was wondering why everyone kept referring to a tremolo AND vibrato video.
I found it. I'll take a look. Sorry for making you chase me in a circle.
Good point... I didn't think of that... now I know!
How's your tremolo?