Out of all of the technical tools that a guitar play can posse, vibrato
is probably one of the most expressive. Musical phrases that go on
forever without the use of vibrato can sound dull and lifeless. Adding
vibrato to your musical phrasing in the appropriate places and
circumstances will make your phrasing much more exciting.
Classically trained singers spend years trying to master vibrato when
they sing, where as a lot of guitar players do not spend much time if
any trying to master vibrato. The majority of guitar teachers do not put
much value on teaching this technique or just take vibrato for granted
and unfortunately they do not emphasize the importance of learning this
technique.
In my opinion the most expressive vibrato is one that is wide and played
in a slow to medium speed. Although there are times a narrower vibrato
is needed, typically over a soft and slow musical passage. At times a
fast vibrato can be effective, but be careful when you use a fast
vibrato, because it can produce a sound that is out of control and out
of tune. I seldom use a narrow or fast vibrato and I never use a vibrato
that is narrow and fast at the same time.
Following is a list of some common problems that a lot of inexperienced
guitar players have with their vibrato.
The vibrato is so fast that it sounds like a tiny insect that is buzzing
around your ears, and the notes typically sounds like they are out of
control.
The vibrato is not wide enough in range, it is to narrow. Unless you are
playing a soft and slow musical phrase a narrow vibrato will make the
notes you are playing sound timid and faint.
Many inexperienced guitarists do not use vibrato enough causing notes to
die out rapidly and sound lifeless and boring especially at the end of a
musical phrases.
Some guitar players over use vibrato. Many inexperienced guitarists
stuff in as much vibrato at possible. The overuse use of vibrato lessens
its impact on the listener.
