Vibrato on Bent Notes

[tensity1]

Hello all,

As far as "cultured" vibratos on bent notes go, what is the most pleasing sounding: should one start at a correctly intonated bent note, then go sharp then back to the bent note, or should you go sharp, slightly below the note, then back up, etc. (or even start at the bent note, dip down, then up)? Being that vibrato on unbent notes would always start at the note and go sharp then back down for the vibrato cycle, this would seem to be the logical answer, but maybe on a bent note it'd be better to "frame" the note. In your experience, what sounds best to you? Thanks.

[musicegbdf]

don't think there is a right or wrong. But using vibrato is the lazy way of not bothering to hit the right pitch. I have just checked what I do , and it is go to pitch then sharp. But would say again don't think that there is a right or wrong. Use your ear and taste depending what you are playing over.

[lopopolop]

Is this post a way of tricking people into to saying "I go down..."? Anyway, that's how I seem to play it.

It's a good question though, something I never thought of. To my ears (having just picked up my guitar to test), 'flat' vibrato sounds bluesier than if you went sharp, and as I more often than not go for a bluesy sound, it's definitely preferable to me.

[Lixarto]

Originally Posted by lopopolop

Is this post a way of tricking people into to saying "I go down..."?

That's what I do, but if I'm putting vibrato on a bent note I'll invariably use the wobbly arm.

Zap

[JaseMorris]

Personal preference - Raise to pitch, then release flat and back into pitch in time with the music. Sharp vibrato on bent notes tends to be a bit shrill to my ears, and a bit Steve Morse (vibrato-wise, that's baaaaad!!!!)

[sammo303]

Originally Posted by JaseMorris

Personal preference - Raise to pitch, then release flat and back into pitch in time with the music. Sharp vibrato on bent notes tends to be a bit shrill to my ears, and a bit Steve Morse (vibrato-wise, that's baaaaad!!!!)

I've just checked what I do and I have to agree with Jason here.

Also, I find it easier to vibrato bent notes if you bend them downwards.

[Danny1969]

It's a personal thing but for basic bog standard bends get it to pitch and then shake it it from flat to ever so slightly sharp
It's the speed that can help put your stamp on it as well, as in how quick you bend up. Someone like Brian May tends to bend up slower than normal which helps put his personality on his playing. Actually I would pick Brian May and Dave Gilmour as two people to listen to for bending tips.

[suityou316]

I agree with Jase, the tutors I had at IGF the last 2 years both advised bending up then vibrating between slightly flat and pitch. I believe clarky advocates this method too.
However, as Zap said, if the guitar has a whammy bar, I often bend up then add vibe with the bar ala Gilmour

[tensity1]

Thanks to all who replied. I thought it was interesting, since I hadn't really thought about it until I'd recently started working on getting a "good" vibrato.

As musicegbdf mentioned, I don't think there is a wrong or right way--as long as it sounds good and gets across your feel, it works. I think the "vibrato is the lazy way of not bothering to hit the right pitch" statement is a bit of a blanket, but I understand what you're saying, as some overuse the technique with wide, I'm having a conniption fit vibratos.

Nice one, lopopolop. If I only knew some female guitarists . . .

David Gilmour being one of my favorite guitarists, I've been listening to his vibrato, but mostly for the speed of the vibrato, and when he starts to apply it to the note. I'll have to relisten as to where in pitch he goes, but in the end, as long as it's controlled and sounds good, that's all that matters. BTW, he does like the whammy, whether for controlled note vibrato or wilder things, but most of his vibrato does come from his fretting hand. He mostly uses the arm for vibrato on unbent 1st string notes.

Since everyone was kind enough to examine their own vibratos, I'll share mine: Bend up to pitch, then start sharp and essentially frame the note. Since I try to keep it from being too wide, I can't really tell how exact the "framing" is. I used to go to pitch then drop to start the vibrato, but that was mostly due to my lack of finger strength--I would find it harder to control and come back up to a proper pitch this way. By starting the vibrato off sharp, I was able to control the variance of the note better. I've tried all the various ways everyone has posted, and really, they all sound good when controlled. This was actually a good ear and dynamics exercise, not to mention one for finger strength.

Thanks all.