Natural vibrato

[btherl]

Vibrato is something most singers want. Perhaps because so many great singers also have a beautiful vibrato in their voice. But there are many different types of vibrato. I'm going to start with what I call "natural vibrato". This vibrato comes from having a relaxed throat, and a healthy balance of air and vocal cord closure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag0xVGHw7cU

Both these singers have a natural vibrato, but Josh's is much more noticeable. He doesn't "do" anything to engage that vibrato, it just happens because of how he sings.

But do you need vibrato?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag0xVGHw7cU

Listen to the above video from 1:10 on - there is no vibrato at all. But his voice still sounds great. He doesn't have vibrato in any of his songs.

There's also other ways to get vibrato, apart from the natural one. My own belief is that these came about from people trying to copy the natural vibrato.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_rthalDSCM

The above has what sounds to me like "diaphragm vibrato", which results from rythmic diaphragm contraction.

Other methods I'm not too familiar with .. the natural and diaphragm vibratos appear to be the most common types. If you try to create vibrato, rather than allowing it to happen, I think you will probably get diaphragm vibrato.

I'd love to hear what other people think about this! Do you know of any singers with unusual vibrato that I can listen to?

I heard a Chinese singer whose voice ranged over half an octave when he started his "vibrato"! Apparently it is encouraged to have a very wide variation in pitch in that style of singing. It is certainly not the natural vibrato though. A better term for natural vibrato might be "balance vibrato", as it comes from balanced air and vocal cords.

 

[Vocalistman]

Hi Bro brtehl,

I have one, I dunno under which category of vibrato is he in though? He's the vocal for a famous Indonesian band called Slank. He got really awesome vibrato for such a rock voice imo, but the band plays Indonesian songs. So I'm not sure if you still keen on listening to it, but I'll post the link just in case

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ1WbVhVEFI

 

[Chenglehung]

Dude if you wanna learn vibrato, here are some tips for you.
I am into classical style so i can help you on this to a certain extent.
Firstly, in order to have a natural vibrato, you must learn the sensation first.
Try to sustain a note and just try your very best to let it waver. It will defintely be an uneven vibrato and also sing as natural as possible(close to speaking voice dont add in hoot or strain, sing at a comfortable note). Record yourself.
Then try to do "Gee"(Hard G emphasize on G) and hold the note, let it vibrate. Record and compare. Tell me your results or email to me chenglehung@hotmail.com . I will help you further from there.

 

[sage]

I'd love to hear what other people think about this! Do you know of any singers with unusual vibrato that I can listen to?

You asked for unusual.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti9DhGFRFdg&feature=PlayList&p=62E20CF95669F55A&index=0&playnext=1
She has a good mix of both natural and "diaphragm vibrato".

In terms of -natural- vibrato..
On the topic of "Do we need vibratos", I don't think it's a matter of whether we need it or not. Vibratos enhance certain parts of a song / melody / lyrics; It's more important to know -when- to use it and how much of it comes out rather than to learn how to recreate it, unless you're singing like the lovely Galas there... I think for anyone who wants to learn vibratos, they need to have an idea of how they can use it first instead of picking it up like another package for singing..

Most people start out with vibratos from trying to learn one of their favourite songs that has them. From there, IMO, you don't need to think much about it. If you keep practising on the song on a whole, your vibrato will naturally come out in time, if you don't think much about it. You have to understand that the only reason why the vibrato exists at that certain point of the song, is because it came out naturally and unplanned. It's not something you -learn- to do, unless you're learning things to -encourage- it to come out. That's why they call it 'natural', yoosee..


On the topic of using vibratos...
Anyone can sound great with or without the use of vibratos.
Knowing how to use them to enhance your melody or capture/reserve breath, for example, is a whole different ball game.

I know some people who compromise their vocals for their vibratos, and these people have complete control over their vibratos and can still sound terrible in general only because they placed those vibratos at odd places, making them sound exaggerated and exposed to a lot of unnatural stances to the voice..

 

[Chenglehung]

What Sage said was VERY VERY true!

 

[btherl]

Thanks guys .. I will check out those clips

 

[btherl]

Vocalistman, the vibrato at 0:07 in that clip sounds natural. Same at 0:16 and a smidgeon of it at 0:22. But he's doing something to make it fast and wobbly. I think it's a variation of the natural vibrato.

sage, yep that is unusual It sounds to me like she's using both natural vibrato and something else (a very fast diaphragm vibrato?)

 

[lacrymosa]

Hi Bro brtehl,

I have one, I dunno under which category of vibrato is he in though? He's the vocal for a famous Indonesian band called Slank. He got really awesome vibrato for such a rock voice imo, but the band plays Indonesian songs. So I'm not sure if you still keen on listening to it, but I'll post the link just in case

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ1WbVhVEFI

I was mesmerized by the vocalist singing. You're right. The vibrato is tight so as his hoarse tone.

 

[taufiq_rocker]

this guy fabio lione from a power metal band has good vibrato..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djBxec8hEc4&feature=related
(he's the guy with long hair)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6d9c8EJaGI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SKqqKjW0aU&feature=related

 

[fgl]

how about if we just place a switched on vibrator against on our throat while we're singing?

mite be a cool fad ...

 

[Vocalistman]

how about if we just place a switched on vibrator against on our throat while we're singing?

mite be a cool fad ...

.. Now that just might works....Somewhere else..Hmm...:|

Anyway, thank you guys for the information

 

[lacrymosa]

I have natural vibrato. When I was in my jamming CCA back in polytechnic, they called me "the vibrato". They said my vibrato was "excessively excessive". Haha. Wanna hear it?