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Topic: W I D E vibrato sounded good - surprised me! |
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 20 Jan 2003 6:27 am |
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In the never ending quest for the perfect Hawaiian steel guitar left hand vibrato I recorded myself playing yesterday. I used the song "Aloha Tears" in C6 tuning (CEGACE) as my test dummy. My Bakelite Rick as the steel.
I recorded the song first with no vibrato at all - sounded pretty sterile. Sounded like an instructional record.
Next I used the pedal steel vibrato style of using the index finger and thumb to sort of "vibrate" the bar - a little better sounding, but no cigar.
Next I used a wide slow vibrato that covered about 1/2 - 3/4 a fret either side of the note. This one surprised me. While recording I thought "this is really going to sound bad, this is too wide, too exaggerated". When I listened to the playback it sounded good. The “too much” that I thought I heard during the recording process sounded smooth and even on the recording.
Your ears can really play tricks on you while you are playing.
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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
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Todd Weger
From:
Safety Harbor, FLAUSA
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Posted 20 Jan 2003 6:58 am
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Hey Gerald -- any chance you can post a clip, or a link to a clip of those examples?
I agree with you about it "feeling" like too much, but sounding right on playback. It seems about 1/2 way (or maybe just a little more), on either side of a fret marker is about right.
Of course, the vibrato speed is also critical. For slower tunes, I have found that 1/8 note triplets, tied in duples seem to sound best, at least for me. I use a faster (closer to 1/16 note) vibrato on up tempo tunes.
TJW
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Todd James Weger/RD/RTD
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, E13, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, E13); Melobar SLS lapsteel (open D); Chandler RH-4 Koa semi-hollow lapsteel (open G); Regal resonator (open D or G)
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 20 Jan 2003 7:06 am
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Sorry Todd no evidence is available. I used my Roland BR-8 digital recorder to do this experiment. I didn’t save anything.
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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 20 Jan 2003 7:32 am
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Wide Vibratos can be beautiful on the steel guitar. JB often uses very wide vibrato. Once one gets the speed and smoothness down; it does embelish their playing in an immeasurable way.
Speaking of vibrato, it is here where much work needs to be done by the new player. In fact if this is NOT done, a bad habit can develop quickly and last for life. If not corrected early. Such vibratos as the "nervous quiver", too slow, wobble, same speed regardless of tempo, too narrow, not centered over the fret, etc can really take away from an otherwise good playing technique.
Also, IMO, it is best to develop a habit of NOT vibratoing while picking, but begin the vibrato just AFTER the note is picked; increasing the width from narrow to wide (slightly) as the note sustains; which if done correctly can actually increase the sustain. Making the vibrato compliment the tempo is one of THE most important of all. And one I notice sadly lacking in some.
Of course, the ALL time master at this is Jerry Byrd. In a word, he is absolute in this department. If one wants to really do it "right", watch his left hand closely for vibrato. And while you are at it, watch everything else he does with his left hand. Absolutey flawless exection.
AND, his right hand ain't bad either 
May our precious Jesus bless JB and all of you,
carl[This message was edited by C Dixon on 20 January 2003 at 07:43 AM.] |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 20 Jan 2003 10:00 am
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Actually Rick, the chordal stufff sounded good too with this wide approach. But you're right, it really makes those single notes shine.
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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 20 Jan 2003 2:06 pm
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...
Last edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 16 Jan 2018 3:01 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 21 Jan 2003 1:06 pm
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To me, a 'natural' vibrato that fits the pace of the song or passage while nicely fading, and goes almost unheard is usually the key. Carl of course, said it very well. When I don't think about it and just let it all flow is when it comes out the best(for me). JB sez he doesn't think about it, which unless your going for something that stands out, is probably how it otta be. Billy HL's vibrato/gliss/etc. was an extension of his hyper personality which he certainly made work extraordinarily. He went way too young, what a loss(as are they all who've left us).
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J D Sauser
From:
Wellington, Florida
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Posted 31 Jan 2003 9:24 am
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I have long thought that the rolling bar vibrato had to be IT... it would be smoother (no friction-no noise) and thus eat up less energy from the vibrating string... I got really good at it and thought of my self as of some kind of a Buddy Emmons  . My surprise then was when I first watched Buddy Emmons live and up close using a sliding vibrato... my world started shaking and my ego too (for a split second). But what really KO'ed me was what I saw in Jerry Byrd's instruction video; a wide (up to half a fret up and half a fret down) sliding vibrato... in perfect fractions to the rhythm of the music... pure expresion. I since have converted and must say that using it conciuosly and in a controled manner it up's my sustain and tone considerably. It just takes more warm up time when starting to play.
I get much better and more consistent results when playing standing. Seated, my vibrato will suffer using backward slants... I think that the arm get's forced in a too rigid position.
As an excercise I now use my computer mouse with my left hand only, just to train for better neuromuscular control. believe it or not... it helps!
... J-D.
A personal note:
Hey Carl, good to see you arround here. I miss you... Spain is good to me, I changed a couple of things in my live... doin' fine... Kind regards... J-D.
[This message was edited by J D Sauser on 31 January 2003 at 09:36 AM.] |
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