Hawaiian vibrato?

David Cook · Post by **David Cook** » 20 Dec 2006 9:44 am

Happy Holidays everyone!!! We are blessed to have such a great forum! In Andy Volk's book, John Ely says he was doing the Hawaiian vibrato incorrectly, doing it from the shoulder rather than from the whole arm. I have what he calls a "lazy country vibrato" where I roll the bar. Should I be "shaking" it and what does he mean by using the shoulder rather than the whole arm? Should I practice sliding the bar back and forth? Thanks

Terry Farmer · Post by **Terry Farmer** » 20 Dec 2006 12:28 pm

http://www.horseshoemagnets.com/_sgg/ma_1.htm
http://www.horseshoemagnets.com/_sgg/m7_1.htm [This message was edited by Terry Farmer on 20 December 2006 at 12:33 PM.]

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 20 Dec 2006 12:36 pm

happy holidays.
I am not sure how a Hawaiian vibrato differs from any other. unless one uses the shoulder? that seems exaggerated.
my vibrato, which I use for many genres is more concentrated in the upper arm and wrist. roll or wiggle , whatever the song needs.
maybe Hawaiian vibrato is jargon for flipping
one off

George Piburn · Post by **George Piburn** » 23 Dec 2006 8:56 am

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 23 Dec 2006 10:40 am

George you are right about the eraser. I had the opportunity to see Jerry, David Kelii, Mel Abe,and Pua Almeida up close and they all did it this way and for my money you can't get more hawaiian vibrato than that. cc

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 23 Dec 2006 3:33 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>The Jerry Byrd Video- shows his style of making little circles , sort of like using a pencil eraser.

Very Effective and great style. You can cirlce forward or backwards - figure 8's for that matter.

as with all vibrato - smaller , narrower smoother = good

wide - big - rough = hurricane.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yep, I was confused when I saw his instructional video and viewed that segment ...

But having hours of live performances on video ... well, I just took that advice with a grain of salt ...

Judge for yourself ...

4 JB "Live" Videos ...

Check out the "Tomi Tomi" number (Byrd's Gone Wild) ... them's some big circles

PS: Please don't upload these to UTube or any similar site

------------------

Dustpans LTD.
The Casteels
HSGA 

[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 23 December 2006 at 03:40 PM.]

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 23 Dec 2006 5:22 pm

Some teachers say use your wrist, not your arm.

David Cook · Post by **David Cook** » 25 Dec 2006 10:23 am

Thanks everyone. Thanks,Rick for the videos.You made my day!!!.Jerry is my hero. What a phenomenon. What a touch he has and what a joy to be able to watch him do it.

Bob Stone · Post by **Bob Stone** » 26 Dec 2006 12:10 pm

Thanks for posting Rick. Those JB videos are priceless.

Mark White · Post by **Mark White** » 26 Dec 2006 12:55 pm

Is anyone else having trouble getting the audio to work on these clips? I've tried everything I know, even upgraded to the dreaded Media Player 11. I get video but very, very faint audio when turned all the way up. Any ideas anyone? It's killing me not being able to hear these!

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 26 Dec 2006 1:15 pm

Mark-Yu are not alone there. I have trouble with my Media Player. It too is not loud enough and the tone isnt that great.

But I use Winamp and the tone and vloume is much better, and I prefer it.

Happy New year fellow Michigander...al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 26 Dec 2006 1:32 pm

Mine works fine. I can make it real loud if I turn all controls all the way up. I have nothing special only what comes with XP 2002 and any updates they send for free. I recently did receive a huge file from them that was about 48MB as I recall and it installed a whole new media program. Check for updates if you are eligible from them.

Getting to watch Byrd play is fascinating.[This message was edited by Gary Lynch on 26 December 2006 at 07:14 PM.]

Mark White · Post by **Mark White** » 26 Dec 2006 3:26 pm

Thanks guys, I'll keep trying different things. I don't have a problem with any other videos, that's why this has me stumped. I've never seen J.B. play and I'd love to be able hear these.

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 26 Dec 2006 3:55 pm

I believe that Hawaiian vibrato may have come in three different forms.

1930's - Fast vibrato - Examples: Andy Iona, Dick McIntire

1940's - Medium vibrato - Example: David Kelii

1950's - Slower vibrato - Example: Jules Ah See and Barney Isaacs

I believe that the earlier fast vibrato was related to the need for more sustain. As the pickups improved and allowed greater sustain, a slower vibrato became more prominent. It also yielded a more mellow tone. JMOHO

Aloha and Happy New Year,

Don

Todd Weger · Post by **Todd Weger** » 27 Dec 2006 9:48 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>1930's - Fast vibrato - Examples: Andy Iona, Dick McIntire

1940's - Medium vibrato - Example: David Kelii

1950's - Slower vibrato - Example: Jules Ah See and Barney Isaacs

I believe that the earlier fast vibrato was related to the need for more sustain. As the pickups improved and allowed greater sustain, a slower vibrato became more prominent. It also yielded a more mellow tone. JMOHO<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I definitely hear the changing of vibrato styles listening to recordings from those decades. Your theory makes sense, although, if you listen to vocal vibrato styles over the same periods, they seem to mirror the changes in instrumental vibrato styles, too. Given that a faster vocal vibrato was the singing style in the early part of the century, and that steel guitarists were able to achieve a vocal-like quality because of the fretless nature of the instrument, I think that may have been a factor as well. Listen to early 20th century recordings of violinists, too, and you hear the same thing.

Then again, I dunno... maybe not.

It certainly makes sense when you think of them trying to get more sustain before the electric steel came about, and it makes total sense that the early electric players were used to playing with a technique the they would have used on non-electrics.

Personally, I think I prefer the older style electric steel vibrati ala McIntire, Iona, etc., though, I really enjoy the later styles, too, in their own way.

As long as there's some of that heartfelt "vocal-like" quality and feeling of aloha in there, I love it all.

TJW

------------------
Todd James Weger --
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, A6, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Regal resonator (C6); 1938 Epiphone Electar (A6); assorted ukuleles; upright bass

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 27 Dec 2006 10:37 pm

Maybe we need a Rick Aiello vibrato check?

Aloha and Happy New Year,

Don

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 27 Dec 2006 10:43 pm

Those are great videos without any question ! Mahalo Rick. Many of us had the great pleasure of knowing Jerry during his years in Waikiki. He purposely lost a lot of weight from when those videos were taken. As for his volume pedal, some of the newer Forum members may not realize it was wired in reverse...pedal "up" was full vol; "down" was low volume. Those videos bring back many fond memories and again, my thanks !

Bob Stone · Post by **Bob Stone** » 28 Dec 2006 8:59 am

I agree that a slower vibrato seems to have become more more common in recent decades. That said, there are still plenty of violinists and other musicians who use a pretty fast vibrato. As for who was first, vocalists or instrumentalists, to start the shift from fast to slower vibrato, my guess is that it's probably like the old "chicken or the egg" question. Who knows? There may be a PhD dissertation on the subject.

Personally, I tend to like a slower, fairly wide vibrato. The danger is that a slow, fat vibrato can easily become too "sappy." There is a fine line that's easy to cross. To my ears, some of the most effective vibrato is very close to that line--right on the edge of being too much.

Sometimes (certain jazz tunes, for example) the best vibrato is no vibrato, in my opinion.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 30 Dec 2006 10:12 am

Here's a ...

7 minute medley

... video by Jerry Byrd that I put up last evenin' ... to help Ring in the New Year

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 30 Dec 2006 11:44 am

Thanks! I loved it.

Eddie Cunningham · Post by **Eddie Cunningham** » 30 Dec 2006 5:35 pm

That Jerry Byrd Video by Rick was absolutely awesome !!! The "BYRD" was flying high and his vibrato was what we all strive to achieve !! Thanks for showing !!

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 30 Dec 2006 5:39 pm

I agree, awesome! It's nice to finally see my all time favorite steel player in action! Thanks Rick.

Ron · Post by **Ron** » 5 Jan 2007 7:16 am

If you are playing Hawaiian maybe you need to swivel your hips along with it!!

Robro Ron

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Hawaiian vibrato?

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