do I need a vibrator?

Subject: RE: do I need a vibrator?
From: John Hardly
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 10:26 AM

so, Bee,you can stop it by controlling your larnyx. So, when you feel it, the vibration is actually in your throat? Is your vibrato fairly rapid and regular?

When I started this thread anonymously several years ago I was truly puzzled by the dearth of information as to what exactly is happening when vibrato occurs. I still can't find a definitive answer nearly 7 years later.

Subject: RE: do I need a vibrator?
From: Nick
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 11:08 AM

This article tries to explain it - whether it is true or not I don't know!

Subject: RE: do I need a vibrator?
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 11:20 AM

When I was a young coffee house singer, I would greatly admire those with a vocal resonance and vibrato I could not command. Over the years, I heard many vocalists try too hard to "create" vibrato where none existed. Kenny Rogers was one who made it very obvious at times. It wasn't until I hit my late thirties and forties that I learned to "relax into it." I think younger people are often more tense, voices are somewhat more taut and often a bit higher in pitch as a result. As one ages, the voice deepens and acquires more timbre and color. Maria Muldaur once referred to her young voice as like a clarinet that deepened and became colored more like a tenor saxophone as she matured. It is at this point that vibrato seems to occur most naturally. For me, it was learning to relax and to breath from the diaphragm instead of the top of the lungs. Frank Sinatra said he learned his phrasing and breathing technique from brass and woodwind players. Not a bad place to begin.

Subject: RE: do I need a vibrator?
From: Bee
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 11:45 AM

"so, Bee,you can stop it by controlling your larnyx. So, when you feel it, the vibration is actually in your throat? Is your vibrato fairly rapid and regular?" John H.

Keeping in mind I'm an absolute amateur, and middle aged to boot... the vibration seems to be in the throat. I have to pay close attention while singing or I may not notice the vibration at all - the sensation is subtle. It is medium rapid and definitely regular, though I have heard faster in various singers. It isn't quite the 'wobble' of some elderly women's sopranos, but I can see it could head that way if not controlled. My mother, whose voice is lower than mine, at 83 has a lovely singing voice, and is still a choir member.

In trying to describe my voice, I would say it is somewhat high, but in lower registers has an almost 'two note' or double reed sound. The vibrato almost seems to be those 'two notes' (I know I'm saying this badly - haven't the right vocabulary) competing, particularly on long vowel sounds, like in 'sailing', 'lies', 'moon'.

Subject: RE: do I need a vibrator?
From: Genie
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 01:15 PM

I've given up or gotten over a lot of my vibrato, but I'll never get over or give up my vibrator.

Subject: RE: do I need a vibrator?
From: stallion
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 03:11 PM

mine comes from deep within, although it might be the throat, it tends to arrive without asking when I switch to full power and I use it as an indicator as to whether my voice is in good nic or not, if my voice ain't to good I can't switch it on.

Subject: RE: do I need a vibrator?
From: Uncle Boko
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 04:52 PM

If you don't have good orgasms get a vibrator - it's as simple as that!

Subject: RE: do I need a vibrator?
From: John Hardly
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 06:09 PM

Thanks for the answer, Bee.

Subject: RE: do I need a vibrator?
From: GUEST,mabel
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 06:19 PM

Isn't this all a bit vibrationist? Also a bit ageist and some of us are aged or ageing.
I have had a lifelong,since Sunday School, vibrato but am now out and trembling away confidently.
For years I held a hand in front of my wobbling throat but now I am not ashamed and consider it a coloraturo addition to the folk world.

It is really no good going around criticising people for producing lovely, if reverberating, noises. There are far worse things they could be doing like not singing at all.

Lets all vibrate with welly.

Subject: RE: do I need a vibrator?
From: terrier
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 06:05 PM

My music teacher once told me that vibrato was used by singers to disguise the fact that they couldn't sing in tune, the more out of tune, the more vibrato. That may be a little harsh but I've heard many a singer who had a perfectly good voice spoil their singing by using inappropriate vibrato.

Subject: RE: do I need a vibrator?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 06:35 PM

You know guys, lost in all of this is the fact that Vibrato is a wonderful tool if you can use it. Violinists use it in the same way, to fill out the note. Sorry to hear what the music teacher said. That's just wrong.
Many people wave their voices to hit a note, just the same way a swallow dips and rises before perching. It's an art and it works.
However, as I said before, it's distinctive and can emote as many negative as positive responses. No?

Subject: RE: do I need a vibrator?
From: terrier
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 06:45 PM

Just like any other tool, it takes time to learn how to use it correctly.

Subject: RE: do I need a vibrator?
From: John Hardly
Date: 12 Jul 07 - 11:55 AM

"Sorry to hear what the music teacher said. That's just wrong."

That was my thought. I can't even imagine a voice teacher who would make that kind of a statement about vibrato.

And I still cannot think of a good singing voice -- anyone famous for their good singing -- who does not have/use vibrato.

Just like any other tool, it takes time to learn how to use it correctly.

But the nature of the question of this thread is not how to learn to use it correctly -- it is WHAT THE HELL IS IT?!?!?!

Where does it come from?!?!

Someone upthread mentioned that they can tell when vibrato is "forced" or not natural. I agree. I love Ella Fitzgerald's voice (one of the best voices ever recorded). I did not like Dinah Shore's voice. Dinah Shore's vibrato was of such a slow "wavelength" that it sounded like an affectation --something she had to work to create. Ella's is so rapid (but not so rapid as to sound like a munchkin) that I just have trouble believing that it is anything other than something that just happens when she sings.

I cannot, for love or money, just sing and have vibrato happen. I can attempt to add a little color for a half-beat at the end of a line, but absolutely nothing I could hold. I can't make it happen and I still don't know where I would feel it if I was going for it naturally.

Like anything else -- swinging a golf club, doing caligraphy -- one has to *feel* what the right thing IS -- at least ONCE -- in order to repeat it. If one never feels what the right thing is in the first place, one cannot practice to perfect it.

Subject: RE: do I need a vibrator?
From: terrier
Date: 14 Jul 07 - 06:16 PM

Vibrato is a musical effect, produced in singing and on musical instruments by a regular pulsating change of pitch, and is used to add expression and vocal-like qualities to instrumental music.

There ya' go. Does that answer the question?

The music teacher I was talking about was not in fact a singing teacher and he made the remark to indicate that some singers (not all) would (mis)use vibrato as a means to cover up poor intonation.

Subject: RE: do I need a vibrator?
From: GUEST,WhiteWhorl
Date: 12 Jun 11 - 10:36 PM

Vibrato's a healthy part of singing. Straight notes constantly can damage your voice over years and years of singing them.

Vibrato is a natural part of your voice, after your voice is trained and your diaphragm becomes stronger your voice should start developing a natural vibrato. Everyone can use it, it's not something you should try and force to put on, it comes naturally and gets stronger the stronger your diaphragm gets.

Subject: RE: do I need a vibrator?
From: Bert
Date: 13 Jun 11 - 01:24 AM

I just found this thread.

Sing quietly and learn to USE the microphone.

That's how Adam Faith did it and he did quite well.