vibrato

[geebee889]

Posted: 1/16/08 at 9:07pm

So I've been taking voice lessons for a while now, and I'm 18. Now my problem is that my vibrato isn't very strong. Like it only comes on certain notes, and my instructor keeps telling me that it's because I have a "young" voice so my natural vibrato hasn't set in yet.

Does this make any sense to you because it's confusing me and I'm kinda getting mad at myself because I can't get it.

[Juliash]

Posted: 1/16/08 at 9:47pm

Some people just don't have a lot of vibrato and some have too much.

18 is still a young voice. I'm 16 and when I was 14 I always thought that was how my voice was going to be but its surprised how much it grows and changes.

My advice is to go to a summer programs or some kind of program where you work with more instructors than your regular one. For some reason the variation has really helped me and I'm sure it can't hurt you.

[Juliash]

Posted: 1/16/08 at 9:48pm

And never force vibrato in!!!! It doesn't sound good and its bad for you...

[geebee889]

Posted: 1/16/08 at 9:50pm

Thank you so much. I mean, I don't necessarily try to force it in, I've just tried so many different singing exercises and none of them really work.

And it also makes me mad that all of the people that get cast as the leads in shows I'm in have an insane vibrato. Like it'll be down to me and them for that role, but they always end up getting it. It makes me feel super self conscience about my singing.

[fabala4077]

Posted: 1/16/08 at 11:44pm

Vibrato, to me, was one of those obnoxious things that only comes when you are absolutely not thinking about it. It's still a bit of a problem, because I can't control it as much as I would like to. Just concentrate on getting your technique correct and practicing often, and eventually I would think it should come along.

[RunningInTheDark]

Posted: 1/17/08 at 12:11pm

my vibrato came a few month after voice training when I was 14. To me it's always been a sign if I'm singing correctly or not. If I can't achieve vibrato, I know everything is way to tense. I don't really know how you could "fake" vibrato, really, unless you're shaking your head or doing massive weird things to your stomach.

The trick is going to those notes that give you vibrato and really make note of everything you are feeling. There DEFINATELY are a chunk of notes where I don't need to think about vibrato at all, but my lower notes I tend to suck in my tongue and sing in the back of my throat.

It's all about practice, discovery. You really need to concentrate on full breath. Really breathing deep into the pit of your stomach and really maintaining that expantion the entire time you sing!

[Juliash]

Posted: 1/17/08 at 4:56pm

That's so funny because I have so much vibrato it makes me self conscious. I've realized its all about finding things that sound good in your voice and realizing what makes your voice different from everyone else's.

And there definitely is stuff out there that requires less vibrato!! Anything pop really...

[geebee889]

Posted: 1/17/08 at 4:58pm

Thanks for the advice you guys. And thanks for not being scary like the people on the main boards. Woah. They pretty much freak me out.

But I'm definitely going to work on relaxing my body because I do know that I carry a bunch of tension in my shoulders and neck, so that's probably hindering me as well.

[flicker_]

Posted: 1/17/08 at 5:50pm

Well, first think about what vibrato is. Simply, it's the moving back and forth of the vocal chords as air passes through them. Also, everyone has their own type of vibrato, whether it be subtle, obvious, slow, fast, etc. The trick is find YOUR OWN natural vibrato. DON'T try to imitate anyone else's. Your vibrato comes through at its truest when all of your muscles are relaxed. Make sure you're not gripping your ribcage, or tensing your tongue. The throat should be nice and open, as if you are about to yawn. Breathe deeply, and fill in your back with air. Make sure that the note is resonating, meaning it's moving around somewhere in your head or chest, and that you're not just sitting on the note. The presence of a natural vibrato suggests a healthy and proper technique, so you should definitely work on it. Just let go, relax, and let your true voice shine through :)

[MerMaggieGalinda]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 11:18am

Ever since I started voice lessons, I've always had a vibrato. I'm very thankful for it, I've gotten a lot of compliments for my use of it, it is my favorite quality of my voice. It's quiet, but constant. I just make sure it never gets too loud, otherwise it can get really shrill, since my voice is already very a very light soprano. It is much easier for me to straight tone in chest voice rather than head voice. Is that normal?
Updated On: 1/19/08 at 11:18 AM

[RunningInTheDark]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 3:37pm

While I'm a male and don't really have a "head voice" I do think we are all comfortable in a certain range of notes and vibrato comes very naturally there. I think we're all getting WAY to into vibrato, though, and it's really nothing. I think vibrato is only key on high notes because it is the only way to really know if you're not straining too much. Of course, vibrato CAN come with tension. Ask Christina Agulara (spelling?)

[SarahBeth]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 4:44pm

I have a very slight vibrato and I like it that way. People tell me I have a nice clear expressive tone because of that. Vibrato isn't everything. The last show I was in all my character did was sing and my director told me to use absolutely no vibrato so then the desperation and pain of the song could rip through the audience.

[Andante]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 12:17am

I've always had a vibrato. I started out as a clarinetist, and using my breath/vocal chords to be able to create a vibrato on that was very instrumental in me having a vibrato as a vocalist.

Being 18 years old, unless you're highly trained and can control your voice, your voice isn't going to be completely developed. And vibrato, as Juliash says, shouldn't be used that often (like belting, cough cough). I, personally, only use it at the end of a song to make its meaning more impactful or to fancy the song up a bit.