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Start slow, in time (IE with a metronome) and bend/release a 1/4 tone at a time. So on a crotchet (1/4 note) you'll play 4 notes (It doesn't mater which one), and your fretting finger will in time push the string slightly (1/4 tone) sharp, and return to pitch 4 times per note.
then try with 8 sharpen/return to pitch per note.
Also increase tempo a little each day
Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)
I've found that playing vibrato [and bending] from the wrist rather than the fingers works better..
it's a twisting / rotational movement. This uses the muscles in the forearm, which are far more powerful than those in your hand.. so the result is more control
also... the 3rd to 6th strings are bent downwards [towards the floor] and the 1st and 2nd strings are bent upwards [because there's not enough space on the fingerboard to do it any other way
when bending upwards, I use the thumb on the back of the neck as a pivot. When bending downwards I use the edge of my hand [between the 1st finger and thumb] on the underside of the nech as a pivot.
Note that I talk about bending and vibrato technique in exactly the same way. This is because I treat them as the same technique - vibrato being a series of small bends one after the other.
Violin style vibrato is a whole different thing [and can be extremely beautiful too], but it does not work so well all over the neck, so you need to get used to where it's easiest to perform it strongly and on what strings. Personally I tend to use this on the plain strings when I'm north of the 8th / 9th fret.. and only in ballads / in situations where I'm playing long notes that can benefit from something a little more subtle than my regular vibrato choices..
a great exercise is to bend [let's say an A on the 3rd string - 14th fret] up to B.
when you've bent the note up, put vibrato on
this is about as difficult as vibrato gets [applying it to a bent note], and so this is where the rotational strength from the forearm really comes into play..
when it comes to 'timing' the vibrato, the rotation really works there too [because personally I find it easier to feel for the peaks of the bends in a rhythmic sense]
with your metro counting 1/4 notes, try vib with the following timings:
1/8 note, 1/8 triplets, 1/16th notes
Failing at finger vibrato is easily rectified with a Floyd (I jest obviously)
When you advance onto vibrato on a bent note, use the same technique. This is where @Clarky said to use your forearm will really help.
Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
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Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)
Vai's circular technique is a sort of hybrid of conventional vib and violin style vib
personally, I never found it particularly comfortable. that said, a couple of friends of mine swear by it..
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
“Theory is something that is written down after the music has been made so we can explain it to others”– Levi Clay
this is actually only possible with a whammie or with 'violin vib' technique [and possibly the "Vai circular vib" too]
the violin vib will almost never give you +/- a semi-tone.. I'd guess you could get close to a semi-tone if you're high up the neck.. but anywhere south of about the 8th or 9th fret and the change in pitch is very gentle..
regular vib will only ever sharpen the note
“Theory is something that is written down after the music has been made so we can explain it to others”– Levi Clay