How to Learn Arm Vibrato and Wrist Vibrato on the Violin
The vibrato is an essential component of the modern violin sound.
This article outlines basic steps for learning both arm and wrist vibrato.
Steps to learning wrist vibrato: 1) Place the hand in third position.
2) Place the second finger on the note e-natural on the A string.
3) Lean the palm against the lower bout of the violin.
4) Detach the first finger from the side of the neck.
5) Alternate slowly dropping the hand backward from the wrist with returning the hand to its starting position.
During this motion, allow the finger to stretch from the "square" position to the "elongated" position (the first joint of the finger should start perpendicular to the fingerboard and end nearly parallel to the fingerboard).
6) Do not allow the finger to lose its place on the string by being pulled backward by the hand.
7) Allow he finger to rock back and forth during the motion.
8) Listen to the pitch change from e-natural to e-flat.
9) Do not lose contact of the palm against the lower bout.
10) Do not move the arm 11) Do not start the vibrato movement by elongating the finger.
The motion comes from the hand and not from the finger.
12) Do not squeeze the neck with the thumb.
The thumb should lean gently against the neck and act as a counter-pressure to the finger.
Steps to learning arm vibrato: 1) Begin in first position.
2) Bend the wrist slightly toward the scroll and lock the arm and wrist in that position.
3) The impulse comes from the forearm rather than from the hand.
4) Do not start the vibrato movement by elongating the finger 5) Do not allow the finger to slide backwards or forwards on the string.
6) Allow the finger to stretch and re-curve.
7) Instead of allowing the hand to drop backward (as in wrist vibrato), keep the elongation of the finger parallel to the neck
This article outlines basic steps for learning both arm and wrist vibrato.
Steps to learning wrist vibrato: 1) Place the hand in third position.
2) Place the second finger on the note e-natural on the A string.
3) Lean the palm against the lower bout of the violin.
4) Detach the first finger from the side of the neck.
5) Alternate slowly dropping the hand backward from the wrist with returning the hand to its starting position.
During this motion, allow the finger to stretch from the "square" position to the "elongated" position (the first joint of the finger should start perpendicular to the fingerboard and end nearly parallel to the fingerboard).
6) Do not allow the finger to lose its place on the string by being pulled backward by the hand.
7) Allow he finger to rock back and forth during the motion.
8) Listen to the pitch change from e-natural to e-flat.
9) Do not lose contact of the palm against the lower bout.
10) Do not move the arm 11) Do not start the vibrato movement by elongating the finger.
The motion comes from the hand and not from the finger.
12) Do not squeeze the neck with the thumb.
The thumb should lean gently against the neck and act as a counter-pressure to the finger.
Steps to learning arm vibrato: 1) Begin in first position.
2) Bend the wrist slightly toward the scroll and lock the arm and wrist in that position.
3) The impulse comes from the forearm rather than from the hand.
4) Do not start the vibrato movement by elongating the finger 5) Do not allow the finger to slide backwards or forwards on the string.
6) Allow the finger to stretch and re-curve.
7) Instead of allowing the hand to drop backward (as in wrist vibrato), keep the elongation of the finger parallel to the neck
