How to Play Vibrato for Violin

Vibrato is a technique that moves the finger that you are using to hold down a string in minute motions that make the note go sharp and flat. This creates a shimmering or singing tone to the note and creates another level of interest in the playing. Vibrato is made up of three distinctly different kinds of vibrato: arm, hand and finger.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Place your violin on your shoulder and hold down a string with one finger. Use whichever string or note you're comfortable with. Move your left arm toward the body of the violin. Only allow your forearm and hand to move not your whole arm. Allow your finger to roll with the movement of your arm. Then move your arm toward the scroll. This movement of your arm and rolling motion of the tip of your finger creates arm vibrato.

2. Draw the bow across the string you are using and slowly practice the arm movement that creates the vibrato. Start slowly moving your arm back and forth and pick up speed. Your arm should only move a little, only an inch or so, back and forth. This is the largest and most dramatic version of vibrato styles.

3. Put a finger on a string and this time use your wrist to shift your hand back and forth in the same motion as before to create hand vibrato. If this seems extremely difficult, make sure that your hand is dropped and your wrist is straight. This motion will not be as back and forth as the arm vibrato and more of a shaking side to side motion. This will create a faster vibrato.

4. Start slowly with the hand vibrato and pull the bow across the string. Build up speed as you get used to the motion required to create vibrato.

5. Place a finger on a string and this time only move your finger back and forth. You want the same motion that the arm vibrato made. This type of vibrato is the most difficult. You will only be able to move your finger a small amount so this vibrato will also be the move delicate of the three.

Tips & Warnings

• Vibrato is not something that is learned in one day. It is a techniques that requires thought and patience. Practice all three types of vibrato slowly and slowly gain speed. Then practice the vibrato in a piece to gain knowledge of how to play and move from note to note while doing vibrato. Before you know it, vibrato will be something you do naturally without thinking about.