How to Practice the Cello Vibrato Technique

Practicing vibrato is an important part of learning to play the cello. Practice not only ensures that you know how to do the motion when you are first learning but it also ensures that you don't acquire bad habits once you have learned the technique.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Go over the basics. Make sure that your holding the cello properly. Make sure that you aren't putting too much pressure on your hand from your thumb. Ensure that you elbow is out and not tucked so that you can move your hand and arm freely.

2. Slow down the motion of vibrato. Roll your hand in the vibrato motion slowly. This makes sure that you know and understand the motion and gives you time to check the small shifts in pitch so you know that you are making the best sound possible.

3. Practice with each finger. You need to be able to do vibrato well with all four fingers that you use to play the cello. Go through practicing each one so that you know you can use vibrato with any finger on any position.

4. Build speed. Different pieces have different speeds, moods, and requirements for vibrato speed. You have to be able to do vibrato in big, slow dramatic movements and quickly in small, energetic movements as well.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're having problems playing vibrato, always start at the beginning. Check your hand position, make sure your hand is curved, that you don't have too much pressure on the neck of the cello with your thumb, and that your fingers have firmly anchored against the fingerboard when you are playing vibrato.