Vibrato

This technique was already mentioned in the previous "practical". As said, applying vibrato is not easy and takes some time to perform well. When I started guitar playing I neglected the vibrato somewhat and used my whammy bar instead. That's no substitute and merely an addition to finger vibrato. Later I practiced this technique, confirming my idea that when you neglect certain basic techniques in the beginning, it will be more difficult to learn them once you're a bit older and used to a certain kind of playing.

Okay, how is vibrato done...

I only explain the vibrato as used in blues and rock where you move the string like a bend.

Make sure the junction of your palm and index finger is pressed against the neck, for this will be the pivot point. Push your upper arm lightly to your body for support. The upper two strings are moved towards the low E string. The other 4 strings are pulled in the direction of the high E string.

The speed of the vibrato is normally in line with the tempo and stable but occasionally you can cheat a little for a certain tension. Start slow with moving the B string at the 14th fret and bend it a whole note wide. Concentrate on your pivot point and be sure the movement comes from the wrist, not the fingers. Don't put stress into your shoulder or arm, play relaxed as possible. Release the string to pitch and repeat. Apply this vibrato on all strings and also with your other fingers. When using your middle and ring finger, extra support comes from the other finger. Vibrato with your pinky is not easy because of the strength you need. I normally don't use it.

In the beginning the vibrato feels really awkward and strange and maybe you want to move to fast or shallow. That's normal and it just has to become second nature after a while. Exercise this every day if possible. Try to play a lick and apply vibrato to the last note, moving it up and down 4 times. Then try to play a run and apply vibrato to a note with 2 movements and continue to play the lick. Make sure it sounds like a note with vibrato, not a bend with vibrato, which comes now:

Another way of vibrato is where you bend the string and make the note sing while moving. Here it hás to sound like a bend with vibrato.

A problem with vibrato can occur when background noise disturbs your playing. So at the same time you'll have to learn to suppress the noise with palm and/or finger muting.

Just play a lot with this technique and you'll notice that it will improve after a while, like all techniques.