You really are doing a great thing by helping people learn for free. Especially in todays world where music is mostly electronic and going downhill. So I just want to say, sincerely, thank you. And youre an awesome guy.
I notice you specify electronic and I'm just going to say a digital keyboard is much less expensive than an actual grand piano, and also lets me make midis of my music so I can modify it on my computer instead of hand writing countless measures.
I've been trying to learn vibrato for 6 months! None of what anyone is saying was making sense. And then I watched this video. And now I understand it now, my hand is naturally picking up the motion, and it's clicking it's making sense! Thank you so so much.
You are very welcome. That is great news. Join my forum at fiddlerman.com/forum Great interaction from great members. Great way to stay motivated and meet others doing the same thing that you are.
Fiddlerman cool!! I'll check it out! And since this video I've been thinking about vibrato every day 😂 I was so confused for six whole months and now everything falls into place, all thanks to you!!
"Put the weight on the left side of the finger" -Best Vibrato Tip Ever This helped me immediately to vibrate when before I could not. Thank you for all that you do.
I realize this is an old video, but man, I was on the brink of a full meltdown trying to figure out how on earth this whole vibrato thing works. I've watched probably 50 different videos but it didn't click until this one.. Now I got it! THANK YOU! The calm, simple way you explain it is so easy to understand, and unlike a lot of the videos out there (and my violin teacher), you don't get stuck on the finger flexibility part, which for my double jointed self just confuses me more than it helps! Thank you again!
I love how succinct and to the point FM's videos are. Every other violin UA-cam channel takes 10+ minutes to explain what he can in 2-4 minutes. Saves me lots of time, much appreciated!
Thank you so much for this video! I have been playing for ~4 years, and I can do literally every other technique (pizz, double/triple/quad stop, trills, harmonics, you name it) but not vibrato for whatever reason. This helped a lot!
Sums up my life for the past three months lol, but I finally went out and got a Stentor 1500, great starter instrument, full outfit for 250$ CAD not sure what it is in USD.
You can also rent one. I am renting one for $36-$37 a month and it includes insurance. To buy my violin would cost me $850. Rent first then buy if you think your going to go the distance in learning the violin. That's what I am doing. I am just a beginner. I am on my 3rd lesson with my teacher.
Hello Fiddlerman! Don't know if you remember but awhile back I commented asking for help when I was struggling with my vibrato. Well I kept practicing and am happy to say I finally got my arm vibrato! It is not perfect but I am getting better each time, now I am working on my wrist vibrato which seems to be giving me a hard time. I just wanted to say a big thank you to and help from my orchestra teacher for helping me get to where I am today! Please continue making videos as I will be looking forward to watching them!
Thank you for posting these lesson videos, they really are appreciated. I am in the process of learning the Erhu, and its mostly self study because of the lack of teach it or play it here in the U.S. You bring a lot of good positive energy to your videos, and I sincerely want to thank you and wish you all the best!
Thank you so much. I just watched this video 10 minutes ago and, my vibrato has already improved. God bless you sir, in the name of the Son of the One true living God, Jesus Christ.
I know this way of vibrato is the most correct one and the preferable one. But theres other violin teachers on youtube who's doing the "sideway" vibrato, which is alot easier than this way for me. But shouldn't it not matter? shouldn't the sound be the same ?
+SweDawgTv Honestly, if it works, is comfortable and sounds good, it's fine. Obviously you don't want to do anything which will create any negative physical issues for you in the future. There is good technique, bad technique, and technique that works but limits you. I suspect that you would be limited with the guitar type vibrato but what do I know. I've never tried it. :)
Exactly, I meant it as a recognition of talent and discipline. I would be very surprised if Fiddleman came from a background that allowed him to learn violin on a silver plate, and that's the point I wanted to get across. Mr. Fiddleman I tip my hat, you have a thick skin and I bet you had to earn your stripes. You have plenty to teach us besides playing violin. Sorry for any glitch in my English as it's not my native language.
Thank you so much for the free videos! I just started learning to play a month ago and I want to start practicing vibrato as early as possible so I won't be wasting all those months I could be using to improve. Subscribed! :)
thank you! I'm a beginner and teaching myself through online help such as you provide. a huge amount of gratitude to you and all the others who give freely the knowledge of playing this beautiful instrument.
You are a wonderful wonderful man. Thank you for providing such helpful videos. You have helped my fiddle playing very much! Thank you! I hope good things come to you for your gift to strangers
Thank you so much Nicole, but great things come to me all the time. People are great, thankful and our new business (fiddlershop.com together with my son since 2012) is going great as well. :-) Thanks for your support!!!
I think you have found your "calling", your video is so good. I spent some minutes daily for 2 weeks before I was able to break the co-ordination "lockstep" between my left hand fingering and my right arm bowing. Part way through this frustration I had the idea of pressing the scroll of the viola against a rectangular cork-surfaced notice board mounted on the wall (the type that accepts drawing pins). That solved one part of the problem. The other remedy is to avoid any stress on the finger.
Cello Videos, thats a great suggestion, thank you. Yes the Erhu or Chinese Violin, is nothing short of enchanting, it has its own unique magic to it, that once you fall in love with it, you can't let it go. Your vibrato videos really are great! The effort in explaining and showing how its done is fantastic. I can't compliment you enough or say thank you enough for the time you put into them and sharing them. Thank you so very much for what you are doing and have done.
I'm self taught violist, and I've had a hard time learning vibrato, I'd like to get into the advanced orchestra at my high school, and this video was a good starting point for me.
+Fiddlerman thanks for this. my Orch teacher didn't explain virbrato too well when I was a kid. Regretfully stopped playing now at thirty I want to teach my kids how to play. I loved Orchestra class and the violin, so much fun!💙❤♥🎻
OK this looks to be a better way for me to learn vibrato than I've seen other techniques. As an added bonus I get to see various views of how the vibrato works. Was getting to think the finger(s) rapidly move up and down the string a short distance.
thanks for responding. ive played guitar for a while and have always wanted to play the violin since i bought a hilary hahn cd a while back but this viola is all i have available to me now. it's definitely more challenging than i had assumed.. for now i think a shoulder rest will def help me get more comfortable and maybe even a new chin rest... thanks again and i look forward to watching more of your videos
Thank you SO much for addressing the g-string difficulty; my wrist always hurts when I practice vibrato so far over, wasn't sure if I was doing something wrong
Sorry for to star learning viola in mine 64th. However, I just want to congratulate U for the way you teach: eassy, well explained, and great motivational camera spot. Nada,! You are fantastic. From Puerto Rico, USA. Thanks U for share with us you experienced.Alfonso
@@1stfiddlerman thanks for asking. IAM doing so well and excited in this journey of fretless strings. I'm experienced lead and rhythm electric guitarist. See yeah,alfonso
I am glad it not against the rules Some body else's video suggested it was not good. I no longer have the problem . I place the ball of my left thumb forward or right side of the neck . It nudges and pivots the violin to my rear , my shoulder arrest the pivot travel and can correct the backward movement some, when the neck begins to slide off my thumb. I have excellent travel forward and backward along the neck. The slanted thumb ball replaces the lower index finger as the restrictive glide.
Moyes_Guarulhos - São Paulo - BRAZIL. My difficulty is the hand of tension due to the position and Viola armrest but I will start the exercises based on techniques that you are teaching. excellent explanation. God bless.
Also, I had a student with a similar problem and was able to help him by having him do air vibrato with the left hand/arm while just going up and down with the right at various tempos.
Doesn't matter. Good to be able to do both. Arm vibrato is usually used for slower wider vibrato where as wrist, hand, finger used for smaller faster vibrato.
Yea , I'm glad you pointed out how your swing your left arm forward in that uncomfortable contortions to reach the G. string. because thats breaking the rules . If I don't break the rules I'm going to break my wrist.. You got use to the feeling I'll will just have to accept the pain. Thanks for the illustration
Hey Fiddler man, I've been doing violin so far for 1 year and 3 months. I have been exceptional on my violin playing. For the little amount of time I've been playing, I was bumped up to advanced orchestra in school, and I also auditioned for honors and made it! I've been complimented on my skill for a long time now... I have always wanted to learn vibrato- I never could... I have always been very good at the violin, but no matter how much I try, I can't do it... My fingers feel very stiff and hard to move... I just can't seem to produce the slightest vibrate. I have been told by my teacher I have perfect posture and position, but it just takes practice. I've been trying for so long, but I can barely move my fingers and I don't know how to do it. Vibrato looks very natural, and I feel like I'm trying too hard... Do you have any input or advice? I would appreciate it! Thanks!! :)
+Emily L. Please join our forum at Fiddlerman.com/forum Make a video for me to analyze and post the link to me. I'll help you. Congratulations on your great advances. Sounds great.
Fantastic Instruction.!!! I will have to try that. I'm very brand new and I told my teacher that I am worried about Vibrato (Which I am not even close to doing that-But I told her that I'm worried that I will never be able to do Vibrato.) Well this video show me that I can move my fingers that way!!!!! I'll let you know once I try it.....
Thanks so much! Remember that Rome was not built overnight. LOL You'll get it but think, baby steps forward. Now if you get it much quicker, all the best to you.
I Just tried it. I am WAY to new at this, I can't even budge an inch. My Violin Teacher was a student of Jascha Heifetz. Beverly Somach. I have had 3 lessons with her so far. She is 82 years old now. She is a wonderful teacher and person to be around. I keep on having so many doubts about myself. Though she said I am making progress and catching on. I have to take a rest with my hands/arms during our lessons and last week she showed me pictures that she has of Jascha Heifetz and other famous violinist were she has it autographed... I asked her how she became Jascha Heifetz student. She told me that you would have to be a professional violinist for Him to even consider you. (She was already world re-noun at that time)
Thank you soo much! I'm making another go at the violin...one of the reasons I quit playing after middle school was because I couldn't do vibrato...I literally sucked. I'm wondering now if the problem was not so much less dedication to practice as being double jointed. Anyways, I'm currently waiting on my new violin, and searching around for violin tutorials and lessons to help refresh my memory on how to play, etc. Do you have any recommendations on where I can look to relearn how to read music and the various notes and type of notes?
Try my learn to read sheet music games from my site. fiddlerman.com/fiddle-learning-tools/violin-fingering-game/ fiddlerman.com/fiddle-learning-tools/rhythm-counting-game/
A 14" viola is like a full size violin so a regular full size violin shoulder-rest would work fine. You might want to order a shoulder-rest. Depends on your build though. Remember to keep the instrument up on your collar bone and hold it with your jaw rather than chin. This might allow you to hold comfortably and still get around with your hand. and arm.
I think that is the case for many. I don't know about normal. It's great if you can find the forward and back movement. Once you get it you'll see how easily you can vibrate. Finding that feeling is the tough part. Happens quickly for some and can take a long time for others.
Thanks for the condensed advice. I am getting back into practice from a 8 year slump. I studied for 10 years, and I just could not get the hang of virbrato. Even my pinky finger would just seize up and any attempt of virbrato would choke at that point, coming to a screeching halt.
Okay, this is going to sound strange, but I've been playing guitar and bass for 40 years and have no problem with wrist vibrato. In fact, when I'm really digging in for sustain on my guitar I use a fast sideways vibrato like on a violin. But... When I try to do vibrato on my electric viola (I just started playing about a week ago) I wind up using guitar-style finger vibrato i.e., fast wobble across the fretboard instead of back and forth along the string. Yeah, I'm pretty mixed up! Thanks for all your great videos!
LOL, different angle I guess. I'm thinking that the angle of your arm allows you to get around the guitar better than the viola. Can you experiment with your arm angle and see if you can get a better angle. Elbow more under the viola. If necessary, try a slightly different hold. Also, apply pressure more on the left side of your fingertips (left when looking at your fingers palms towards you)....
i sorta did it, but its hard for me because i am double jointed.my fingers dont roll as easily as i would like, but its more progress, most of the other videos just left me clueless... thanks u really helped me :)
Many players have calluses and it only means that you are building a protective cover for your fingertips. The only issue that you may have is that it could feel dry and slide a bit. I know many pros that have very hard strong calluses on their left hand fingertips. The soreness will diminish as your fingertips protect themselves in the near future.
Another really helpful tip is hanging your hand from your thumb by the neck and just let it swing back and fourth so you can get that vibrato motion and so you'll know what it feels like when you do accomplish vibrato. Vibrato is something people pick up easily, or people can have a really hard time with it. The hardest part is that if you learn it the wrong way, it'll be hard to break it so good luck to the new string players!
I was taught wrist vibrato and I have the following problem: Your hand needs to be really relaxed to do vibrato, so on some days my hand is relaxed and I'm successful. But on other days I just seem to not be able to do any kind of vibrato because my hand can't relax! Why is that and how can I change it? I tried doing the technique from this video but I wasn't successful either. HELP
+Melissa Dahmen It's an interesting phenomena. Yes, you need to relax to a certain extent but above all, not apply too much pressure or tension to the wrong parts of your arm/hand. Arm, hand, and finger vibrato are similar in one aspect, the motion in the fingers. Though with finger and wrist, the movement is much less and more suitable to classical non romantic music. You need to practice vibrato when you are not relaxed and vibrato is not working for you. Experiment with pressure, angles, speed, and try to reduce unnecessary tension.
Thanks, I appreciate that. Right now they are only in black but I am thinking about offering a white with black text option as well. Would that be better? Thanks
Great! Let me know how it goes. Don't expect it to come overnight. I tried to do it with my right hands by switching sides and there is no chance......
This is just what I needed! Straight & to the point! Only had my electric violin a few days & almost sent it back thinking it will be impossible to ever do vibrato! I'm a guitarist & have a mandolin, but violin seems like such a different world...It's like trying to write with the left hand! LOL Cheers dude!
LOL, I agree. Also, I've tried playing a left handed violin and it's almost impossible for me. Gives me an idea of how hard it would be to learn from scratch, and I know what I'm doing.
@@1stfiddlerman Gotta say Your vids are helping me the most. I subscribed to a lot of violin teacher channels last week, Sorry Ladies, but you yammer on too much! LOL You Sir get straight to the point & that's what I need! & you seem like a guy I could have a laugh with down the pub. Cheers man
thanks so much, i know i havent perfected this but i am no doubt getting better after practicing vibrato for a couple of days. i can perform the 'wailing' sound of the violin and the motion (form) as portrayed in this video but could still use some refining - regardless many thanks for the tips !!
@bongalis1 - If you are happy with your chinrest bring it to a luthier and ask them to build it up, or do it yourself. A carpenter can do it for you too. You may need longer screws (barrels) to make the new distance. I had mine built up one half inch. The Stuber is pretty tall to begin with.
@indykowa i have played for about 7 years and only started doing vibrato when i was doing grade 5. This was because you need to be comfortable with the notes before moving to vibrato. For that reason, i would definitely learn the placement of the fingers first. Hope this helps.
Hi Fiddlerman, I'm sure out of your thousands of comments you won't remember me haha. I commented a couple months ago asking on tips for performance anxiety and different exercises related to helping college auditions. Anyways, I did finish my college auditions and they went REALLY well! I got into 4/5 of the ones I auditioned for and had awesome scholarships offered. I'll be going to Lawrence University in Appleton Wisconsin, and will be studying violin performance in the Conservatory! Besides all that, I wanted to say thank you for your help and tips. I am watching this video because I am currently teaching my students vibrato, and I wanted to see other ways it was being taught. You have wonderful videos that have helped and inspired me alot. Thanks for being so dedicated to the violin and music. Warm regards, Lauren :)
Lauren Conley Thanks for getting back to me and letting me know how it went. Glad that you helping others as well. Happy that I was of some help. I'll remember you next time Lauren. :)
Thanks :-) Do you have a suggestion of a color that many others would like? I only thought of white because of the sun. Lot's of people want a cap that blocks the sun but is not too hot.
It's tough to be double jointed but with students that I had in the past who were double jointed, I had to have them play much more on the flat of the finger tips rather than erect on the fingertips. Try that and see how it works for you.
That can be a problem. I don't know if there are ways of keeping the pinky from bending back other than always keeping an angle on your pinky to avoid that. I know it's not easy. I've had double jointed students.
I have played guitar for thirty years, I am learning violin, moving fingers is easy after so long on guitar, intonation difficult but learning, but vibrato is something else, didn’t think something so simple on guitar, could be so difficult to achieve, it’s very frustrating and for me is one of the main differences between sounding good, irrespective of hitting bum notes, and sounding bad, at least with good vibrato you sound professional even when playing badly,😎
Thank you so much for this video!! I have one question regarding vibrato on violin. Whenever I pull back my fingers, my knuckles are always hitting the pegs. What am I still doing wrong and how should I correct this?? Thank you!!!
Maybe nothing wrong. I have the same problem when I vibrate wide. Try adjusting the E string peg so that it has the same angle as your finger when it is touching. Also, try vibrating more erect rather than as much with flat fingers.
Thanks for this video. I started playing violin very late as a hobby, and I am on Suzuki v. 6 and just starting to learn vibrato. I can have the hand motion without the violin, but as soon as I hold the violin, the wrist movement gets lost.
It's hard to explain but think baby steps. Any improvement will ultimately lead to a good vibrato. Move forward then back step by step until you can do it fluently. Speed will come automatically over time. Good luck!
Great video! It really helped me out and I've seen thousands of tutorials, I'm being autodidact right now, I just bought a violin and I hadn't played one in over 10 years and Im picking it up again eventually. I've been having an issue tho and I have no one to address it to, sometimes when I change from the D to the A string when I raise the finger off the fingerboard and bow the other note the prior note lingerss like the string vibrates or something and I dont know how to correct it, perhaps im pressing the fingerboard too hard or the otherway around. I just suscribed, thanks for sharing your great tips. Greetings from Mexico
I think you are right. Lift your finger slightly if it's not a desired effect. By keeping the finger on the string and just lifting a slightly bit you will be dampening the note.
You're very welcome, You will probably need to use more of the flat part of your fingers. This will give you a better angle for your fingers bending in the right direction. It's tougher for double jointed people but it works too. :-) Be patient and keep on working on it.
Fiddlerman, do you have any suggestions for some beginner songs that just sound pleasing? Perhaps something you still play? I am still fallowing my lessons but I generally like to end practice with something I enjoy.... and well amazing grace is about to fall into the twinkle twinkle little star file :^) and swallow tail jig is still out of my reach
I actually do a "Tune a Week" series which has a lot of those pieces. Perhaps not always the most simple but some of them definitely are not too difficult and I think they are fairly easy to make sound pleasing. :) fiddlerman.com/tutorials/a-tune-a-week/
When I' m doing vibrato really fast, do I need to make sure my joint is straightening out after every back-and-forth, or is it fine if my joint doesn't straighten out all the way if I'm going really fast? Thank you!
For allot of people the answer for a shaking violin is easy. Youre starting to early with it. When you have a teacher, he or she will never allow you to start doing vibrato to early (while I read allot of comments of people starting from the beginning, or few weeks in). Its to early when you still play with allot of tention. When you have allot of tention, you wont have the freedom in your hand to do vibrato. Also you need to be playing on your finger tips, else you cant role back. I'm now playing for a year and my teacher allowed me to start on vibrato and thaught me in it. Now, 2 months ahead, my teacher says the movement is very good and now I only have to speed it up. I can do like a 70% of fast vibrato speed with all fingers on all strings. So if you are ready, it wont feel like an impossible task, if it does then most likely youre not ready.
Hi teacher. I have a problem with vibrato after following all your videos: I can decently do it if pressing the violin on the wall, but once releasing it, I can't. Some advices please?
Perhaps the set up on your violin doesn't allow enough friction to hold the violin still. How are you holding your violin? You should have a bit of contact with your jaw and not too dry and slippery at that point.
You really are doing a great thing by helping people learn for free. Especially in todays world where music is mostly electronic and going downhill. So I just want to say, sincerely, thank you. And youre an awesome guy.
+musicisbrilliant Very kind of you to say that. I get the feeling that you are too!
Join our forum at: fiddlerman.com/forum
Fiddlerman 5 o&hhhhh
I notice you specify electronic and I'm just going to say a digital keyboard is much less expensive than an actual grand piano, and also lets me make midis of my music so I can modify it on my computer instead of hand writing countless measures.
Agreed, and I'm subscribing.
I've been trying to learn vibrato for 6 months! None of what anyone is saying was making sense. And then I watched this video. And now I understand it now, my hand is naturally picking up the motion, and it's clicking it's making sense! Thank you so so much.
You are very welcome. That is great news. Join my forum at fiddlerman.com/forum Great interaction from great members. Great way to stay motivated and meet others doing the same thing that you are.
Fiddlerman cool!! I'll check it out! And since this video I've been thinking about vibrato every day 😂 I was so confused for six whole months and now everything falls into place, all thanks to you!!
Why does this man explain it so clearly in 4 mins than others do in 12 mins 💀
This man really appreciates your kind words!!! Thanks
@@1stfiddlerman No, thank you! Now I have a teacher to surprise!
"Put the weight on the left side of the finger" -Best Vibrato Tip Ever
This helped me immediately to vibrate when before I could not.
Thank you for all that you do.
Exactly!!! Glad I could help.
True expert, can explain things in the simplest terms. Got it, thank you.
+maxxi11002244 Thanks :)
I realize this is an old video, but man, I was on the brink of a full meltdown trying to figure out how on earth this whole vibrato thing works. I've watched probably 50 different videos but it didn't click until this one.. Now I got it! THANK YOU! The calm, simple way you explain it is so easy to understand, and unlike a lot of the videos out there (and my violin teacher), you don't get stuck on the finger flexibility part, which for my double jointed self just confuses me more than it helps! Thank you again!
You are very welcome. Good luck on perfecting it. Takes time but gets easier. Check out my forum at fiddlerman.com/forum
I love how succinct and to the point FM's videos are. Every other violin UA-cam channel takes 10+ minutes to explain what he can in 2-4 minutes. Saves me lots of time, much appreciated!
Thank you so much for this video! I have been playing for ~4 years, and I can do literally every other technique (pizz, double/triple/quad stop, trills, harmonics, you name it) but not vibrato for whatever reason. This helped a lot!
Very happy to hear that this helped you. I have 3 or 4 more vibrato videos. :)
I just realized I'm watching violin tutorials without actually having played or owning the instrument...Guess I better buy one.
Sums up my life for the past three months lol, but I finally went out and got a Stentor 1500, great starter instrument, full outfit for 250$ CAD not sure what it is in USD.
FiddlerMan has great fiddles on his website. Full kits even. Might as well start where you are since you're already here 😉
You can also rent one. I am renting one for $36-$37 a month and it includes insurance. To buy my violin would cost me $850. Rent first then buy if you think your going to go the distance in learning the violin. That's what I am doing. I am just a beginner. I am on my 3rd lesson with my teacher.
hahahahaha
WOW, Just WOW.
Okay so how come when i attempt to vibrato i shake my violin and Everything including bow and sometimes myself? And it easier for me to wrist vibrato.
Wrist vibrato is fine. Everything shakes because you aren't focusing the motion in the right places. You may need a lesson to get on the right track.
xhristina * did you learn it
Thank you Fiddlerman, the last point about arm position has really helped me !
Many thanks sir .
Al
It took me a couple years to finally understand and get it..don't give up! i'm still working on it and I've played for 5 years.
Hello Fiddlerman! Don't know if you remember but awhile back I commented asking for help when I was struggling with my vibrato. Well I kept practicing and am happy to say I finally got my arm vibrato! It is not perfect but I am getting better each time, now I am working on my wrist vibrato which seems to be giving me a hard time. I just wanted to say a big thank you to and help from my orchestra teacher for helping me get to where I am today! Please continue making videos as I will be looking forward to watching them!
Yes, I remember. Congratulations :) I appreciate you taking the time to tell me this.
I'll do my best to make future videos.
I was watching Joseph Silverstein yesterday and his vibrato looked like a magic trick. You guys amaze me.
Silverstein is amazing. Love his Brahms. One of my favorites. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for posting these lesson videos, they really are appreciated. I am in the process of learning the Erhu, and its mostly self study because of the lack of teach it or play it here in the U.S. You bring a lot of good positive energy to your videos, and I sincerely want to thank you and wish you all the best!
thank you. I have been playing at my school for four years and what my teacher said never helped me at all. this is great! thank you again fiddlerman!
I hope I can vibrato properly. I've been playing for 2 years and cannot get it right. Thanks!!
Me too. Good luck! Thanks for watching.
sad
You're the most precise and least boring of all tuts I've seen on youtube so far. Good job, and thanks !
Thank you so much. I just watched this video 10 minutes ago and, my vibrato has already improved. God bless you sir, in the name of the Son of the One true living God, Jesus Christ.
I know this way of vibrato is the most correct one and the preferable one. But theres other violin teachers on youtube who's doing the "sideway" vibrato, which is alot easier than this way for me. But shouldn't it not matter? shouldn't the sound be the same ?
+SweDawgTv Honestly, if it works, is comfortable and sounds good, it's fine. Obviously you don't want to do anything which will create any negative physical issues for you in the future. There is good technique, bad technique, and technique that works but limits you. I suspect that you would be limited with the guitar type vibrato but what do I know. I've never tried it. :)
I also agree. I prefer to go sideways. But my teacher says I can't to it that way
Gameminer agreed
Exactly, I meant it as a recognition of talent and discipline. I would be very surprised if Fiddleman came from a background that allowed him to learn violin on a silver plate, and that's the point I wanted to get across. Mr. Fiddleman I tip my hat, you have a thick skin and I bet you had to earn your stripes. You have plenty to teach us besides playing violin. Sorry for any glitch in my English as it's not my native language.
haha this video helped me out about 2 years ago when I found this channel and now I'm playing Bach's violin concerto in a minor.
Very happy to hear it. :)
Thank you so much for the free videos! I just started learning to play a month ago and I want to start practicing vibrato as early as possible so I won't be wasting all those months I could be using to improve. Subscribed! :)
I can't thank you enough for all the instructions and tips that you provide. Thanks again, and take care.
thank you! I'm a beginner and teaching myself through online help such as you provide. a huge amount of gratitude to you and all the others who give freely the knowledge of playing this beautiful instrument.
It's my pleasure. Thanks so much for watching!!!
You are a wonderful wonderful man. Thank you for providing such helpful videos. You have helped my fiddle playing very much! Thank you! I hope good things come to you for your gift to strangers
Thank you so much Nicole, but great things come to me all the time. People are great, thankful and our new business (fiddlershop.com together with my son since 2012) is going great as well. :-)
Thanks for your support!!!
I think you have found your "calling", your video is so good.
I spent some minutes daily for 2 weeks before I was able to break the co-ordination "lockstep" between my left hand fingering and my right arm bowing.
Part way through this frustration I had the idea of pressing the scroll of the viola against a rectangular cork-surfaced notice board mounted on the wall (the type that accepts drawing pins). That solved one part of the problem. The other remedy is to avoid any stress on the finger.
Cello Videos, thats a great suggestion, thank you. Yes the Erhu or Chinese Violin, is nothing short of enchanting, it has its own unique magic to it, that once you fall in love with it, you can't let it go. Your vibrato videos really are great! The effort in explaining and showing how its done is fantastic. I can't compliment you enough or say thank you enough for the time you put into them and sharing them. Thank you so very much for what you are doing and have done.
I'm self taught violist, and I've had a hard time learning vibrato, I'd like to get into the advanced orchestra at my high school, and this video was a good starting point for me.
+Fiddlerman thanks for this. my Orch teacher didn't explain virbrato too well when I was a kid. Regretfully stopped playing now at thirty I want to teach my kids how to play. I loved Orchestra class and the violin, so much fun!💙❤♥🎻
You should start playing again with your kids. Expectations might be different now. :) You may find that you love it more now than ever before.
OK this looks to be a better way for me to learn vibrato than I've seen other techniques. As an added bonus I get to see various views of how the vibrato works. Was getting to think the finger(s) rapidly move up and down the string a short distance.
thanks for responding. ive played guitar for a while and have always wanted to play the violin since i bought a hilary hahn cd a while back but this viola is all i have available to me now. it's definitely more challenging than i had assumed.. for now i think a shoulder rest will def help me get more comfortable and maybe even a new chin rest... thanks again and i look forward to watching more of your videos
Thank you SO much for addressing the g-string difficulty; my wrist always hurts when I practice vibrato so far over, wasn't sure if I was doing something wrong
You are welcome!!!
Sorry for to star learning viola in mine 64th. However, I just want to congratulate U for the way you teach: eassy, well explained, and great motivational camera spot. Nada,! You are fantastic. From Puerto Rico, USA. Thanks U for share with us you experienced.Alfonso
Thanks so much for your kind words, and thanks for watching. How is it going for you?
@@1stfiddlerman thanks for asking. IAM doing so well and excited in this journey of fretless strings. I'm experienced lead and rhythm electric guitarist. See yeah,alfonso
@@fonsitosantoshernandez9125 Very cool. Please join my forum if you have time: fiddlerman.com/forum
Gracias amigo, muy buen trabajo. Thanks you friend, a excellent work. greetings!
I am glad it not against the rules Some body else's video suggested it was not good. I no longer have the problem . I place the ball of my left thumb forward or right side of the neck . It nudges and pivots the violin to my rear , my shoulder arrest the pivot travel and can correct the backward movement some, when the neck begins to slide off my thumb. I have excellent travel forward and backward along the neck. The slanted thumb ball replaces the lower index finger as the restrictive glide.
I've been trying to teach myself to do vibrato for a long time. This is a great drill for beginners.
Nice to hear. Thanks
You said it!😀😀😀
Oh my gosh thank you!!! I was having such a hard time trying to figure out how to do vibrato. This really helped me. Keep up the amazing work
Thanks so much for your comment Isabella. Glad that it helped. Join my forum at fiddlerman.com/forum for motivation.
started fiddle 2 weeks ago and i learned vibrato by watching videos and finally applying it when i play a tune hehe
I'm glad to hear it. That is very encouraging. Cheers!
Moyes_Guarulhos - São Paulo - BRAZIL. My difficulty is the hand of tension due to the position and Viola armrest but I will start the exercises based on techniques that you are teaching. excellent explanation. God bless.
Moyses S. Oliveira Hope it works for you. Let me know!
ive struggled with this for so long and your video helped so much. thank you much
Also, I had a student with a similar problem and was able to help him by having him do air vibrato with the left hand/arm while just going up and down with the right at various tempos.
Brilliant for me the first old guitar player learning your beautiful instrument!
You're one of my favorite people, Fiddlerman! Keep up the cause and great work!
Thanks janderson :-)
Thanks for your video. I followed your tips and at last I could made my first clean vibrato after 2 weeks. Your video was really useful.
+JGc G Very happy to hear that. Thanks
Doesn't matter. Good to be able to do both. Arm vibrato is usually used for slower wider vibrato where as wrist, hand, finger used for smaller faster vibrato.
Yea , I'm glad you pointed out how your swing your left arm forward in that uncomfortable contortions to reach the G. string. because thats breaking the rules . If I don't break the rules I'm going to break my wrist.. You got use to the feeling I'll will just have to accept the pain. Thanks for the illustration
Hey Fiddler man, I've been doing violin so far for 1 year and 3 months. I have been exceptional on my violin playing. For the little amount of time I've been playing, I was bumped up to advanced orchestra in school, and I also auditioned for honors and made it! I've been complimented on my skill for a long time now... I have always wanted to learn vibrato- I never could... I have always been very good at the violin, but no matter how much I try, I can't do it... My fingers feel very stiff and hard to move... I just can't seem to produce the slightest vibrate. I have been told by my teacher I have perfect posture and position, but it just takes practice. I've been trying for so long, but I can barely move my fingers and I don't know how to do it. Vibrato looks very natural, and I feel like I'm trying too hard... Do you have any input or advice? I would appreciate it! Thanks!! :)
+Emily L. Please join our forum at Fiddlerman.com/forum
Make a video for me to analyze and post the link to me. I'll help you. Congratulations on your great advances. Sounds great.
Ive watched tons and TONS of videos on vibrao and yours was the only one that helped. thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fantastic Instruction.!!! I will have to try that. I'm very brand new and I told my teacher that I am worried about Vibrato (Which I am not even close to doing that-But I told her that I'm worried that I will never be able to do Vibrato.) Well this video show me that I can move my fingers that way!!!!! I'll let you know once I try it.....
Thanks so much!
Remember that Rome was not built overnight. LOL
You'll get it but think, baby steps forward. Now if you get it much quicker, all the best to you.
I Just tried it. I am WAY to new at this, I can't even budge an inch. My Violin Teacher was a student of Jascha Heifetz. Beverly Somach. I have had 3 lessons with her so far. She is 82 years old now. She is a wonderful teacher and person to be around. I keep on having so many doubts about myself. Though she said I am making progress and catching on. I have to take a rest with my hands/arms during our lessons and last week she showed me pictures that she has of Jascha Heifetz and other famous violinist were she has it autographed... I asked her how she became Jascha Heifetz student. She told me that you would have to be a professional violinist for Him to even consider you. (She was already world re-noun at that time)
im still amazed by how fast your vibrato is
Thanks, and thanks for watching!!!
Fiddlerman no problem. Thanks for being helpful
Thank you soo much! I'm making another go at the violin...one of the reasons I quit playing after middle school was because I couldn't do vibrato...I literally sucked. I'm wondering now if the problem was not so much less dedication to practice as being double jointed. Anyways, I'm currently waiting on my new violin, and searching around for violin tutorials and lessons to help refresh my memory on how to play, etc. Do you have any recommendations on where I can look to relearn how to read music and the various notes and type of notes?
Try my learn to read sheet music games from my site.
fiddlerman.com/fiddle-learning-tools/violin-fingering-game/
fiddlerman.com/fiddle-learning-tools/rhythm-counting-game/
A 14" viola is like a full size violin so a regular full size violin shoulder-rest would work fine.
You might want to order a shoulder-rest. Depends on your build though. Remember to keep the instrument up on your collar bone and hold it with your jaw rather than chin. This might allow you to hold comfortably and still get around with your hand. and arm.
I think that is the case for many. I don't know about normal. It's great if you can find the forward and back movement. Once you get it you'll see how easily you can vibrate. Finding that feeling is the tough part. Happens quickly for some and can take a long time for others.
Thanks for the condensed advice. I am getting back into practice from a 8 year slump. I studied for 10 years, and I just could not get the hang of virbrato. Even my pinky finger would just seize up and any attempt of virbrato would choke at that point, coming to a screeching halt.
Enjoy the restart :) You are very welcome. Join our forum at Fiddlerman.com/forum.
I just started playing a violin and your videos are extremely helpful thank you! You rock Fiddler Man!!!!
Thanks Mark!
Okay, this is going to sound strange, but I've been playing guitar and bass for 40 years and have no problem with wrist vibrato. In fact, when I'm really digging in for sustain on my guitar I use a fast sideways vibrato like on a violin. But...
When I try to do vibrato on my electric viola (I just started playing about a week ago) I wind up using guitar-style finger vibrato i.e., fast wobble across the fretboard instead of back and forth along the string. Yeah, I'm pretty mixed up!
Thanks for all your great videos!
LOL, different angle I guess. I'm thinking that the angle of your arm allows you to get around the guitar better than the viola. Can you experiment with your arm angle and see if you can get a better angle. Elbow more under the viola. If necessary, try a slightly different hold. Also, apply pressure more on the left side of your fingertips (left when looking at your fingers palms towards you)....
Fiddlerman
Thanks! That helped.
i sorta did it, but its hard for me because i am double jointed.my fingers dont roll as easily as i would like, but its more progress, most of the other videos just left me clueless... thanks u really helped me :)
Many players have calluses and it only means that you are building a protective cover for your fingertips. The only issue that you may have is that it could feel dry and slide a bit. I know many pros that have very hard strong calluses on their left hand fingertips. The soreness will diminish as your fingertips protect themselves in the near future.
This is by far the best explanation/example Ive come across, thank you so much :)
Thanks Alex! Are you learning to use vibrato? Is it coming along for you?
Another really helpful tip is hanging your hand from your thumb by the neck and just let it swing back and fourth so you can get that vibrato motion and so you'll know what it feels like when you do accomplish vibrato. Vibrato is something people pick up easily, or people can have a really hard time with it. The hardest part is that if you learn it the wrong way, it'll be hard to break it so good luck to the new string players!
I was taught wrist vibrato and I have the following problem: Your hand needs to be really relaxed to do vibrato, so on some days my hand is relaxed and I'm successful. But on other days I just seem to not be able to do any kind of vibrato because my hand can't relax! Why is that and how can I change it? I tried doing the technique from this video but I wasn't successful either. HELP
+Melissa Dahmen It's an interesting phenomena. Yes, you need to relax to a certain extent but above all, not apply too much pressure or tension to the wrong parts of your arm/hand. Arm, hand, and finger vibrato are similar in one aspect, the motion in the fingers. Though with finger and wrist, the movement is much less and more suitable to classical non romantic music. You need to practice vibrato when you are not relaxed and vibrato is not working for you. Experiment with pressure, angles, speed, and try to reduce unnecessary tension.
Thanks, I appreciate that. Right now they are only in black but I am thinking about offering a white with black text option as well. Would that be better? Thanks
Question:
Usually, you use arm vibrato when shifting pretty high and wrist when normal right?
And when do you use finger?
I played violin for years and never could figure vibrato out. I always felt my hands weren't made to do it. I am gonna attempt your methods.
Great! Let me know how it goes. Don't expect it to come overnight. I tried to do it with my right hands by switching sides and there is no chance......
This is just what I needed! Straight & to the point! Only had my electric violin a few days & almost sent it back thinking it will be impossible to ever do vibrato! I'm a guitarist & have a mandolin, but violin seems like such a different world...It's like trying to write with the left hand! LOL Cheers dude!
LOL, I agree. Also, I've tried playing a left handed violin and it's almost impossible for me. Gives me an idea of how hard it would be to learn from scratch, and I know what I'm doing.
@@1stfiddlerman Gotta say Your vids are helping me the most. I subscribed to a lot of violin teacher channels last week, Sorry Ladies, but you yammer on too much! LOL You Sir get straight to the point & that's what I need! & you seem like a guy I could have a laugh with down the pub. Cheers man
@@huskvnj If I get back to making videos, I'll try to yammer even less. :)
Cheers
Thank you! Very helpful to see the closeup motion of the fingers & hand.
Glad that it helped.
thanks so much, i know i havent perfected this but i am no doubt getting better after practicing vibrato for a couple of days. i can perform the 'wailing' sound of the violin and the motion (form) as portrayed in this video but could still use some refining - regardless many thanks for the tips !!
Thank you Mr Fiddler Man. I'm not there yet but you give me hope !
Your learning. Técnic are amazing. Thanks for share. Grettings from Ciudad de México.
Thanks so much. :)
FM, Thanks for this extra video on how to do vibrato, this one is definitely for me! I'll start incorporating some vibrato in my practice sessions.
@bongalis1 - If you are happy with your chinrest bring it to a luthier and ask them to build it up, or do it yourself. A carpenter can do it for you too. You may need longer screws (barrels) to make the new distance. I had mine built up one half inch. The Stuber is pretty tall to begin with.
That was the best overview I've seen so far! On vibrato! Thanks!
Thanks Mark. I appreciate the comment.
Takes time to learn. If you work at it long enough it can just begin to work all of a sudden.
I seriously needed this video. Thanks FM
Glad to hear that I was of help.
I used a Vibrator on my violin
Gotta say the vibrato was phenomenal!
Great video! This taught me the basics and was instructive without rambling, thank you!
This helps so much! thanks for posting. My class is huge and its hard to get help on the little things. So thanks again!
+Tashianna Patterson You are very welcome.
thx man this was really helpfull because you told which virbrato you were going to use and just strait to the point thx so much
+Oscar Morales You are very welcome. :)
@indykowa i have played for about 7 years and only started doing vibrato when i was doing grade 5. This was because you need to be comfortable with the notes before moving to vibrato. For that reason, i would definitely learn the placement of the fingers first. Hope this helps.
Hi Fiddlerman,
I'm sure out of your thousands of comments you won't remember me haha. I commented a couple months ago asking on tips for performance anxiety and different exercises related to helping college auditions. Anyways, I did finish my college auditions and they went REALLY well! I got into 4/5 of the ones I auditioned for and had awesome scholarships offered. I'll be going to Lawrence University in Appleton Wisconsin, and will be studying violin performance in the Conservatory! Besides all that, I wanted to say thank you for your help and tips. I am watching this video because I am currently teaching my students vibrato, and I wanted to see other ways it was being taught. You have wonderful videos that have helped and inspired me alot. Thanks for being so dedicated to the violin and music.
Warm regards,
Lauren :)
Lauren Conley Thanks for getting back to me and letting me know how it went. Glad that you helping others as well. Happy that I was of some help. I'll remember you next time Lauren. :)
thanks a lot; i just have a question when u're doing vibrato for one finger u vibrate all the other 3 fingers too idk how u do it and if it's a must?
Best video on vibrato that I've seen....thank you!
I love your videos, direct to the point and so energetic!! keep them coming, please; and thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the kind words. I'll get back to making videos soon when I free up some time.
Thanks :-) Do you have a suggestion of a color that many others would like? I only thought of white because of the sun. Lot's of people want a cap that blocks the sun but is not too hot.
im double jointed😂😭😅🎻
no, you're just very flexible.
It's tough to be double jointed but with students that I had in the past who were double jointed, I had to have them play much more on the flat of the finger tips rather than erect on the fingertips. Try that and see how it works for you.
My pinkie bends inward, so when I'm auditioning in front of the whole class I'm really self conscious about my pinkie when doing fourth fingers 😆😅
That can be a problem. I don't know if there are ways of keeping the pinky from bending back other than always keeping an angle on your pinky to avoid that. I know it's not easy. I've had double jointed students.
same
I have played guitar for thirty years, I am learning violin, moving fingers is easy after so long on guitar, intonation difficult but learning, but vibrato is something else, didn’t think something so simple on guitar, could be so difficult to achieve, it’s very frustrating and for me is one of the main differences between sounding good, irrespective of hitting bum notes, and sounding bad, at least with good vibrato you sound professional even when playing badly,😎
Hope this helps. :)
Thank you so much for this video!!
I have one question regarding vibrato on violin. Whenever I pull back my fingers, my knuckles are always hitting the pegs. What am I still doing wrong and how should I correct this?? Thank you!!!
Maybe nothing wrong. I have the same problem when I vibrate wide. Try adjusting the E string peg so that it has the same angle as your finger when it is touching. Also, try vibrating more erect rather than as much with flat fingers.
Thanks for this video. I started playing violin very late as a hobby, and I am on Suzuki v. 6 and just starting to learn vibrato. I can have the hand motion without the violin, but as soon as I hold the violin, the wrist movement gets lost.
It's hard to explain but think baby steps. Any improvement will ultimately lead to a good vibrato. Move forward then back step by step until you can do it fluently. Speed will come automatically over time. Good luck!
Great video! It really helped me out and I've seen thousands of tutorials, I'm being autodidact right now, I just bought a violin and I hadn't played one in over 10 years and Im picking it up again eventually. I've been having an issue tho and I have no one to address it to, sometimes when I change from the D to the A string when I raise the finger off the fingerboard and bow the other note the prior note lingerss like the string vibrates or something and I dont know how to correct it, perhaps im pressing the fingerboard too hard or the otherway around. I just suscribed, thanks for sharing your great tips. Greetings from Mexico
I think you are right. Lift your finger slightly if it's not a desired effect. By keeping the finger on the string and just lifting a slightly bit you will be dampening the note.
Thanks for responding :)
You're very welcome,
You will probably need to use more of the flat part of your fingers. This will give you a better angle for your fingers bending in the right direction. It's tougher for double jointed people but it works too. :-) Be patient and keep on working on it.
I love your content, you give a great and easy to understand explanation. Thank you!
I appreciate that. Thanks so much for the comment and support!
Fiddlerman, do you have any suggestions for some beginner songs that just sound pleasing? Perhaps something you still play? I am still fallowing my lessons but I generally like to end practice with something I enjoy.... and well amazing grace is about to fall into the twinkle twinkle little star file :^) and swallow tail jig is still out of my reach
I actually do a "Tune a Week" series which has a lot of those pieces. Perhaps not always the most simple but some of them definitely are not too difficult and I think they are fairly easy to make sound pleasing. :)
fiddlerman.com/tutorials/a-tune-a-week/
When I' m doing vibrato really fast, do I need to make sure my joint is straightening out after every back-and-forth, or is it fine if my joint doesn't straighten out all the way if I'm going really fast? Thank you!
For allot of people the answer for a shaking violin is easy. Youre starting to early with it. When you have a teacher, he or she will never allow you to start doing vibrato to early (while I read allot of comments of people starting from the beginning, or few weeks in). Its to early when you still play with allot of tention. When you have allot of tention, you wont have the freedom in your hand to do vibrato. Also you need to be playing on your finger tips, else you cant role back. I'm now playing for a year and my teacher allowed me to start on vibrato and thaught me in it. Now, 2 months ahead, my teacher says the movement is very good and now I only have to speed it up. I can do like a 70% of fast vibrato speed with all fingers on all strings. So if you are ready, it wont feel like an impossible task, if it does then most likely youre not ready.
@221Dw - Great observation. I do the same thing when I play Bach, tighter faster vibrato. There is definitely a technique to play that way.
Straight to the point! Practical one. Love it. Thanks!
You are very welcome. Thanks for watching!
I can vibrato now after watching this video a couple of times thanks for this vid it really helped
Music to my ears. Thanks so much for sharing that!!!
Wow amazing lesson I like this one the best one I got better with. Going to keep going for my lessons. Thanks
U Da MANNNNN!!!!! Thanks Henry!
Hi teacher. I have a problem with vibrato after following all your
videos: I can decently do it if pressing the violin on the wall, but
once releasing it, I can't. Some advices please?
Perhaps the set up on your violin doesn't allow enough friction to hold the violin still. How are you holding your violin? You should have a bit of contact with your jaw and not too dry and slippery at that point.