My exhale feels and sounds good to me, but when I inhale (I lift my pinky) it feels and sounds stilted/less smooth. Does anyone have any impressions, feedback, or suggestions for an advanced beginner/intermediate? Any input would be much appreciated. Thank you:)
It sounds like when you first hit the draw notes it takes you a little to start the vibrato. (Or maybe that's how you meant to play it.) If that's what you are talking about, I can hear it a bit. You hit a bit of the next note over the first time too. The rate of pulsing was a little faster on the blow vibrato. I picked up a harp and noticed that if I start a draw note quietly it's a little harder for me to get the vibrato going quickly, especially if I'm doing throat vibrato. Of course if you want to build into a note you have to start quiet. Huh. I hadn't really noticed that little quirk to vibrato. I wonder if that's because I usually switch to first position for pieces with a lot of vibrato (meaning the key notes I'm likely to be vibrato-ing are mostly blows)?
So, to answer your question, I can hear a little difference. Your blow vibrato seems to have a quicker attack and a slightly faster pulse.
1: you have to keep at it, as it takes more time to gain better control over the technique. You're off and running, though.
2: As you master your vibrato, always remember that not every note needs vibrato. Many harp players apply the technique to every note, but true control is when (IMO) you turn it on and off at will.
3: I'm not sure, as this is an iPhone speaker, but you may be breathing in a way that thins your tone a little. I can't tell for sure, so just take it as a general comment to remember staying open and breathing down/using diaphragm muscles, etc. ---------- 12gagedan's YouTube Channel
It sounds good. It took me a good while to get to that level. One thing though...You end the video by removing the harp from your mouth followed by a large exhale.
If your lungs are loading up, maybe your harp has some leakage, making you suck more air. A leaky harp or poorly gapped reeds will make it more difficult to get the draw vibrato started up - Is that the slight delay I'm hearing on the draw vibrato, or is that the way you want to play it?
The key is to just keep playing and soon your vibrato will melt to a smooth, buttery waver.
Last Edited by on Jul 14, 2012 8:58 AM
Wow, Dan! MASSIVE improvement from the last time I heard you play! I can tell you have really been working on that vibrato... You gotten yourself there, man! Now, all it takes is time for those "vibrato muscles" to toughen up, and you'll be able to start and stop it on a dime! There's some great advice in this thread, btw, and it will help you get better. But you've really nailed the basic technique, and now you just need to work it in to your playing. Try playing at different tempos, and timing the interval of your vibrato to match the song tempo. Do a slow blues with a nice languid pace, and stretch out that vibrato. Play a fast jump blues and really try to make it rapid fire! Try accenting every other pulse with a push from the diaphragm. Then, once you've got that, do triplets. Then try other polyrythmic patterns... Laying down on your back and putting a hand on your chest while you do this will really help you to "feel" what you are doing and to concentrate on getting the accents in time with the pulse of the vibrato...
But yeah, you're there man! Congrats! ---------- ====== I S A A C ======
12gagedan: your second point is so true!!! I struggled with my vibrato but when I got it,I applied it on almost every note! Without thinking about it. So now I'm working hard on not using it to much.
As we say in Norway: If the cow is not sick,the milkmaid is fat! Don't know if that makes sense to you yanks :)
I like your draw fine. I think you've got it! I will tell you, it took me around 4 years to develop a nice vibrato and 23 years later it is much better than that. What I mean is, is takes a long time and will continue to evolve.
WOW! Thank you guys/gals so much for the helpful, detailed, and encouraging feedback. Sometimes I really get blown away with how helpful the web community/people I've never even met (except for Isaac whom I've been VERY fortunate to have been able to learn from) can be. All of your comments have inspired me to revisit my vibrato with renewed focus, direction, energy. Again, thank you so much. Dan
