For this issue’s ‘improve your’ topic, Simon Barnard flexes his fingers to show how finger vibrato adds individuality to your technique.
Finger vibrato is one of the most emotive and expressive techniques in a guitarist’s tool kit. More often than not, a player’s approach to vibrato separates them from others, and can add a distinct and often identifiable signature to their playing.
There are many ways of applying finger vibrato, from the subtle horizontal approach used by classical guitarists to a full on wide rock vibrato, where the fretting-hand wrist is employed to create a wild and thrilling sound. The ability to use vibrato, unlike on a piano, makes the guitar an incredibly expressive instrument, able to mimic the human voice, wavering between pitches without being bound to the interval of a semitone. The ability to employ microtones within one’s playing is one of the most expressive tools out there.
There are many guitarists, past and present, who are known for having their own distinct sound when it comes to vibrato. Take BB King and Albert Collins who used vibrato to add a lyrical and highly emotive sound to their blues lines. Similarly, David Gilmour brings his own personal touch to his guitar strings to add a vocal-like quality to his solos. Players such as Zakk Wylde and Synyster Gates use a wild and wide style of vibrato to add high levels of excitement to their shredding. Listen to your favourite guitarists and notice how finger vibrato is very personal; you can even tell one player from the next by their vibrato.
When using vibrato on an electric guitar, there are a couple of main approaches to the technique. Often, the first and third fingers are used to create vibrato, but all digits should be able to apply it. As vibrato shares its technique with string bending, you should be able to add vibrato in both upwards a
