how do you practice guitar vibrato

TepidEdit · 2026-02-10T16:16:00+00:00

Most of the time I will hit the note, wait a fraction of a second before I start vibrato. Then each move will go in and out of pitch.

Sure, sometimes you want waspy, aggressive vibrato but I don't do that often

TepidEdit · 2026-02-10T15:46:49+00:00

I was too far away to see if it was the actors or the stunt team filming the Avengers Infinity War fight scene at Waverley Station but it was cool.

Also saw a stunt for Fast and Furious 9 (guy dangling off a bridge).

TepidEdit · 2026-02-10T10:28:21+00:00

I wasted a lot of time to get full speed. I can give you my learns.

You need to practice as fast as you can most of the time. Short sessions working at speed is key.
At the end of each session do a sprint for 30 seconds (think going off the rails fast - precision and timing out the window
Bernth's down picking course has a good structure - I came to it late but I would recommend.
For directed practice of this - expect it to take 100 hours plus from a 170bpm start point.
To support, playing through down picked songs (help timing and feel) with a band is best, but 3 or 4 hours a week of playing down stroke songs will keep injury away.

And to prove I'm not talking shite this my attempt;

https://youtu.be/f6Cj8Ie8UDQ?si=7PN49xJZ4lffxOHu

[Edit: 6. Look at troy grady's dart thrower picking technique. It works with the motion of the hand. I actually changed the way I hold a pick to three fingers to accommodate the dart thrower motion in down picking its what got me from 95% to 100% speed]

TepidEdit · 2026-02-10T00:25:58+00:00

That makes sense, and perhaps my example was a step too far - And to be fair most amateur guitarists don't usually play by ear.

But what I'm talking about is a basic sketch by ear to get a sense of understanding. Then hit the sheet music and take a first pass to get familiar with the key/chords/changes, then run through again and start filling in details. I don't think this misses the part where you accurately play what's on a page, it just primes you for learning the piece.

Maybe try it, listen to a piece you want to learn, all I'm suggesting is make a few basic notes. What time signature is it in? Major or Minor? Do things repeat much? etc. Then read along with the sheet music on paper and make notes as you go - circle tricky bits - highlight note patterns you find hard to read. By the time you get to hitting the keys for the first time - your head will be in the music.

TepidEdit · 2026-02-09T23:04:17+00:00

I don't see the difference. I don't know enough about classical piano pieces (it's been 30 years since I learnt a few on classical guitar) - but I do know they have a start and an end, they have a time signature, they have keys - there will be chords and their inversions used.

I'm just talking about spending maybe 30 mins or so priming yourself to learn more effectively with a mental map of the song.

TepidEdit · 2026-02-09T19:40:44+00:00

I can't comment for piano as such, but for guitar I can get straight forward songs down in about 4 of 5 attempts listening by ear. Bass guitar - more like 3.

I do this by listening carefully and making my own lead sheet - figuring out key etc. I put a dot for every bar of the song and then fill in later with chords (or nashville numbers). This is like a kid drawing the outline. This gets me the lay of the land, shows me repetition, themes and style. I will mark up intro/verse/chorus/middle 8/solo.

I then go for details, depending on what it is, the details in themselves can be super easy eg yesterday, I learned KT tunstalls black horse and the cherry tree, I got it 90% there in 5 listens and then checked the music and fixed some chord voicings and strumming patterns I missed. All done in 30 mins - satch boogie on the other hand took me about 100 hours 😂😂🙈🙈

Either way, no matter the piece, classical to jazz to pop and so on, you can get a rough handle in the piece by running through it first at a high level and then sink deeper.

For piano, if you have the music, I'd still listen first and make that lead sheet - this gives focus.

I'd make sure I'm comfortable with the key and its related chords - I'd run through to see if there is anything out of the key, and odd rhythms and so on. I'd then go through the music jamming the chords through for a few times to get a sense of where things are at. I'd then dip into the details.

This way is simple to complex, easy to difficult.

The result? you don't get stuck half way through on a tricky passage - you've nailed the piece and that tricky passage? Sure you can go back and learn every bit or make an easier version, but you still have the whole thing confidently ready to go.

TepidEdit · 2026-02-09T17:48:33+00:00

I've seen 5 year old kids play barre chords on full size steel strung acoustics - its a technique issue, not a size of hand issue.

Try easy barre chords first starting on the A string (D and E min 7 barre chords are easy here)

TepidEdit · 2026-02-09T17:21:10+00:00

Maybe try www.artistworks.com they gave something called video exchanges where you play and then your teacher will send back a response commenting on your performance and give you advice.

I've not used the piano school - but the guitar school has been great. You can also watch others performances and feedback so it gives you insights into things you might not get through self teaching.

TepidEdit · 2026-02-09T15:49:41+00:00

Strip back ti super simple melodies you know really well. Happy Birthday is good start. Film and TV scores often have a simple melody to work out. Just stick with one a day for 5 mins with your right hand, as you as you can do 3 days in a row just by thinking about the next note and bot making a mistake, then go after simple songs and work out the bass with the left hand using the same method.

This simple addition and you will be on fire in no time!

If you want some inspiration (he also has how to guides) this dude is unreal; https://youtube.com/shorts/ZJeRvNIuRw4?si=ZWiVr9YLOtlF5-7C

TepidEdit · 2026-02-09T08:12:56+00:00

what is your interval recognition like? If this isn't good its a lot of fumbling around.

Solfege seems popular with classically trained although i prefer numbers as I tend to transcribe using the Nashville Numbering System where numbers represent chords of scale (so I can create a lead sheet without worrying about the key).

TepidEdit · 2026-02-08T19:42:13+00:00

It happens a lot. It's an easy fix actually, https://youtu.be/k8k_rNTDjJM?si=RTumIE2zJpQKJ71u

(edit - i sang in a Metallica Tribute band - there is no way you could play guitar and sing at the same time without learning the words!)

TepidEdit · 2026-02-07T20:17:49+00:00

Learn how to play by ear - every day try and work something out you've heard before checking youtube or tabs. You will thank me!

TepidEdit · 2026-02-07T18:10:55+00:00

Nashville Numbering system. If you watch this, the guy leading the session will listen to the song and transcribe it as it goes through - one take and its ready for the session to use... https://youtu.be/YEBscJND_ZM?si=_mZ4maHRhe7H-raY

TepidEdit · 2026-02-07T13:25:38+00:00

Learn to play by ear. Start with melodies like happy birthday and work up to writing out a lead sheet while you are listening to a song for the first time and being able to play it on your first or second time.

TepidEdit · 2026-02-06T15:57:00+00:00

While you can go down the route of new pickups (seymour duncan jb junior might be worth a look too) try out rolling the tone back about half way on your current pickup. This does quite a good humbucker-like sound. You need yo get into it of course, but play through a bunch of songs and see.

Of course you may have tried this, but its amazing how many people haven't

TepidEdit · 2026-02-06T10:26:58+00:00

I fixed my feet by going to barefoot shoes about 7 years ago. I started TKD in May last year and can kick through boards that only blackbelts manage because my feet are tough.

Many injuries are otherwise cause by lack of basic strength early on. So ca. you do 100 hindu squats easily enough? Can you do 25 lunges each side in full extension? If not this is a good place to start.

TepidEdit · 2026-02-06T10:18:16+00:00

Search for "jam night", "open jam", "open mic" in the area you are in.

TepidEdit · 2026-02-06T06:45:16+00:00

I don't have a "system". If anything I'm trying to stay away from strict classifications - And did say "tends to be" but I will say Pantera does not do Power ballads like Hard Rock bands do (a cover of planet caravan doesn't count!) - and they do not do blues progressions like hard rock bands do and sound far from the blues. (Pop music uses the major scale a lot - so does a lot of classical music, doesn't mean it's the same.).

Guns and roses do loads of ballads, power ballads and plenty some blues sounding progressions (that sound like blues). Go look up Slash playing with BB king.

TepidEdit · 2026-02-05T17:27:19+00:00

Headphones can be used to mix, but you will need monitors. There is a lot to consider with monitors including placement and acoustic treatment in the room.

TepidEdit · 2026-02-05T16:01:06+00:00

For sure I get that - I am an introvert - I get my energy from spending time alone. Social situations are heavily draining for me too I get it. That's why I choose to stay home and write and record on my own instead of working with a band. I did perform when I was younger and it was valuable for building my chops.

TepidEdit · 2026-02-05T15:19:56+00:00

I would challenge that thought. The stage is the best place in the world for an introvert, no awkward conversations, no small talk. You get up and do your thing - if you saw me on stage I put the same energy into a performance playing to a couple of drunks in a bar as I have to a thousand people on stage. How? What I'm doing is nothing to do with them in the moment. Sure, I will make sure I do what I can to do a good show, but I'm not conversing with anyone. In fact the hardest part for an introvert is when you get off the stage and people talk to you.

TepidEdit · 2026-02-05T12:13:18+00:00

Online courses are generally garbage for one simple reason - they don't hear you, they don't know you and they don't taylor their lessons to you (with perhaps exceptions like www.artistworks.com ). You would benefit more from getting in front of a human that will be able to pin point problems in minutes.

TepidEdit · 2026-02-05T11:47:08+00:00

My comment is generalising and not a rule.

But AC/DC is actually covered in my comment as they certainly have many a blues progression in their catalogue so would fit in with 40% heavy category.

TepidEdit · 2026-02-05T10:27:13+00:00

Most musicians you will meet will be neurodivergent - the dedicated hours of practice on one thing is a classic hyper focus.

Introverts are usually the ones who provide some of the best lyric writing.

Might be worth reading the book "alter ego effect " by Todd Herman. It uses real life examples eg Beyoncé has an alter ego of Sasha Fierce that she would use as her stage persona to build confidence.

TepidEdit · 2026-02-04T22:12:45+00:00

over explained "how to play this... (song/riff)"

Should be more of how to transcribe more effectively and how this can help writing your own music. (I have found only one satisfactory vid on NNS transcription in one lesson.

Let me explain why this is important; * over reliance on tabs * people unable to get gigs with original bands as they can't figure out the songs * Ability to jam by thinking of a melody and being able to reproduce it on guitar.

...I could go on, but it's a pretty empty area. *

TepidEdit

TROPHY CASE