Vibrato

The main purpose of vibrato is to add warmth to a note to your music. Worth noting is that it is an effect added to a note itself. Slight variations in pitch are a common byproduct. Consequently, these discrepancies produce huge changes in the directional patterns of a radiated signal. In turn, these add a shimmer to any given sound. The aim of the directional effect is to interact with the room acoustics and add a sparkle to the sound.

An Effect for All Music Styles

Although vibrato is an effect you can add to a particular note, it is also an essential part of all music styles. It’s practically impossible for performers to play without this effect—and several popular players have proved it. Many famous musicians, such as the jazz tenor sax player Coleman Hawkins, have had a hard time playing without this effect. Moreover, many classical performers, including singers and string players, face the same conflict. In sum, the vibrato effect provides the musician with complete control over their technique.

Vibrato: What It Does

The vibrato effect adds warmth and life to a musical piece. The width and frequency of the vibrato, as well as their evolution over time, are essential components that should be considered. It usually helps an instrument or voice to sound out when playing within a group. By varying the pitch, a single note is able to use a wider range of the frequency spectrum. Producers tend to use vibrato to cover small pitch errors. The reason is that it is easy to perceive a stable pitched sound when it’s out of tune. Nevertheless, this technique is not the best musical practice.

Overall Considerations

Because the LFO works at a constant rate and width, in spite of the musical material, vibrato effect is not as flexible as one would think. In addition, the simple implementation does not synch appropriately of beginnings and endings of particular notes. In sum, at times, the performer’s natural vibrato tends to be better. Even a fixed-frequency vibrato might add warmth and body to any given sound, especially when used with resonance.