I can't do vibrato on a violin, is it normal?

59% Normal
8 Comments

Hi there, i've been playing the violin since I was 10 years old. just last year I discovered that playing the violin requires vibrato, which is the fast vibrating sound you can do to a violin. I've attempted it alot of times and my wrist just won't move to create that effect. The closest I can get to vibrato is tapping my fingers on the string at a very small scale. Is it normal for a person like me to have some sort of wrist muscle limitation?

and if i do the tapping method, will people judge me for having lousy violin skills?

Voting Results
59% Normal
Based on 37 votes (22 yes)
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Comments ( 8 )
  • dustybubbles
    11 years ago

    I can't do it with my wrist but I just shake my finger on the string without lifting it off and no one can tell a difference.

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    • bbrown20
      7 years ago

      I do this same thing! Since I only play for fun and I've gotten numerous compliments on my vibrato (heck, my vibrato was considered better than all of my high school classmates' and judges at competitions never gave it much thought that I didn't do the "professional" technique), who cares if it doesn't look right? The sound is all that matters!

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  • anti-hero
    11 years ago

    Tapping is not prefered but exceptable in casual situations.

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    • bbrown20
      7 years ago

      I do this and get a better sound than when I attempt the "right" way. Since I only play for fun, it doesn't matter much to me.

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  • bbrown20
    7 years ago

    I do the same as @dustybubbles, I just wiggle my fingers on the string. I don't know if it's because I broke my wrist in 1997 and it's never been quite the same or if I'm just too impatient to actually learn the right way when I and multiple others are very satisfied with my "improper" vibrato anyway (if it ain't broke, don't fix it!), but I've never really been able to get a good vibrato when trying the "proper" way. It may be because I am right handed and so my left hand doesn't get enough use to produce a great vibrato that way as well. But if you only play for fun like I do, I think all that matters is that you like the sound. Heck, even when I performed in high school, no one really said anything about my improper technique because it sounded good. Even my private violin teacher didn't seem to think it was an issue, and neither did my high school orchestra teacher, or any judges.

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  • Avant-Garde
    10 years ago

    Perhaps, you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I hear that it is a common condition among violinists.

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  • [Old Memory]
    10 years ago

    I can't do it either, it makes me so frustrated. If you reach a breakthrough, let me know!

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  • 1000yrVampireKing
    11 years ago

    I do not know what vibrato is but Violin is a very beautiful instrument.

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