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Understanding
VIBRATO

WHAT IS VIBRATO?

Vibrato is a slight variation of pitch resulting from the free oscillation
of the vocal cords. This free oscillation of the vocal cords results from
several factors occurring at the same moment:
1 - an open larynx, free of tensions
2 - a healthy, smooth and free closure of the vocal cords
3 - an even sub-glottic breath pressure regulated by the support
system which involves abdominal, lumber, intercostal and
pectoral muscles.

HOW DO I DEVELOP IT IN MY VOICE?

Healthy vibrato can be achieved with concentration, proper exercises and by embracing the
process rather than the result. Patience is a most important aspect while training and
balancing vocal production.
This process depends on the singer’s mind/body coordination and may take from 6 months
to 6 years.
1 - Sustained “hiss” sound can help the singer learn what muscles to use in order to
hold back the breath pressure or support the tone.
2 - Practice warm up exercises as well as melodies using healthy sounds like “ng” and
“oo”. The “ng” help develop focus in the voice. The “oo” vowel allows a healthy
adduction of the vocal cords without too much pressure in the glottis. While
procuding “oo” sound the back of the tongue stays naturally flat and relaxed and
the soft palate is high and wide. The result is beauty and resonance simultaneously.

VIBRATO PROBLEMS

1 - Vocal wobble: this is a wide and slow vibrato that our Western culture defines as “aging
voice”.
I have found that singers in their 20’s can have a wobble while I worked with students in
their 70’s who have no sign of such a vocal characteristic.
The primary cause of the vocal wobble is misuse rather than age!
A wide vibrato is usually a lack of proper resistance of the breath pressure or a lack of focus
in the tone. It can also be a result of a lack of proper adduction of the vocal cords. Also an
unhealthy vocal technique used over a short or long period of time can be the cause of vocal
problems.

2 - Overly-fast vibrato: the vibrato sounds very fast and nervous.
This problem occurs when pressure is built at the root of the tongue after a short inhalation
with no opening of the throat (the yawn) and tight sound attack. It can also come from a
lack of vocal cord approximation (the vocal cords are not closing after inhalation). Finally a
fast vibrato is caused by sudden changes in the sub-glottic breath pressure caused by a lack
of breath support.

3 - Straight tone: a voice without a natural, free of tension vibrato is either an immature,
young, untrained voice or a forced straight tone voice (as would do a choir singer to better
blend his/her voice with other singers). This is potentially damaging circumstance. Vocal
nodules can result from such vocal production because of too much pressure held at the
glottis.

4 - Diaphragmatic vibrato: It’s the pulsating of the diaphragm during a sustain tone to
create a false vibrato. When no vibrato is present in the voice some singers fake it with a
heavy contraction of the muscles shaking the diaphragm. It is difficult to repair because the
lower abdominal muscles have a deep sensory memory.

Copyright Dolce Voce Music Studio - Patricia Nicolas, Artistic Director - 1998-2009