vibrato in Jazz

**S_R_S5** · 05-06-2010, 11:59 PM

I am a country player mostly, but i'm learning jazz in college. I was told that Vibrato is never used by guitarist in jazz. Is this true?

**mr. beaumont** · 05-07-2010, 12:22 AM

whoever told you that never listened to django!

see, here's the deal-- a lot of jazz guitarists use some pretty heavy strings, and if you're playing three hours a night on .15's, a wide vibrato and a bunch of bending are probably not a big part of your vocabulary.

but there's plenty of jazz guitarists who use vibrato. I myself use a lot of "classical" style vibrato to sustain notes.

really the only ultimatum that's true in jazz playing is, "if someone says it's an ultimatum, it's probably bullshit."

**S_R_S5** · 05-07-2010, 12:24 AM

Thanks bro. =)

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 05-07-2010, 12:27 AM

Not so many Bigsbys, though...

**FatJeff** · 05-07-2010, 12:37 AM

I agree. My instructor is always telling me to cut out the vibrato, but then I go see plenty of big-name players using it - so really, if it's in good taste, I don't see the harm.

**S_R_S5** · 05-07-2010, 12:40 AM

Yeah, Brent mason uses vibrato in his jazz playing. haha

**cosmic gumbo** · 05-07-2010, 05:35 AM

Spanky told me his girlfriend uses a lot of vibrato when he's out of town.

**abracadabra** · 05-07-2010, 06:36 AM

Speaking of which, you can see some examples of people using 'vibratos' on guitars on youtube...I don't think these are normally used in jazz though.

**saponsky** · 05-07-2010, 10:55 AM

IMHO I always stick to the #1 jazz rule: "Everything works/counts". I have seen too many contradictions in jazz music that I really don't think anything should be avoided in this genre. Some examples... Solid body guitars were a myth in jazz and then there's Ed Bickert with his tele. MANY people/instructors says string bends are prohibited in jazz but I've heard many great solos by say Scofield and Metheny and Abercrombie where string bends just flow with the melody and totally sound jazz! So I really think that the only judge in music should be your ear!

**princeplanet** · 05-07-2010, 12:30 PM

er, you guys consider Django a jazz guitarist, right?....

**drobniuch** · 05-07-2010, 06:59 PM

Spanky told me his girlfriend uses a lot of vibrato when he's out of town.

haha, love U're posts

**Sailor** · 05-07-2010, 10:27 PM

My teacher, (ex), told me, (yelled at me) whenever I played the slightest bit of vibrato! Hard habit to break after a lifetime of classical........

Sailor

**Tom Karol** · 05-07-2010, 11:04 PM

For the past few years, I've been really into emulating the vibrato that Vibraphones do on long notes. I don't care if it's 'right'; I just like the way it sounds.

**lkmuller** · 05-08-2010, 01:54 AM

Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo

Spanky told me his girlfriend uses a lot of vibrato when he's out of town.

That's just what she tells HIM, lol.

**Hugh** · 05-08-2010, 04:30 AM

The way I see its that jazz is very blues orientated so the vibrato fits in perfectly. Anyway, all the other instruments used in jazz rely on vibrato all the time for expression so I dont see why you would'nt use it on a guitar.
The fact that its jazz means you use every bit of expression you think fits in with the piece you are playing. I dont think there are any limitations in this music

A good example I think would be Larry Carlton. Depending of course if most of you in here concider him a jazz player which I do

**lkmuller** · 05-08-2010, 04:55 AM

Larry Carlton describes himself as a "jazz player who loves playing the blues". Pretty much on the money. Vibrato if tastefully done sounds good to my ear. Larry Coryell, the Dutchbopper, Andres Oberg all use it and use it well.

**whippersnapper** · 05-08-2010, 05:33 AM

Check out some old videos of Jim Hall!

**Hugh** · 05-08-2010, 05:47 AM

I just remembered a perfect example who is Jim Mullen. He usually plays a tele, or used to in the seventies with Morrisay and Mullen.
He used very deep vibrato

By the way, he gets a lot of milage on the instrument just using his thumb.
Picking of course

**takefive** · 05-08-2010, 04:29 PM

I've heard a lot of things jazz guitarist are never supposed to do, like using open strings, bending strings, using standard major chords, playing in the key of E. I've seen plenty of good jazz players do all the things their not supposed to do.

**P.J.** · 05-09-2010, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by S_R_S5

I am a country player mostly, but i'm learning jazz in college. I was told that Vibrato is never used by guitarist in jazz. Is this true?

I think it depends on the vibrato. Classical vibrato is more subtle and I thinks fits more than rock or blues vibrato. In the end, it's whatever works for the individual player while still keeping in the context of the music.

PJ

**Phantegrodak** · 05-13-2010, 11:01 AM

I've never much liked vibrato in a rock or metal context. Ooh! Except for psychedelic rock! Which is to say when it's drenched in flange/phase/vibe-y goodness, it's okay with me.
Yeah, go with the classical vibrato. Then again, Bigsbys are pretty fun to use (besides the tuning issues). Actually, I'm not the best person to give input here. Too many soft spots!
Let's just agree to do as you will.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 05-13-2010, 11:52 AM

Some slow, expressive vibrato in a ballad. Oh, yeah...

**Phantegrodak** · 05-13-2010, 12:03 PM

You can say that again, brother.

Say! At 0:38 and 1:20, would be considered a vibrato of sorts?
I think I know the answer, I mostly want to show off Lol Coxhill, the beautiful man that he is.

**Joe Dalton** · 05-20-2010, 07:48 AM

There are different players and different sounds. I bet everyone here can name a dozen greats who never ever used a vibrato and the other way around as well. The thick strings would be an explanation but it is also not uncommon in other instruments to cut out the vibrato for jazz. It's really just a matter of sound.
Play as you wish is the end result I think.