Principles Of Good Singing Pt. 12: Vibrato

Another important aspect of good singing is the vibrato. Vibrato is a
regular and repeating—above and below—deviation from pitch. The speed
of a healthy vibrato is between 6 and 8 fluctuations per second. From western standards, a vibrato that oscillates with fewer or greater fluctuations per second is considered unmusical. Vibrato is important for contributing intensity to a singer’s interpretation if used effectively—that is, if it is not used too much. It could also be employed to express tenderness if it’s used with the appropriate vocal color. A singer must exercise great discrimination in using vibrato—especially in non-operatic singing.

Indeed, a major flaw in many singer’s personal style is their singing with too much vibrato, and is most often heard on sustained notes where typically the tone should be flattened until the end and then artfully (often gradually) expressed. Once again, vibrato control is a matter of managing the muscular behavior of the vocal folds, and demands a good deal of practice. A good rule-of-thumb for vibrato use is vibrato should be felt but never heard. In terms of excellent vibrato use, we have to bow to master technician Frank Sinatra.

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