Re: [Harp-L] Vibrato part II

[Philharpn@xxxxxxx]

slipper post got away too soon -- 2nd graph continues...





> The term vibrato is frequently confused with tremolo.  It's like snow 
> blower. Everybody talks about them but they are really snow THROWERs -- whether 
> they have a paddle wheel or an auger to toss out the snow. If they were really 
> blowers, they wound in effect be giant fans
> 
> Just as the other kinds of vibrato on the harmonica are equally suspect: 
> diaphragm vs. throat (is there really a difference? Sure there is a difference. 
> But they are both tremolo. And are they more likely tremolo instead? Same 
> with the "cough vibrato," it is more than likely a tremolo.
> 

On the guitar, think of a note sounded repeatedly in order to add to the 
sustain. 

Singers use real vibrato; harmonica players performing "without bends" almost 
always use tremolo.

Robert Bonfiglio did indeed use the term "hand vibrato" during his seminar at 
the Grand Canyon. But that is because "hand flapping" has always been called 
"hand vibrato" -- it's an idiomatic expression. 

The harmonica's history is full of misconceptions, which have proved later to 
be wrong, and largely built on ignorance. Once musicians started playing the 
harmonica, some of the myths have been cleared up.:-) :-)

Dr. Hank Bahnson demonstrated with a sonogram video (on Howard Levy's 
Homespun video) what was really going on in the harmonica player's throat at the base 
of his tongue which caused the bending. The removal of the harmonica covers 
and stopping the blow reed on a draw bend demonstrated how the harmonica was 
able to bend.

The use of the Circle of Fifths to explain positions on the harmonica is 
another. Before that happened (date)? Everybody agreed on 1st, 2nd and 3rd 
positions but had a different idea about names and locations of the others -- each 
with no rime or reason.

Of course, all this confusion may come back to that old bugaboo "reading 
music." If harmonica players could read music they might be familiar (accurately 
aware) of musical terms and some of this confusion would be cleared up. Or 
maybe start another argument about the "real" vibrato and the fake vibrato. -)   
:-) :-)

(I can hear it all now: What do you mean, read MUSIC; tab is good enough for 
me: I don't need any freaken music reading, it only interferes with my 
playing. Besides, it burned my lips to read this! Are you saying that if you don't 
read music, you're not a real musician?) :-) :-)


Phil Lloyd
"I never met a musician who said he regretted learning to read music. It may 
not make you a better musician but it gives you map to where you're going and 
where you've been."


> 
> 
> 
> In a message dated 3/8/07 9:47:57 AM, EGS1217@xxxxxxx writes:
> 
>       
> 
> Hi Rick:
> 
> I distinctly remember Robert Bonfiglio describing and  demonstrating what he
> referred to as "hand vibrato" on the Chromatic at  his Seminar held at the
> Grand Canyon this past September (as well as the  other methods he used).  I
> know a couple of other students of  his attended from harp-l....perhaps they 
> too
> can chime in with their  remembrances about it as well?  (given that I'm
> anything BUT an  expert on the issue...the only vibrato I think I've managed 
> to
> achieve  thus far is via shaking with fear on stage <G>).  Since I  consider
> Robert my "teacher" now, I'm going to have to continue  to refer to hand 
> vibrato
> that way until either he  alters his method of description or agrees with 
> you
> that it now  should be called "tremolo."
> 
> I'm trying to send you via direct link, the pertinent video wherein  Adam
> Gussow clearly demonstrates the notable changes between his  throat and
> diaphragmatic vibratos...close-up, for the camera, even raising  his shirt 
> to show the
> differences (I quite enjoyed that, actually).  :)
> 
> Elizabeth             _Click here: YouTube -  Blues Harmonica Secrets
> Revealed (Gussow.004)_ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLM92VdSRvU)
> 
> "Message: 6
> Date: Thu, 08 Mar 2007 12:32:20 +1100
> From: "Rick  Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L]  Vibrato
> 
> 
> Matt;
> Unfortunately I do not  have access to Youtube through my
> server;I would like to see Adam's  videos. I agree that it is possible to
> 'shake' the diaphragm. I don't  think it creates 'vibrato', however.
> 'Tremolo', yes.  I would like  to be proved wrong! The differencebetween
> tremplo & vibrato has  already been detailed by myself and a few others.
> You can't confuse one  with the other. Using your hands is certainly
> tremolo only, as it  alters only volume/tone and not pitch.
> Regards,
> RD"
> 
> 
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> 
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