[Harp-L] vibrato/tremolo



Richard Hunter writes:

"  Established practice is as follows:
- tremolo refers to changes in VOLUME <snip>
- vibrato refers to changes in PITCH <snip>

There's nothing tentative about these definitions. They've been in common use by players, instrument and amp manufacturers, and anyone else involved in making music with electric instruments for over half a century. "


And for about three centuries organists and organbuilders have referred to devices which "shake" the wind going to the pipes effecting the pitch as "tremolos". So time-wise I think that beats the last half century.


All types of additions of undulations and beats tend to be instrument specific, and the terms "vibrato", "tremolo" and "celeste" are similarly instrument specific. What harmonicas and accordions refer to as "tremolo" (ie, two reeds tuned to beat against each other) organs term "celeste".

There is no hard and fast rule for these effects, so whatever the common usage is for a particular instrument seems to be the best rule of thumb--ie, no universality. So if for effects and synths "tremolo" is volume and "vibrato" pitch, then that's fine. If for harmonica it's all vibrato and "tremolo" means the specific type of harmonica with beating reeds, that's also fine. As long as the people who play the instrument can understand each other, that's the most important thing.



JR Ross




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