Applying String Vibratos
to your Guitar Solos

In this lesson we'll look at the different ways you can use string vibratos, including how they're used in different styles of music. We'll have some backing tracks to work with as well. As we've covered most of the foundations of this technique in part 1, this lesson will be more practical and allow you to incorporate your own ideas.

First off, let's look at the key element of integrating vibratos into a regular, flat solo.

I want to emphasise that there are no "rules" when it comes to this - I'm merely giving you some food for thought!

Click the diagrams in this lesson to hear/download

The parts of the solo where a single note is held rather than run over as a passing note, a vibrato could be applied. A vibrato could be as short as two pulses/bends away from the held note, so it doesn't always just have to make a show on the lengthy notes.

Below is a simple example of applying the vibrato on notes that would otherwise be held flat...

Things to notice in that solo

Firstly, some vibratos don't get applied immediately - try letting some notes ring flat for a second or two before you apply the vibrato. This is a good way of letting the note decay elegantly! What this also does is allow the note to be defined in the listener's mind - applying the vibrato as soon as you've struck the note might lose that note's definition, so just keep that in mind (and ear!).

Notice also how the end of the solo includes a bend and vibrato together? This was covered part 1 and is great for a climax in a solo or on that final note. The example I've done is quite a lazy vibrato, as I felt this added to the mood of the music. Vibratos and bends can really add a human voice aspect to your lead guitar - the guitar speaks what words cannot!

Here's the B minor backing track from above for you to experiment over:

Just set your media player to "repeat" so the backing track will loop and you don't have to keep re-starting it!

>> Click to download backing track

Tighter, sharper vibratos

Let's move on to a slightly different application of vibratos.

Obviously, the faster the soloing phrase, the less "breathing space" you have to punctuate with those drawn out vibratos. For now, take a listen to the below track:

>> Click to hear/download

Now you may have noticed already that the vibratos had much more of a squeeze than the first exercise we looked at, simply because the lead guitar lick was quicker and more condensed. However, short vibratos were still used on occasions where a note/fret was being held for long enough.

Take a listen again, but this time just to the lead guitar, without the backing track. I've also tabbed the lick out so you can see where I've applied vibratos...

I count 3 vibratos in there!

The 3rd vibrato should especially be highlighted for this example, because it is very sharp and short - literally just a couple of bend movements before moving on to the next note in that final mini-arpeggio sequence. However, short it may be, but I felt it gave that note a real satisfying punch! That's part of what using vibratos is about - you have to feel it's right for a particular note in your solo.

Try your own rendition, or write a completely different solo of your own over the backing track below.

>> Click to download backing track

And to finish with...

You'll probably have noticed by now that I'm particularly a fan of subtle vibratos! One genre that guitarists rarely use vibrato in is jazz. However, with certain types of jazz, I think the conservative use of vibratos can give the lick some extra character.

I'll leave you with the below exercise and the backing track. See if you can make more of a creative use of vibratos than I have! I literally only use it in a couple of places (once on the very last note in fact), but I suppose I wanted to highlight that you don't have to drench every held note in a vibrato!

>> Click to download backing track

Enjoy, and use those vibratos wisely :o)