What are the variables?
Intensity
Tune
Timbre
Most singers can do almost a half tone vibrato
How to do the vibrato on the saxophone
There are a few methods:
- Using the Jaw (recommended)
- Using the lips
- Using the throat
- Using the diafragm
When using the jaw vibrato the lips is the soft surface that suports the mouthpiece. When the jaw moves the pressure between the reed and the lips changes, then the vibration of the reed gets impacted. These comes with an average tune, timbre and volume change.
How to practice
Focus on the movement and tempo
Practice 4, 3, 6, and 5 vibrati per beat. Start at 60 bpm then increment slowly up to 90.
In a research of several players they found the following:
- the slowest vibrato was 4 at 78bpm
- the fastest vibrato was 4 at 96bpm
- the average was 4 at 82bpm
- tendency is to use slower vibrato
- the average tendency could be described as 4 at 80-84, 3 at 120-126
Focus in quality
Play simple scales, try to smooth the transitions
Practice the next passages with vibrato
Switch between vibrato and articulations
Practice with dynamic changes keep the average vibrato and the amplitude constant
Switch from plain to vibrato
