Tone or Sound Do you guys think vibrato on saxophone is tacky?

[Colin the Bear]

Listen to yourself. If you like what you hear continue, if not change.

Moderation in all things, including moderation.

 

[turf3]

Forgive me, but this is quite a naive question. Any listening will inform of the norm fairly quickly.

Yes, if you sat in an orchestra and used the Bechet approach to vibrato you would be asked to leave.

It is perhaps true that the vast majority of instruments that are capable of vibrato are played with it at some point. There are fewer examples of non-use - German School classical clarinet - maybe the “next generation “ on from Karl Leister and then Sabine Meyer don’t conform.

Listening is all the research you’ll ever need.

I agree with that. The majority of jazz and pop players who are reported by vibrato-haters not to play with vibrato can be shown by simple inspection to play with vibrato.

The terminal vibrato on held notes is an extremely standard part of jazz inflections (and through that, rock and pop as well).

I have heard many "classical" players apply a constant unchanging vibrato, which in my opinion does NOT enhance the tone of the saxophone.

In my case, as I come very much from the African-American jazz saxophone tradition (Arthur Blythe, Sonny Criss, Charlie Parker on alto; Harry Carney, Hamiet Bluiett, Ernie Caceres on baritone): I use a vibrato that varies in both speed and width, depending on the situation. I don't really dig the low-energy "cool school" style of saxophone playing where light feathery sounds and a minimum of vibrato or inflection are preferred.

 

[Pete Effamy]

I use a vibrato that varies in both speed and width, depending on the situation.

Yeah, this is the thing; music varies and should we. I’ve also heard Sanborn start a long note straight, add vib, go straight again and then add vib again - all varying in width and speed.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Some long notes can be quite dull without a little something.

 

[Grumps]

I'm glad I have tacky vibrato in my arsenal. And I mean going full blown, mostly low to midrange on tenor. Like totally overdoing it. Not something to be revealed often. But greatly effective for certain callings, and often enough, welcome versatility.

 

[Colin the Bear]

It's another tool in the toolbox. 😉

 

[MikeMorrell]

As an amateur, my 2 cts:
- I wholly agree with @Pete Thomas that 'vibrato is an absolutely essential part of saxophone technique
- I also agree with many others that 'vibrato' should be controlled: where (musically), when and how much?

For me, as an amateur, 'vibrato' is just one of the many techniques for 'personal expression' when playing sax. Playing in a Big Band and Blues/Rock/Pop band, I use 'vibrato' sparingly. Often at the end of long notes or - more frequently - with just 1 or 2 'vibrato quivers' to round off a long note nicely (rather than abruptly).

As far as I know, 'vibrato' generates a 'soundwave'. The main characteristics of which are 'amplitude' and 'frequency'. So 'vibrato' can vary from slow (frequency) and very subtle (amplitude) to fast (frequency) and very noticeable (amplitude).

In my amateur way, I see 'vibrato' as not 'one thing' but as a technique that can be applied in many different musical situations, in many ways and to widely different degrees,

The term 'Tacky' IMHO applies when 'vibrato' is applied inappropriately.

 

[LostCircuits]

In the right place at the right time in the right way it can be effective.
I often do it but I thinks it's nerves

There is always a good vibrator and a bad vibrato.

 

[Targa]

There is always a good vibrator and a bad vibrato.

View: https://youtu.be/fL3HO0gf0Co

 

[mizmar]

There is always a good vibrator and a bad vibrato.

Not that I'm one to correct spelling but;
Good vibrata
Bad vibrato
Somewhat dodgy vibrati

 

[Dr G]

Not that I'm one to correct spelling but;
Good vibrata
Bad vibrato
Somewhat dodgy vibrati

Read it again with your Grammar Corrector turned off.

 

[mizmar]

Read it again with your Grammar Corrector turned off.

Absolutely.
Never let AI get in the way of a good joke.

 

[Targa]

Not that I'm one to correct spelling but;
Good vibrata
Bad vibrato
Somewhat dodgy vibrati

Doesn’t that continue vibratus vibratum vibratant?

 

[pablop]

as stated before listening would be a way to answer this, what players do you like?

Vibrato can be a great expressive tool, classic ballads show a lot of use of that.
Too much and it can become annoying,…
David “Fathead” Newman hits a great balance for me on how and when to use it.

 

[mizmar]

Doesn’t that continue vibratus vibratum vibratant?

Vibrato is an order, so?..

View: https://youtu.be/wjOfQfxmTLQ

 

[LostCircuits]

Oops, what a typo can do nowadays

 

[mizmar]

Oops, what a typo can do nowadays

You can correct it .

Better latinever

 

[LostCircuits]

You can correct it .

Better latin'ever

Sigi would object!

 

[turf3]

As to vibrato, some of it has to do with the situation: for example, when I play in big-bands, it's mostly either lead alto or baritone, and baritone could be considered a "lead" position just from the other end of the pitch range. I tend to use quite a lot of vibrato. If I were playing 3rd alto or 4th tenor, where the whole thing is to be all blendy-blendy playing the middle notes of harmonies, yeah, I probably wouldn't add any vibrato at all.

If I'm in a small group and I'm playing a jazz head in unison with (for example_) a trumpeter, I'll probably use a comparable vibrato, or less, to his. If the second time thru we go into harmony, I'd have to decide on the spot what to do.

 

[skeller047]

Playing solo, add vibrato, or not, as your taste and inclination dictate. When playing with other horns, whoever is playing lead gets to dictate. So if you aren’t the lead voice, follow whoever is.

Glenn Miller’s sax section was famous for their matched vibrato style, generally at the rate of a 16th note. There are certainly definite styles of vibrato; it only became more individual (and varied) in jazz music with the rise of small band music, where unique self-expression was a prized attribute. Early be-boppers were certainly trained in the use of vibrato in a section, since so many got their start in big bands. Players of later generations are more individual.

As students of music, it behooves us to learn the common ways that vibrato was used by various players in various eras. As individual players, whether playing a set melody or improvising, applying vibrato in a way that suits the genre we are playing only enhances the performance. “Tacky” then becomes a matter of taste, and perhaps a judgement of whether a particular vibrato is appropriate in a particular context.

All that said, I stand by my original answer to the OP’s question of whether vibrato is tacky - namely, “no”.