How to Control Vibrato in Singing

Introduction

Vibrato is a natural, healthy oscillation in pitch that occurs when the voice is properly supported by controlled air placement. It adds warmth, richness, and emotional depth to your singing.

However, many singers struggle with one of three common issues:

  • No vibrato at all (a straight, tight tone)

  • An unstable or shaky vibrato

  • A vibrato that is too wide or uncontrolled

How To Control Vibrato

The goal of this lesson is to understand how vibrato works, learning how to control it naturally and consistently.

Vibrato — that natural, wave-like quality in the voice — can add beauty, warmth and depth to your sound when used with intention. But when it shows up uninvited or feels out of control, it can distract from your performance and make your tone sound uncertain.

Through focused exercises and real-time feedback, we’ll teach you how to develop a deliberate vibrato — one that you can activate, adjust, or hold back depending on the style, emotion, or phrase you’re singing.

Whether your vibrato is too fast, too slow, too shaky, or just inconsistent, this session gives you the tools to refine and own it. With better breath support, muscle coordination, and pitch control, you’ll gain the freedom to express with precision and confidence.

This lesson is ideal for singers of all levels who want more stylistic control and a polished, professional sound.

What Is Vibrato?

Vibrato is a subtle, regular fluctuation in pitch — usually around 5–7 oscillations per second. It occurs when:

  • Breath support is steady

  • The larynx is relaxed

  • There is no unnecessary tension in the jaw, tongue, or throat

Healthy vibrato is a result of balance — not manipulation.

If you have to “shake” your voice to create vibrato, it is not true vibrato. It’s tension pretending to be vibrato.

Step 1: Check Your Foundation

Before working on vibrato directly, confirm that:

  • Your breath support is stable

  • Your posture is aligned

  • Your throat feels open and relaxed

Sing a sustained note on “ah” for 8–10 seconds.

Ask yourself:

  • Does the tone feel steady?

  • Is the airflow consistent?

  • Is your jaw relaxed?

If the tone feels tight or pressed, vibrato will not develop freely.

Step 2: Develop Natural Vibrato

If you struggle with a straight tone and want to encourage vibrato, try this exercise:

The Pulse Exercise

  1. Sustain a comfortable note.

  2. Gently pulse the sound using abdominal engagement (not your throat).

  3. Create small, even pulses: “ah-ah-ah-ah.”

  4. Gradually smooth those pulses into a connected oscillation.

The goal is not to exaggerate the movement but to introduce rhythmic flexibility into the tone.

Over time, the vibrato should begin to emerge naturally.

Step 3: Control an Unstable Vibrato

If your vibrato feels too wide or shaky:

Stabilization Exercise

  1. Sing a sustained note with steady breath support.

  2. Focus on keeping the pitch centered.

  3. Imagine the tone spinning evenly forward rather than wobbling outward.

  4. Reduce excess airflow — too much air can cause a wide vibrato.

Often, an uncontrolled vibrato is caused by:

  • Excess breath pressure

  • Jaw or tongue tension

  • Fatigue

Less force usually creates more control.

Step 4: Practice Controlled Release

A powerful skill is choosing when vibrato begins.

Exercise:

  1. Sing a note with straight tone for 2–3 seconds.

  2. Allow vibrato to gradually emerge.

  3. Then return briefly to straight tone.

This teaches flexibility and artistic control.

Professional singers can turn vibrato on and off intentionally — not by forcing it, but by adjusting breath flow and vocal balance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Forcing a wobble by moving the jaw

  • Shaking the diaphragm aggressively

  • Tensing the throat to “create” vibrato

  • Using too much air

True vibrato is a symptom of healthy technique — not a trick.

Applying Vibrato in Songs

When using vibrato in performance:

  • Add it at the ends of phrases for emotional emphasis

  • Avoid overusing it on every note

  • Match the vibrato style to the genre

Controlled vibrato adds expression. Uncontrolled vibrato distracts from the music.

Final Thoughts

Vibrato is not something you manufacture. It is something you allow.

With proper breath support, relaxation, and steady practice, vibrato becomes:

  • More stable

  • More refined

  • Fully under your control

The aim is freedom — not force.

Practice patiently, and focus on balance over power.

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