How to do Vibrato on the Violin Without a Shoulder Rest (or with one!)

My detailed, step-by-step tutorial on how to learn vibrato from the ground up!
If you have requests on any other techniques you'd like me to cover, please comment below!

For all other questions, inquiries, and insights comment below, or:

[matthewmiller]

This is phenomenally useful. I think the special sauce in your recipe is the feeling of STRETCH and RELEASE, starting from "home position, " pulling away, then springing back and touching the violin body to stop yourself. To me, finding this sense of ELASTICITY feels like a key to unlocking vibrato. Thanks so much!

[arthurreid]

I have been playing without a shoulder support for years. I live near a large university that teaches violin with a shoulder support and when I ask someone to play without it they cringe at the idea. I see a lot of their students that play very robotic and look like they are in pain. The freedom is well worth the effort. Great video’s. Heifetz
Would not let you in the room with a support.

[garysimkins]

Far and away the best video on Vibrato!!!! So clear, concise and well, Brilliant.

[lindachene]

I used an arm vibrato for years. I gave up several times. I don’t recall any of my teachers being that clear about vibrato. Thank you.

[arkytkt]

hey there buddy!! started playing 6 months ago after 21 year break after musical school.... i do some progress and worst fu...g thing is that every single tutorial on YT is shoulderresters without any helpfull advice for me... my teacher was total oldschool zero shoulderrests etc... i am so glad i found you

[rewIndustry]

thank you. i still can't do it, at all, yet, however i will get back to you, in a year or so. your help is very much appreciated.

[GabriTell]

I've never played with shoulder rest, and honestly I've never felt the need.

To do the Vibrato without it, I hold the full weight of the end of the violin with my Right-Thumb (it isn't that uncomfortable once you get it and allows you greater freedom of finger movement). 👍✨

[saea]

Thank you for going through all the steps. It is a long process so probably immensely satisfying to finally achieve those separate goals along the way.

[nayrdinuir]

Absolutely wonderful Murphy. I love all the advice. Everything makes so much sense. Best wishes to you and your channel.

[gabriellekundert]

You're amazing thanks so much! That was so clear and well said.
Love how you include the videos of the old masters. Fascinating!

I'd be interested in a video regarding sliding into a note and away from a note if you think that's possible.

[PopoPinou]

Hey ! I'm french and I'm there !

[dazie]

How cool = this video came out when you had about 40 subscribers Now you have over 31 thousand subscribers 👍 guess vibrato & subscribers have patients in common 😂

thank you for your channel cuz not everyone can afford lessons = thankfully YouTube comes with the regular phone bill these days & doing a good daily practice until I've learned each step ferly well before moving on to the next step helps stretch the 1G that comes with the 25.00 phone option LMAO to bad my plan doesn't roll over unused Internet cuz like you said adding vibrato practice to my daily violin rutean already in place is going to keep me busy for a long time

Thank you 🙋

[kramarics]

Hello! I noticed a much fuller, more pleasent sound from my violin without the shoulder rest, so I threw it away. (Or took it off, at least). Then, I found your videos where you confirmed my discovery, so so far I was off to a good start. Also, it was very informative on how to hold it without the shoulder rest. But, here is my problem. How do I prevent the violin from falling off my thumb when I do vibrato? If I keep the neck between my thumb and the rest of the hand I can't vibrate, and if I make space between my hand and the neck, the neck falls off my thumb. I am still at a beginner level, and vibrato is probably still a year away, but I would like to understand how to do it though. Thank you in advance for your reply! I look forward to your future videos. Cheers, Zoltán. :)

[johnphil]

Thank you for the wonderful video. Could you make another video on how to do vibrato on G string (especially high position) without a shoulder rest. I have been trying to play without a shoulder rest for several months, but vibrato on G string is quite difficult for me...

[eranoevangelista]

Anyone here gets scared of their right earphone and thought it was broken?

[dennismolchan]

Dear Mr Murphy....I enjoy your videos very much. There is one item I would like to mention about your comments on David Oistrakh's video, playing the cadenza to Shostakovich's first violin concerto. Ever since Oistrakh had his heart attack back in 1964, he had used a shoulder pad, , , , specifically a Poehland pad (black velvet), one can see it in all his post 1964 videos. ! He is using that pad in this performance! This pad enabled Oistrakh to raise his head off of the chinrest in such a relaxed manner. I played a performance with Oistrakh's son, Igor, and asked him about this very subject and he verified this. As I am sure you know....Kogan, Heifetz, Milstein, Rabin (too many to name here) used nothing. But, all that I mention had short, stocky bodies! No need for shoulder supports! Keep up the good work....ciao.

[cigarnationwarriors]

I wish I found following your instructions as easy as watching you demonstrate vibrato. Just playing is tough at 77 years young.

[jeieldavid]

Omg it's been two months, our wifi got disconnected so I haven't been online for a while but thank you so much for listening to my request!! ( ´ ▽ ` ) I am so honored to be your first request video requester

[erikhn]

Thanks again for great video. I think Perlman is in the same category of musicians, you can always recognise on his vibrato-sound. And in his case also his bow attack reveals him 😉

[csmihaly]

Jó lenne egyszer így tudni hegedülni különösen a vàlltámla nélkül. Nagyszerű volt, még így tovább sok sok ehhez hasonló tanulságos videót kérünk. És sok sikert. És boldog július 4-ét kívánok.