Vibrato

[Jif]

I like vibrato where it is used for emphasis rather than all the time vibrato, used in a subtle fashion it can really add to the emotion of a piece as Steve points out.

Rolling or sliding? Both, as Ken points out it's the end result which matters.

I like to vary the speed of vibrato, generally starting slow and speeding up at the finish. So, I find it hard to use the rolling technique at speed, so sometimes start with rolling and when speeding up going onto a sliding motion.

[Mcneilwaeasteel]

I like vibrato where it is used for emphasis rather than all the time vibrato, used in a subtle fashion it can really add to the emotion of a piece as Steve points out.

Rolling or sliding? Both, as Ken points out it's the end result which matters.

I like to vary the speed of vibrato, generally starting slow and speeding up at the finish. So, I find it hard to use the rolling technique at speed, so sometimes start with rolling and when speeding up going onto a sliding motion.

My tuppence worth to this conversation is watch Dougie Stevens and Wullie Gamble in action at SSGW last month!
I posted a video of their playing when recording the sound from my small amp,
It was posted in the lap steel section under the heading " Vox MV 50 conclusion ", this explains why I focused on Dougie's playing.
They both have a similar approach to using vibrato by emphasising the sound from each note to give the best effect when moving the steel.
I know that a lot can be learned from watching Dougie and Wullie playing, I hope to be able to put it into practice when I get rid of the invisible " Stookie " on my rigid left wrist and start moving my hand a bit more!
The English interpretation of a Stookie is below.
" a plaster cast placed on one's arm to keep it rigid in order for a fracture or break to heal. "
I hope this is part of the answer that Calum's looking for, if not I've done my best!
Robert

[Haddock]

Thanks for the input folks. A lot of different ways to waggle out there. I even found one site where the guy was recommending a circular motion. I think I’ll stick to the absolute minimum for the moment. Most of what I play is chords anyway and I’m still loving the whole, ‘perfect interval’ thing that the steel does so well.
At a slight tangent, I’ve been experimenting with the ‘glissando guitar’ technique as popularised by Steve Hillage. This uses a steel bar in a similar way to a violin bow but can actually be achieved using the normal bar on a steel to excite the strings. A bit of fuzz and delay helps. Good fun for a wee change. Also ‘Steve’ related, The Glorious OM riff sits just beneath the surface of an A plus F lever chord. Can’t be too many people in the world played that on a steel.......
Cheers

[Jif]

At a slight tangent, I’ve been experimenting with the ‘glissando guitar’ technique as popularised by Steve Hillage. This uses a steel bar in a similar way to a violin bow but can actually be achieved using the normal bar on a steel to excite the strings. A bit of fuzz and delay helps.
Cheers

This touches on another use of vibrato in a slightly subtler way as in using vibrato to help sustain notes, probably more the side to side motion where you are actively bowing the strings which helps to resonate the string(s).

I like using the glissando thing when playing a bottle neck blues style and definitely nice with a bit of overdrive and delay

[Donny Johnston]

HI GUYS, I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE COMMENTS SO FAR, IF THE VIBRATO IS HEAVY AND CONSISTANT IT BECOMES TO MUCH AND A BIT OVERBEARING, I LIKE TO THINK OF USING VIBRATO AS A SINGER WOULD DO, JUST BRING IT IN AT THE END OF THE NOTE AND EXTEND THE SUSTAIN. AS FAR AS ROLLING OR SLIDING I USE BOTH METHODS AS REQUIRED. DONNY.