Vibrato on lowest note?!

[Bluemount Score]

How does e.g. a violin play vibrato on it's lowest G note? How isn't this impossible?

I'm sure there is a very simple answer to this. Just came into my mind. If I remember correctly, the sample libraries I own offer that low G vibrato. So there must be a way... Maybe I'm stupid.

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[Rob]

do you mean vibrato? Because of course tremolo is possible on G

 

[Bluemount Score]

do you mean vibrato? Because of course tremolo is possible on G

Eh, sure I do, fixed it!

 

[mikeh-375]

It's the same way they play tremolo on stopped notes, rapid alteration of up and down bow with some serious wrist action (not a euphemism.. ).

 

[Bluemount Score]

It's the same way they play tremolo on stopped notes, rapid alteration of up and down bow with some serious wrist action (not a euphemism.. ).

Makes sense! Now what about low note vibrato?

 

[Rob]

anyway many do get some kind of vibration by vibrating the G up an octave on the D string...

 

[mikeh-375]

Makes sense! Now what about low note vibrato?

Ahah...well then. I think I read somewhere once that a faux vib can be achieved. You can finger the octave above on the D string and vib that note but only bow the G string. This may set up sympathetic vibrations that might be audible in solo work. @Sears Poncho might know more about that.

AHHHH @Rob beat me to it.

 

[Sears Poncho]

anyway many do get some kind of vibration by vibrating the G up an octave on the D string...

Correct. Works for any string. Vibrate an octave up on the next string. Note that it won't sound anything like an "actual" vibrated note but it will work. Start the video about 54 seconds in:

 

[JJP]

Correct. Works for any string. Vibrate an octave up on the next string. Note that it won't sound anything like an "actual" vibrated note but it will work.

This is the only thing that can reasonably be done. When writing for the bottom string, I've found it safest to simply assume a change in tone and write accordingly.

 

[Dave Connor]

In Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde - the Prelude to Act III - the violins start with the open g to glorious effect.

Well, it played initially but now unavailable? Hunt it down, it’s a great example of making use of what might be considered a limitation in an instrument into a virtue.