I’m currently thinking about doing a Youtube tutorial on vibrato. I play with throat vibrato but I had trouble developing it for years due to it being poorly explained online. I always loved the sound of Terry McMillan’s vibrato. He normally had this deep and thick vibrato that sounds very hypnotic, but he could also control that thickness to make it sound very sweet. For years, I wanted to learn the way he did vibrato compared to the reverse coughing style that’s often taught on Youtube.
The issue I have with the coughing style is that whenever I attempt that type of vibrato, it actually makes me cough and feel lightheaded. I felt like I couldn’t achieve the sound I wanted for years because these issues. Learning vibrato shouldn’t hurt, so I want to make a tutorial about how I personally do it. I also think the reverse coughing analogy isn’t accurate to what is actually going on in my mouth when I use the technique. My vibrato has a thicker quality to it compared to the more shallow sounding coughing style, which is more of a diaphragmatic vibrato. So I think that as somebody who is a regular throat vibrato user, I think that it’s about time to show how I specifically do it. Any thoughts?
You have my support . Let us all know when the video comes out .
Jake Robinson ( Jake Knows Harmonica ) does an explanation but I too cannot achieve it . maybe you’re onto something for guys like me 
I’m very interested. I haven’t connected with any of the vibrato instruction that I have looked at. I’d love to see your tutorial.
I just released that video on Sunday. Feel free to check it out.
I am no music expert but the throat vibrato feels like the muscles in the lower throat are contracting and releasing air flow and pressure. The more I play the more my diaphragm is used for breathing and it does make big difference and with practice whatever works best gets more time. I use three methods and one seems to cause a change in pitch. I don’t think this is vibrato. The -8 vibrato is with throat. It seems the diaphragm is stronger but note as clean on the high notes. The bottom of the throat just above the collar bone seems to be where it takes place, Just a beginner in the middle of nowhere so everything is self taught. Mistakes are my best teacher.
@scott4 ,
I thought true vibrato does change the pitch on the note.
You’re very much right on that front. Vibrato and tremolo are often confused for each other, but the former is a change in pitch and the latter is a change in volume.
Yes, indeed. And the reason can be traced back (at least partially) to Fender amps, guitars and effects pedals confusingly using the wrong names for these two effects.
Thanks for that tutorial. I like your two sentences:
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If you’re imagining like you’re gulping down a drink from like a bottle.
And you do the motion like Goo Goo Goo. -
With the higher keys, I can easily get half-step vibrato.
You also mentioned that practicing throat vibrato must not hurt. I’d like to ask you and everybody. What do you think about Adam’s apple jumping with throat vibrato? It’s good when Adam’s apple is jumping or is better when it is motionless.
The reason why I say that learning throat vibrato shouldn’t hurt is actually because of how a lot of harmonica Youtubers, primarily with strictly blues guys, teach throat vibrato via the reverse coughing method. This was the technique I mentioned where I would feel lightheaded, even cough. Because of my breathing problems while attempting it, I was heavily discouraged to learn vibrato at all because I wanted a pitch-based vibrato but nobody really explained how to do it using clear language.
I should mention that a lot of throat vibrato tutorials on Youtube assume that you’re into the more guttural Butterfield-style throat vibrato because of the status quo that harmonica players only play the blues. Due to my country music upbringing, I was more interested in mimicking a smoother throat vibrato similar to the one used by Terry McMillan (who is my biggest influence on the instrument). If you’ve never heard him play the harmonica, his vibrato was generally more on the sweeter side but he could still get that heavy “crying” sound associated with throat vibrato. I actually found out a few years ago, from Todd Parrott, that Terry used throat vibrato when he played so I was convinced to learn it again with the help of my teacher.
In regards to the visible Adam’s Apple, I can’t comment on it solely because I was born with a body that doesn’t have one (most harmonica players are men, meanwhile I’m not). Due to the lack of acknowledgement of women or femme-presenting people in the community, we are often just brushed over as if the harmonica world is entirely made up of men (which isn’t true at all, past or present). So I don’t have a specific comment.
Hi,
Thanks for Your insights.
Can You advice the best Youtube tutorial on reverse coughing throat vibrato?
I’m really interested in throat vibrato because I think there’s much diversity in harmonica players. I like the throat vibrato of Matěj Ptaszek. He said that his specific vibrato is related to his singing voice range. His vibrato is very fast and distinctive. Compared to Risa Minami - her vibrato is very mild. Maybe because of her chromatic harmonica. I think that that matters if vibrato is made by a man or woman. Do you agree?
I don’t think that physical characteristics matter when it comes to vibrato, but moreso the sound you’re chasing after or what type of harmonica you’re playing. If you’re comparing the vibratos of a diatonic player to a chromatic player, of course they’re going to sound different because of how these instruments work. Unless if the chromatic being used has no valves/windsavers, vibrato is going to sound more mild on that instrument compared to a diatonic that is valveless, regardless of the player’s assigned gender at birth.
Ok. You’re right. Comparing female chromonica with male diatonic isn’t good idea. But maybe there are some differences in vibratos in the same harmonica type but different sex? Jumping adam’s apple is the first (but only visual) difference…