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14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?We analyzed 14,015 chord transitions and ranked the 100 most repeated ones. Even the first 10 will transform your practice routine. The top transition appears in 23% of all songs.

Vibrato: Adding Expression to Held Notes

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on the ukulele and start playing songs with confidence.

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Aheldnotewithoutvibratojustsitsthere.Vibratogivesitmovement,breath,andlife.It'sthedifferencebetweenanotethatsoundsfinishedandonethatsoundslikeitmeanssomething.
Onukulele,vibratoworksdifferentlythanonguitar.Thenylonstringsdon'tbendeasily,sothestandardguitartechniqueofpushingthestringsidewaysdoesn'ttranslatewell.Whatdoesworkisarollingmotionalongtheneck-andonceyoufeelit,itbecomesnatural.
##HowUkuleleVibratoWorks
Themostreliablevibratotechniqueforukuleleisasmall,controlledrollofthefrettinghand.Here'swhatthatmeansinpractice:
1.Fretanotewithyourmiddleorringfinger.Keepthethumbbehindtheneck,roughlyoppositeyourfrettingfinger.
2.Relaxyourgripslightly-notenoughtomutethenote,butenoughthatthefingercanmove.
3.Rockthehandforwardandbackfromthewrist,paralleltothestring.Themovementissmall-afewmillimetersineachdirection.
4.Thisslightforward-backshiftchangesthestringlengthbetweenthenutandyourfinger,producingagentlepitchvariation.
Themotioncomesfromthewrist,notthefingersalone.Ifyou'retensingyourhandtoforcevibrato,theresultwillsoundmechanical.Loosenupandletthewristlead.
##WheretoPracticeFirst
StartontheAstring,5thfret(Enote).Thispositiongivesyoualongerstringlengthandbetterstringtensionthanthelowerfrets,whichmakesthevibratoeasiertohearandcontrol.Fretthenote,letitring,andbegintherollingmotion.Listenforthepitchtomoveslightly-notafullhalf-step,justasubtlewaver.
Ifyouhearnothing,checktwothings:yourgripisprobablytootight,orthemotionistoosmall.Relaxthehandandmakethemovementslightlylargeruntilyoucanhearitclearly.Thengraduallyreduceittoacomfortablewidth.
##WidthandSpeed
Vibratohastwovariables:width(howmuchthepitchmoves)andspeed(howfastitoscillates).
Wideandslowvibratosoundsemotionalanddeliberate-appropriateforalongnoteattheendofaphrase.Narrowandfastervibratosoundsmorecontrolled,lessprominent.Mostplayingusessomethinginbetween,adjustedtothemoodofthepiece.
Don'taimforonespecificstylerightaway.Practicebothextremes-verywideandslow,thenverynarrowandfast-soyouknowtherange.Themiddlegroundwillcomenaturallyonceyou'vebeentobothends.
##WhentoUseIt(andWhenNotTo)
Vibratobelongsonsustainednotes-notesheldforatleasttwobeats.Applyingittoshortnotes(eighthnotes,forexample)soundsfranticandoutofplace.
Inamelodicphrase,savevibratoforthenotesthatendaphraseorcarrythemostharmonicweight.Treatingeverylongnotelikeanopportunityforvibratogetstiringquickly.Lessismorehere-vibratoismosteffectivewhenitarriveswithpurpose.
##PracticeExercise
Playasimplefour-notephraseontheAstring:5thfret,3rdfret,5thfret,hold.Applyvibratotothatfinalnoteonly.Focusonstartingthevibratoafterthenoteisclearlysounding-notrightattheattack.Practicethisuntilthevibratostartssmoothlyandstaysconsistentforthefullnoteduration.
Oncethat'sclean,tryaddingvibratotothe3rdfretnoteonthewaythrough.You'llhearhowthephrasingchangeswhenmorenoteshavemovement.
##QuestionsandAnswers
**Howdoyoudovibratoonukulele?**
Ukulelevibratousesasmallrollingmotionofthefrettinghandalongtheneck,forwardandbackfromthewrist.Thisshiftstheeffectivestringlengthslightly,producingagentlepitchwaver.Themotionisdifferentfromguitarvibrato,whichreliesmoreonsidewaysstringbending.
**Whydoesmyukulelevibratosounduneven?**
Unevenvibratousuallycomesfromtensioninthefrettinghand.Relaxthegripuntilthenoteisheldmorelightly,thenletthewristleadthemotion.Ittakestimeforthemusclestolearnthepattern.
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