Piano EffectVibrato
It wobbles the pitch, not the volume. It is the one everybody confuses with tremolo.
How to recognise it by ear
- The notes go slightly sharp and flat at a steady rate, like a singer's vibrato.
- If the volume stays put and the pitch moves, it is vibrato; if the volume moves, it is tremolo.
- On organs, the Hammond "vibrato" (V1–V3) is often mixed with the dry signal, and then it is a chorus.
Typical settings
Rate from 4 to 7 Hz and a depth of a few cents (10–40). Beyond 50 cents it sounds like a special effect.
What Piano Effect measures
The rate in Hz and the depth in cents, told apart from tremolo by what moves: pitch or volume.
Android: get it on Google Play
Frequently asked questions
What is vibrato?
It wobbles the pitch, not the volume. It is the one everybody confuses with tremolo. If the volume stays put and the pitch moves, it is vibrato; if the volume moves, it is tremolo.
How can I tell if a song uses vibrato?
The notes go slightly sharp and flat at a steady rate, like a singer's vibrato. If the volume stays put and the pitch moves, it is vibrato; if the volume moves, it is tremolo. To be sure, scan it with Piano Effect: it tells you whether it is there and with which values.
What vibrato settings are typical?
Rate from 4 to 7 Hz and a depth of a few cents (10–40). Beyond 50 cents it sounds like a special effect.
Can you play vibrato on a piano?
Not on an acoustic piano: each string's pitch is fixed, and wiggling a key that is already down does not change it. On a keyboard or digital piano, yes: use the modulation wheel, aftertouch or a vibrato effect (4 to 7 Hz and 10 to 40 cents sounds natural). If what you hear is the volume pulsing, it is not vibrato: it is tremolo.