To be on the safe side, let's start with a definition of the term.

Vibrato is actually a very slight change of pitch or frequency, centered on the target note but moving ever so lightly sharp and then flat of it repetitively.

The speed in which you perform this slight pitch change is also a part of the thing.

Sometimes the song calls for a slower vibrato, other times a faster one. Sometimes there are cases where you might use a different speed vibratos for different parts of the same song, too. For example, a long duration whole note, it might be more apropos to start with a slower speed vibrato that gets a bit faster as you hold the note. Or vise verse.

If you already know the above, please forgive the elementary explanation. But if you by chance do not, it will be worth it.

Some folks will mistake Tremelo for Vibrato as well. Two different terms, two different ways of modulating the voice (or the wind instrument for that matter).

Vibrato is that small change in the pitch as described.

Tremelo is a change of amplitude (or loudness, if you will) and can also have differing speeds as "called for" by the job at hand.

To start learning to sing the Vibrato, try matching a long held note with your voice and then try slowly changing the pitch around that pitch center, going upwards above the note slightly first, then crossing back over the note to slightly below that note, back up, back down, etc. not trying for the faster vibrato at first, but trying for the equal amount of pitch shifting sharp then flat, sharp then flat, etc. Good thing to exagerate the pitch shift a bit at first, as you work on this just a short ten minute session twice a day, after a certain unspecified number of days you should find that you are able to narrow the amount of picth shift a bit, and so on.

Important to always take a breath, fill the lungs, and then use the diaphragmatic muscles to expell air over the vocal cords to get sound. Don't ever try to sing by "pinching" the throat. Throat stays relaxed, within reason, of course, there must be some tension there, but the power comes from the moving air, not constricing the throat to create higher air velocity.

Lastly, it is important to decide WHEN it is appropriate to use vibrato in singing - and when it is not. Different genres demand different styles. For example, it is sometimes not needed, or at least not explicit, as in, say, certain jazz and pop genres.


--Mac

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