Learn The Ocarina 5: How To Do Vibrato On Ocarina | The Best Exercises for Vibrato

by STL Ocarina September 14, 2022

If you’ve ever wondered how to create that wobbly, singing quality on the ocarina, you’re hearing vibrato. Vibrato adds warmth, expression, and life to long notes, turning simple melodies into something that feels more musical and emotional.

In this guide, you’ll learn what vibrato is, when to start practicing it, and how to develop smooth, controlled vibrato on the ocarina using simple exercises.

This demonstration is performed on a purple clay tenor ocarina in the key of C from STL Ocarina.

What Is Vibrato?

Vibrato is a controlled oscillation in pitch that creates a gentle wavering effect in the sound. When used tastefully, vibrato adds expression and depth to sustained notes.

To hear the difference:

A note without vibrato sounds straight and steady
A note with vibrato has a subtle “wave” in the tone

Vibrato can vary in:

Speed (fast vs slow)
Depth (wide vs narrow)

Both can be adjusted depending on the musical style you’re playing.

When Should You Start Learning Vibrato?

One of the most common mistakes beginners make is starting vibrato too early.

Before working on vibrato, you should already be comfortable with:

Producing a steady, clear tone
Using proper breath support
Knowing your fingerings from memory
Playing notes cleanly without wavering pitch

Vibrato is an expressive tool—not a fix for unstable tone. Build strong fundamentals first, then add vibrato on top of a solid sound.

How to Produce Vibrato on the Ocarina

On the ocarina, vibrato is created primarily by gentle pulsing of the air using the throat, not by shaking the instrument or moving your fingers.

Start by imagining a steady airstream:

A straight tone is produced with smooth, constant air
Vibrato is created by gently pulsing the airflow, similar to softly whispering “ha-ha-ha” inside your throat

The key is subtlety. Too much motion creates an exaggerated, unstable sound. Controlled vibrato should feel relaxed and natural, not forced.

Understanding Vibrato Speed and Width

Think of vibrato as a sound wave:

A wide vibrato has larger pitch fluctuations
A narrow vibrato is more subtle
Vibrato can be fast or slow, and any combination of width and speed can be used

This gives you expressive flexibility. Different musical styles call for different vibrato characteristics, and learning to control both width and speed will make your playing more musical.

Exercise 1: Metronome Vibrato Practice

One of the best ways to learn controlled vibrato is to practice with a metronome.

How to practice:

Set a metronome to 60 BPM
Play a long note and pulse your vibrato once per beat
Increase the tempo gradually (65, 70, 75, etc.)
Once comfortable at faster tempos, return to slower tempos and try two vibrato pulses per beat

This trains your vibrato to be:

Even
Controlled
Rhythmically consistent

Developing rhythmic vibrato early prevents bad habits that are difficult to fix later.

Exercise 2: The “Bouncy Ball” Vibrato Exercise

This visualization helps you smoothly transition between wide and narrow vibrato:

Imagine dropping a bouncy ball:

The first bounce is big and slow
Each bounce gets smaller and faster

Apply this idea to your vibrato:

Start with slow, wide vibrato
Gradually transition to faster, narrower vibrato

This exercise builds flexibility and control so you can adjust vibrato naturally within a phrase.

Common Vibrato Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Starting vibrato before mastering tone and breath control
❌ Shaking the ocarina instead of controlling airflow
❌ Making vibrato too wide or aggressive
❌ Letting vibrato become uneven or unstable

Controlled vibrato should enhance your sound, not distract from it.

Final Thoughts

Vibrato is a powerful expressive tool on the ocarina—but it works best when layered on top of solid fundamentals. Take your time, practice slowly with a metronome, and focus on smooth, even control. With patience, vibrato will start to feel natural and effortless.

If you have questions about vibrato technique or want help refining your sound, feel free to leave a comment. New ocarina tutorials and technique guides are released regularly.

Happy playing 🎶