"For singers, the consistent, comfortable use of vibrato is crucial to achieving a professional sound."
- Eric Bruner
Vibrato is...
that smooth, steady pulse you hear in a singer's voice when he or she is holding out a note. It's used in virtually every musical style.
It almost resembles a subtle wave in the singing tone. It's used to give warmth and depth to a singer's sound.
Is vibrato "natural" (happends by itself) or is it consciously “caused” somehow by the singer?” CLICK HERE
Tremolo (wobble) is...
when a singer holds out a tone and the pitch is wobbling up and down, actually singing back and forth between two pitches.
A vocal wobble (unless specifically called for) sounds sloppy and uncontrolled.
Straight tone is...
used in almost every style of music, as is vibrato. A straight tone has no pulse or wave. It's has sort of a "flat-line" sound. It's often used to add intensity to a note.
Click here to hear an audio example of vibrato:
Click here to hear an audio example of tremolo:
Click here to hear an audio example of straight tone: