Tremolo bar flutter
A rapid, shallow oscillation of the tremolo arm that adds a shimmering vibrato to a held note or chord.
Flutter is made by letting the arm move freely under the palm in tiny, fast movements rather than pressing it deliberately. On a floating tremolo the arm sits under the hand naturally and the vibration of a loud chord can even set it going by itself. The effect is most common in surf, ambient and instrumental rock playing, where a sustained chord needs movement without pitch change, and it is one of the few techniques where the tremolo is used as a subtle texture rather than a stunt.
Example: A long, ringing surf chord that shimmers without any obvious button-pressing motion is being fluttered with the tremolo arm.
See also
Related
- PageWhammy bar
- PageVibrato technique
- PageTremolo
- PageAccent
- PageAction height
- PageAlternate picking
- PageAaron Dessner
- PageAce Frehley