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String bends are an important part of
your overall playing ability. This
technique is great for allowing feel and
emotion to come out in your playing.
Two important aspects of string bending
are:
1. Finger strength
2. Ear Training
Finger Strength
The first problem you may encounter when
learning to bend is pushing up hard
enough on the string.
Make sure you're using a light enough
gauge string. Normally, I use "lites"
for my electric guitar.
Lite Gauge Strings:
E 042
A 032
D 024
G 016
B 011
E 009
You may want to use "Extra Lites" if
you're just starting out.
Extra Lite Gauge Strings:
E 038
A 030
D 022
G 014
B 011
E 008
The biggest secret I learned about
bending notes is that you MUST use
supporting fingers!
Here's what I mean.
Let's say you're doing a bend at the
seventh fret, third string using your
third finger. The bend comes much easier
if you use your second finger to help
the third push the string up.
Lay both fingers on the string. Keep
your fingers together; no gaps. This
technique provides good leverage to make
the bend happen.
Another great thing about this is that
the same applies to bending with your
pinky. Use your second and third fingers
to help your pinky push that string up.
In some cases, you may want to use your
first finger as well.
Ear Training
Obviously, your bends won't sound good
if you don't know what note you're
shooting for. You need to practice your
bends by alternating between the bent
note and the regularly fretted note so
that your ear will become accustomed to
the correct pitch. This also serves to
teach you how far to physically bend the
string. I've included "ear training"
notes in the exercises below.
Here's the tablature for a good range of
bends to practice:
Legend
2b4 = bend second fret note up to fourth
fret note.
1. This bend is good for building
strength because it's so low on the
neck.
use third finger to bend
------------------------------------------------------------
-------0-------0--------------------------------------------
--2b4-----2b4-----------------------------------------------
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2. This bend is good if you're just
starting out. It's located at the center
of the string tension and the fretted
note for ear training is an easy reach
with your first finger.
use third finger to bend
------------------------------------------------------------
---------10---------10--------------------------------------
--12b14------12b14------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
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3. This bend will help your pinky get
into shape.
use fourth finger to bend
---------10---------10--------------------------------------
--13b15------13b15------------------------------------------
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------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
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4. Play this one when your pinky IS in
shape.
use fourth finger to bend
--22b24------22b24------------------------------------------
---------17---------17--------------------------------------
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You're now on your way to bending steel
with your bare hands!
Will Landrum |
