Mastering String Bends - Part 2

In part 1, we looked at the basics of string bending on guitar, getting physically comfortable with the bend action and using our ears to recognise the pitch to which we want to bend the note.

This lesson, we'll expand into more advanced (but not difficult!) string bending techniques. Two things to cover here...

1) Using string bends more dynamically and getting more physically creative with bending.

2) Learning how to incorporate bends effectively into your scales and soloing phrases.

Bends can also be used with other lead guitar techniques, but to keep things focused we're going to concentrate solely on the bends! Other separate lessons will cover the other techniques and you will eventually be armed with a whole array of techniques to mix and merge how you creatively wish.

Right, been over the basics in part 1? OK, let's move on...

Bending in scale - introduction

When I write a solo, no matter how long or short it is, I always go through the same process. See if you find it useful for you...

A lot of this is separate stuff, covered in their own lessons, but I'll just recap:

First, we identify a scale we want to play in. This has a lot to do with the key the chord progression you're playing over is in. In this case, we're going to be playing over an A minor key.

Now, a scale/mode that's compatible with A minor is D Dorian - don't worry if you don't know what that is, or why it's compatible, like I said that's all covered in separate lessons. We're just focusing on string bending this lesson!

So below is a very simple little phrase I've pulled out of the D Dorian scale

Click the diagrams in this lesson to hear

(the red numbers will make sense in a minute)

Sounds kind of flat... boring even!!!

How about we bend to a couple of the notes in that sequence, rather than just jump to them? To do this we need to identify which notes we're bending to. When you're doing this, just go with your "gut", express the emotion you're feeling.

Take a look at the diagram above again - the red numbers are the notes I've decided to bend to. It's a simple case of getting to know that note's pitch (the note you want to bend to) and then using the string that will allow you to bend up to that pitch...

Click to hear

So there were two bends in there, bending to the same pitch as the red notes in the original flat sequence.

See how you can start out with a flat phrase, and then work in the string bends (and any other technique in fact)? Simple! And the best thing is, it leaves room for your creativity to work its magic.

Let's just now hear the above phrase in action over the A minor backing track - then you can try your own. I add a little extra in from A minor pentatonic and then a little extra at the end, still based around A minor.

Hear an example here >

Download the backing track here >

The difficult part is getting that pitch bending accuracy spot on - even absolute pro guitarists don't get it perfect every time (hint: they use vibrato to "mask" any flatness or sharpness at the peak of a bend!), however, use that original flat solo you've come up with and really listen to the note you're going to bend to at its original position - that way, you can train your ear to "think" in half-steps, whole-steps etc.

Sometimes, like in my example above, you can pick the string again at the peak of the bend - this keeps the note sustained and adds more definition to the tone you've bent to.

Training your ear for pitch bending

Let's try something a little different now, to help train our ear towards bending in half steps and whole steps (the two most common bending intervals). Part 1 gave us the basics behind "measuring" interval bends.

Below, I've split a soloing phrase into 3 parts. Each part in the tab is laid out without the string bends added. Listen to the corresponding audio parts 1-3 and try and hear where I've used bends to get to certain notes in the tab. Try and apply the bends, at the appropriate places, to the phrases based on what you hear in the audio. It'll all become clearer when you actually listen to it!

Hint: Some bends will be made at frets not indicated in the tab! When you hear the bend in the audio, you'll have to think about which fret I might have started that bend action on, in order to get to the desired pitch.

=ANSWERS=

So, with part 1, instead of just fretting from 12 to 13 like in the tab, I bend 12 half a step up to the pitch of 13 and back again.

With part 2, I do a similar thing, but this time I bend 15 up to the pitch of 17 and release it back again. Also in this part, instead of fretting from 13 to 18 on the B string, I bend at 16 up a whole step to the pitch of 18.

Part 3 starts off the same as part 2, but then goes for that grande finale bend - to get to the pitch of 20 in the tab, I actually bend a whole step from fret 18. Why bend from 18? Because the note at fret 18 is part of the scale, so it sounds fine as a starting note for our bend.

OK, let's hear it in action...

Hear an example here >

And the backing track for you to have a go at the above, or try creating your own, of course...

Download the backing track here >

String bending in blues

Time for the inevitable blues riff!

A lot of people think the pentatonic scales and blues scale have been done to death. But the thing about these scales is they really bring out your own style - because blues fans/players know generally what flavour of music they'll hear/play you can really use this to explore your version of it. Using string bends and other physical techniques in these scales is just really satisfying to play for a lot of guitarists!

Sorry, enough waffling.

Below is a backing track predominantly suited for A minor or A major pentatonic or blues scales - great thing about most blues is you can switch from minor to major, or vice versa just like that...!

Download the backing track here >

Try using what you know about the minor pentatonic scale and major pentatonic scale to start with. Try to insert bends into these scales. You can use the process I outlined earlier if you want. Just to recap - play out your solo as just a flat phrase (no bends, vibratos etc.) and then add in the bends how you see fit.

Here's an example with the string bends highlighted in red.

Click diagram to hear

Hint: The very first bend in the solo is one you might not be familiar with. You can either interpret it as bending both strings at the same time, or you can bend the G string up before sounding the B string (as is done in the example audio).

Also with that first double bend, you'll notice that the interval we're bending on the G string is a whole step, whilst the bend interval on the B string is just a half step. This almost comes naturally, because as you bend the G string up, the distance you end up bending it is greater than the bend of the B string!

Start with simply bending the G string up to the interval noted in the tab, now, keeping in this bent position, try and put pressure on the B string to fret it, whilst you're up there with the G string. It should, almost naturally, be in position for that half step interval. Keep at it and you'll get it!

Practice that first bend, as the physical technique used for that can be used across all 6 strings.

Hopefully, by taking your time through both parts, you're now fairly confident with applying the string bending technique to your lead guitar work. If not, just go back over and recap - take your time. Most guitarists find the physical aspect of bending the toughest challenge to overcome - just like when you first take on that dreaded "F barre chord", your fingers eventually apply themselves.

Of course, your learning for this technique doesn't stop with these two lessons! Learning new scales, for example, is a great way to test your ear for bending - especially the more exotic scales.

Thanks for your time and patience and keep at it!