Bending notes


R17
Registered User
Joined: 07/15/08
Posts: 14
R17
Registered User
Joined: 07/15/08
Posts: 14
08/20/2008 3:27 am
Hi again, i got some really cool guitar books from my favorite bands, and i got one question. How can you tell whether you are bending the note 1/4 1/2 and 1 whole bend? and also on the low 6th string (E) when you bend it,you do bend it down right? i dont think it makes sense to bend it up. Thanks :confused: :confused: :confused:
# 1
sixpicker
Telecastered Instructor
Joined: 03/12/04
Posts: 756
sixpicker
Telecastered Instructor
Joined: 03/12/04
Posts: 756
08/20/2008 6:40 am
If it says 1/2 step, the note you bend to would sound like the note in the next fret. If it says bend 1 whole step, the bent note would sound like the note that is two frets up. As for the 1/4 step, that note would be in between the note you're bending, and the next fret. That's pretty much the only way to put it, sorry if it sounds a little confusing.

You have to pull down on the 5th and 6th string when you bend them. They slip off of the fingerboard if you try to push them up.

When bending on the 1st, 2nd, you usually want to bend these by pushing them up. For the 3rd, or 4th sting, you can push them up, or pull them down.

Let me know if this helps, and if not we'll try to put it another way.

JD
# 2
Don Schexnayder
Registered User
Joined: 08/07/08
Posts: 27
Don Schexnayder
Registered User
Joined: 08/07/08
Posts: 27
08/20/2008 1:01 pm
This might be a little unrelated, but if you have trouble making the bends cleanly & in tune (not too high or too low), a good exercise is practicing two-string "oblique" bends...where you play the note you're trying to bend up to on the next string while you perform the bend itself.

When you do these, you can hear exactly what pitch you're bending up to, so it's easier to hear how to keep them in tune.

Here's an article with additional info:

http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/get-a-grip/Mar-05/4332
Donnie Schexnayder
www.ColoradoGuitarLessons.com
www.myspace.com/donnieschexnayder
# 3
Forrest Lee
Nashville GTI
Joined: 03/12/08
Posts: 76
Forrest Lee
Nashville GTI
Joined: 03/12/08
Posts: 76
08/21/2008 4:31 am
Hello!

I would suggest taking a short detour, basic Nashville Number System. The theory behind 1/2 or 1 whole step [U]As[/U] based on a major scale. You know... Do Re Me Fa So La etc... and so on...
Do is 1 (open), Re is a whole step (2 frets) to 2, Mi is a whole step (2 frets) to the 4th fret, but it's the 3 note, Fa is a 1/2 step to the 4 note or chord (5th fret), So is a whole step (2 frets) to the 5 note or chord (7th fret).

So bending from an open E a whole step would result in an F# note, which is possible on a Telecaster or Stratocaster from bending the string behind the nut, to an F# note.


Frets on a guitar are in 1/2 step increments. So for a major scale in the key of E, the open E is the first note, the first fret (F) is a half step, (F#) a whole step from the E, (G) at the third fret is a perfect example to bend a whole step. When you bend the G note (from the third fret on the E string) up one whole step (or two frets) you end up at an A note, which should be the exact same note as the 5th string (A-string) with a slightly differnt voicing.

Now the general rule is to pull toward the middle of the fretboard, So if you are bending an E (.042) or an A string, or D string... you would pull down. If bending a .009 E string or B, or G string you would bend them up.
This is not set in stone though... it's virtually impossible to bend a big E string upwards, (pull it down, or below the nut instead) but bending a G string down will increase your speed if you are in the open A chord postion. Johnny Hiland does it frequently, and to great affect.

I hope this helps explain a bit about bending. Some great info is available here on Guitar Tricks. And I would also suggest look for some Nashville numbers system lessons. You can also find lessons that get deeper into the basic theory of bender guitar/pedal steel type bends.
Forrest Lee Jr
# 4
R17
Registered User
Joined: 07/15/08
Posts: 14
R17
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Joined: 07/15/08
Posts: 14
09/08/2008 2:36 am
thanks it helps
# 5

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