String Bending

Here is my dilema. I am having some difficulties trying to bend strings. My instructor has been helping me but I am looking for some additional tips. I am learning blues guitar and have moved into the introduction into bending notes. I am using two fingers (middle and ring) to bend upwards but they catch the string above it and I have to mute that string with my index finger. Sometimes even that doesn't work and I end up sounding the string above when coming back down. Does anyone have any tips to maybe get past this or is it normal to sound the string above a little when doing this. I just want a clean sound.

Thanks in advance

Try trimming your nails back a little on the fretboard hand, but you still need to block the other strings. You're doing the right thing, probably just need to practice.


JD

Yeah probably is just practice. I notice my nails will get stuck under the string above the bend but only sometimes. If I go really slow and look at my fingers I can do it almost everytime. I don't think I can cut my fingernails any shorter hahah so I am thinking its just one of those things that just takes awhile to master,
Ed

Originally Posted by: gplayer33Here is my dilema. I am having some difficulties trying to bend strings. My instructor has been helping me but I am looking for some additional tips. I am learning blues guitar and have moved into the introduction into bending notes. I am using two fingers (middle and ring) to bend upwards but they catch the string above it and I have to mute that string with my index finger. Sometimes even that doesn't work and I end up sounding the string above when coming back down. Does anyone have any tips to maybe get past this or is it normal to sound the string above a little when doing this. I just want a clean sound.

Thanks in advance

Depends on your string action. If you have a higher action, you may slip under the adjacent strings. That's ok so long as you don't mind a little wear on your finger nails and lower knuckles.

If you have lower action, when you bend strings, the others should move along with you. If you are bending the 'G' string up, you would see the D string touch your leading bend (ring) finger top and move upwards with your bend. Since the D string was not picked, it will be noiseless. It just moves along with the bend.

Remember that the goal of a good bend (by the rules) is to get to either the next whole or half step of the scale you're playing so that your bend ends in the next note of the scale. I've said that to get good bending down, if it doesn't already come naturally, to first ring out the next note higher in the scale from the fret you are going to bend from. Then see of you can bend to the note you just heard. Do it a bit like a practice drill. It helps you hear what's right... It also may help you get rid of all the string ringing problems you are having since you will likely not be 'over-bending' which I'm guessing might be part of your issue.

Once you get the 'right' way down, then you can go all Buddy Guy bend crazy....

Ahhh I never had thought of that. I play an acoustic so my strings are a bit higher than an electric guitar. So my difficulty may be different. Thanks for the good explanation makes good sense.

Hi
I'm fairly new to guitar but I've noticed that keeping my fingers (specially the nail joint) more vertical (or , I suppose perpendicular to fretbd) throughout the bend (bend and/or bend+release) prevents my nail etc from catching and ringing the adjacent string

it's a matter of burning that motion into your subconscious - that takes practice

Hey mannyc,
first of all, you want to work on bending the 2nd string. Start in the 7th fret, the string will bend a little easier there. Work on bending the string, and holding it. after you bend the string up to pitch, stop the sound with your palm. Let me clarify bending up to pitch, you want to bend the note to sound like the note in the 9th fret on the second string.

Here are a few tips for string bending, you want to bend the 2nd string with the ring finger on your left hand, you also want to put your middle finger in the fret before the one you're bending in. This will give you more strength, and more control over the bend. The last thing is to use the index finger to block the other strings. You don't really need to press down hard, you want to try to make a bar across the strings, and touch the strings just enough to mute them.

When you get used to bending the 2nd string, work on releasing after you bend the string. When you get used to bending and releasing, put your pinky in the 7th fret on the 1st string. Now play the 2nd string, bend it and hold it, then play the 1st string. Go back to the 2nd string, play it and then release the bend. Move back a whole step (2 frets) to the 5th fret and do the same thing here. The first bend was in the E chord, going back a whole step put it in the D chord. Move back up to the 8th fret, and do the same thing there. This is an F, and up a whole step from there is the G.

I hope this helps you, and I just noticed that you're not a full access member. I would tell you to check out the string bending tutorial that I have, it covers everything I've posted here, and even more. Here is the link just in case you decide to go full access. http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=628

Let us know how it goes, and if we can do anything else to help you.