My Bends are Anemic. How to Improve?

[silverfrost1]

Especially on the G string, my bends going up one step are melancholy and anemic sounding. The G string is supposedly in tune, even a bit sharp, according to my Korg 30. The bends remind me of a cat wailing, not like the bends I hear EVERYONE else make. This Epi LP might be the problem, because I had it set up by a pro. Bad neck?

[StrangerNY]

Two words: finger strength.

I used to carry a tennis ball around and just squeeze it. It builds up strength in your fingers. Nowadays they have grip-type things that they sell to do the same thing, but a tennis ball is a good way to do it on the cheap.

- D

[Paragon]

Free Guitar Lesson - TE-005 - String Bending

Should help with how to hold your fingers and bending.

[5F6-A]

Originally Posted by silverfrost1

EThe bends remind me of a cat wailing, not like the bends I hear EVERYONE else make.

ouch.... thanks for your honesty. Practice a lot and listen to the greats.

[GibsonByBirth]

Try practicing a slow deliberate bend with your ring finger. Then practice with your index. After they start sounding the way you want them to, mix them in with riffs. Add speed later.

[jimmyq]

You could try digging in more on the G, it's a great string to bend on. Make sure you're getting plenty of support from your other fingers on the string behind the fretted note.

If I'm fretting with the third finger, I'll tend to have both the first and the second fingers on the string for extra strength, supporting the bend.

YMMV.

[River]

What gauge strings are you using, and what tuning?

My finger strength is pretty good, but I still don't like 10s. Hence my use of 9-46s.

[GibsonByBirth]

Originally Posted by River

What gauge strings are you using, and what tuning?

My finger strength is pretty good, but I still don't like 10s. Hence my use of 9-46s.

Great point. Also remember the pinky is weak. Some players don't use it. Some use it for hammer and pulls only. I don't think anyone uses it for bends.

[River]

Originally Posted by GibsonByBirth

Great point. Also remember the pinky is weak. Some players don't use it. Some use it for hammer and pulls only. I don't think anyone uses it for bends.

Right. When I pinky-bend, I'm usually using four fingers.

[SiriusAbbott]

I too use .009-.042s,heres why......

YouTube - MLP video proof

YouTube - MLP video proof

[rambler]

Originally Posted by silverfrost1

Especially on the G string, my bends going up one step are melancholy and anemic sounding. The G string is supposedly in tune, even a bit sharp, according to my Korg 30. The bends remind me of a cat wailing, not like the bends I hear EVERYONE else make. This Epi LP might be the problem, because I had it set up by a pro. Bad neck?

Blame the guitar? Come on now.. practice, over and overrr..

String size isn't usually a big issue either - I mean sure, at first it is, but your fingers adapt pretty quickly. I went from 8's a couple months ago to 11's now just gradually building up.. can't see any point in going any higher though

[jimmyq]

Originally Posted by SiriusAbbott

I too use .009-.042s,heres why......
YouTube - MLP video proof

Nice chops, my friend. Good work.

[silverfrost1]

My .010 strings may have to go. I tried an Ibanez with .009 strings and it was easier to bend the notes. BTW, my .010 strings have been on there for five months. Maybe they are worn out.

[Atomic]

Originally Posted by GibsonByBirth

Great point. Also remember the pinky is weak. Some players don't use it. Some use it for hammer and pulls only. I don't think anyone uses it for bends.

i do!

Originally Posted by SiriusAbbott

I too use .009-.042s,heres why......
YouTube - MLP video proof

great playing

[jomo]

Well, according to _{Onesilverdousche}- or what ever his name was, you can use a wah pedal to "bend" your strings!!!!
Your thread made me think of that, sorry.

Try one of these.

[GibsonByBirth]

Originally Posted by Atomic

i do!

Do you use all 4 fingers like River noted above when bending with the pinky?

[Dave1968]

Great point. Also remember the pinky is weak. Some players don't use it. Some use it for hammer and pulls only. I don't think anyone uses it for bends.

I do too! Just as River says, use them all at once and you have all the strength you possibly can at your finger tips!

[bigdaddy]

thinner strings = less tone

Practice your bends with your tuner on. Work on bending crisply to the desired note and holding it there. You need to develop the muscle memory and the ear memory to get there with authority. It's a skill, your gear, including strings, won't make any difference.

[Dave1968]

thinner strings = less tone

I agree; Jimmy Page use's a set of 8's and his bends are/were terrible, there's hope yet!! I do like his sloppy playing all said and done. :-)

[River]

Originally Posted by bigdaddy

thinner strings = less tone

Practice your bends with your tuner on. Work on bending crisply to the desired note and holding it there. You need to develop the muscle memory and the ear memory to get there with authority. It's a skill, your gear, including strings, won't make any difference.

a) Less volume? That I'll buy, if I understand electromagnetism. Better tone? I think that's debatable and entirely subjective. I don't hear it that way on my guitars, using my fingers.

b) Excellent advice.

[Sky]

Originally Posted by GibsonByBirth

Great point. Also remember the pinky is weak. Some players don't use it. Some use it for hammer and pulls only. I don't think anyone uses it for bends.

Intro to Unholy Confessions - Avenged Sevenfold is a good way to build strength in the pinky. :-)

[Sin Nombre]

Here's another thought- generally when ones does a bend he bends the string up a 1/2 or full step and then either releases the bend so the note goes back to its original pitch, or he moves on to another note without the pitch of the bent note returning to where it started. In the latter case one has to mute the bent string as he lets go of it so that you cannot hear it return to its normal pitch. If you are not doing this the effect might sound like the wailing cat you refer to or as Justin Sandercoe says "seagulls".

[teeloh]

Bending is personal. It's not personal like underwear, but personal because you bring your own touches, and because I get to share in it. I do not 'train' using grips or strengtheners to play guitar. I just play.

Off topic: but Sin, your avatar is striking. One of those new-fangled computer altered thingies, no doubt.

[phos]

When I was first starting out, I had 10-46 strings and could only bend to about 2 notes. I decided to move to 11-52 strings to play the same song I was learning just to see if the tone changed much and noticed bends were significantly harder but I persisted. After about 2 days of going at it to the point where my fingers were sore, I picked up my other guitar that had 10-46 strings and noticed I could easily bend to 3 notes.

[River]

Originally Posted by phos

When I was first starting out, I had 10-46 strings and could only bend to about 2 notes. I decided to move to 11-52 strings to play the same song I was learning just to see if the tone changed much and noticed bends were significantly harder but I persisted. After about 2 days of going at it to the point where my fingers were sore, I picked up my other guitar that had 10-46 strings and noticed I could easily bend to 3 notes.

That works for building strength. Not sure if I'd recommend it for accuracy training.

[b-squared]

Originally Posted by jimmyq

You could try digging in more on the G, it's a great string to bend on. Make sure you're getting plenty of support from your other fingers on the string behind the fretted note.

If I'm fretting with the third finger, I'll tend to have both the first and the second fingers on the string for extra strength, supporting the bend.

YMMV.

+1

Like it was also said--it's all about hand strength...not just the fingers. Get one of those hand squeeze-exercise things, and work it out. Strong hands=monster bends and vibrato.

Also, very important...stretch your hands and forearms before/after playing or exercising.


BB

[phos]

Originally Posted by River

That works for building strength. Not sure if I'd recommend it for accuracy training.

True enough. I understood the OP's problem as not being able to bend the string enough but either way I think building up strength makes it considerably easier to nail accuracy. Then at least it's not a strength effort to get to that point but instead it's about how far you need to go to get the note you're aiming for. That's just about listening, practice, and muscle memory.

[River]

Originally Posted by phos

True enough. I understood the OP's problem as not being able to bend the string enough but either way I think building up strength makes it considerably easier to nail accuracy. Then at least it's not a strength effort to get to that point but instead it's about how far you need to go to get the note you're aiming for. That's just about listening, practice, and muscle memory.

Yep, and when I think about it, it's better than squeezing balls and stuff, 'cause you're exercising the right muscles.

[Sin Nombre]

Originally Posted by teeloh

Off topic: but Sin, your avatar is striking. One of those new-fangled computer altered thingies, no doubt.

Thanks. I'm an ex-commercial photographer (pre-digital) but its hard to tell how things are created these days. I thought a good caption for the photo would be "Everyman's fantasy, everyman's nightmare."

[NowGibson]

I keep an old takamine acoustic (12-54) around the house to play and when I plug in my electric it's easier all around to play it (10-46). Similar idea.
Another thought is that you may incorporate it as part of you style...and refine it...
Albert King said those picks kept flying out of my hand so I just used my thumb...his bends are pretty
large, if he needed to go up to a note he'd just bend to it.