More of this Feature • Part 1: overview • Part 2: palm muting • Part 3: major chord inversions • Part 4: chord quiz • Part 5: advanced string bends • Part 6: learning songs • Part 7: practice schedule

Related Content • Index of Guitar Lessons • Buying Your First Guitar • How to Read Guitar Tab • Easy to Play Songs

In lesson eight, we explored the basics of string bending. If you haven't studied that lesson, or need a refresher course, it is suggested you go back and spend some time learning the material there.

Although the string bending style we learned in lesson eight is extremely valuable, there are a few nuances of string bending that will make the technique much more useful. Let's look at a few common bending techniques:

Types of Bends

Listen to mp3 of above bends

The above is three variations of a very simple guitar riff used often by B.B. King. We'll use this phrase to illustrate the various types of bending. The first bending technique above, the bend and release, we already learned in lesson eight - bend the note up a tone, and bring it back to "regular" pitch. Rather straightforward.

The second technique is generally just referred to as a string bend. It differs from the first bending technique in that rather than bending the pitch and then bringing it back to it's beginning pitch, we mute the string while it is still bent, so you don't hear the string returning to it's "normal" unbent pitch. You accomplish this by hitting the string with a downpick, bending the note up a tone, then touching the underside of the still bent string with your pick to cause it to stop ringing. You can then release the bent string back to it's original position.

The third technique above is called a pre-bend. The pre-bend differs in that you actually bend the string BEFORE you play it. Bend the tenth fret of the second string up to the 12th fret, then hit the string with your pick. Now, release the bend, so the pitch returns to normal. This can be tricky, since you have to estimate how far to bend the note, without being able to hear it. Concentrate on trying to get the bend in tune.

If you're interested in this style of guitar playing, I'll encourage you to read the learn to play like B.B. King feature. Most of that lesson isn't any harder to play than the material presented above.

Now, let's move on to learning songs.  

Next page > Palm Muting > Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7