TE-005 • String Bending

[TB-AV]

Both Justin and Indigo are re-linking and updating some things. It's probably due to that but it's being looked into.

[justinguitar]

ahhh - that will be cos it's old and I've been tidying up old!!

been replaced with

http://www.justinguitar.com/en/BL-014-BluesBends.php

I'll get that all sorted when I get back!!

[Toad]

So I have been revisiting my bending and vibrato techniques when I realized the video for bending does not work (it is marked private).

Anyways quick question.  When bending, should I use the exact tips of my fingers or is it ok to bend a little lower?  I just realized this is hard to explain without actually showing a picture of my finger and pointing out where I am bending.

I'm gonna take a quick pic and show u guys.  BRB.

[Toad]

So I took this picture of my fingers.  Red is where I am currently bending,  blue is my actual finger tip. Should I be bendinding at the blue points?

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-ima

[misterg]

So I took this picture of my fingers.  Red is where I am currently bending,  blue is my actual finger tip. Should I be bendinding at the blue points?

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-ima

404 dude.....

To answer your original question, I think you do have to hold your fingers a bit flatter when you're bending strings so the 'contact point' will move around more towards the pad of your finger than the tip (N.B. not onto the pad).

Andy

[Toad]

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/256/image20120128003730.png/

that link should work better.

[Toad]

404 dude.....

To answer your original question, I think you do have to hold your fingers a bit flatter when you're bending strings so the 'contact point' will move around more towards the pad of your finger than the tip (N.B. not onto the pad).

Andy

So I guess I am doing it right then?

[misterg]

Yes, I think so - it's a careful balance between keeping enough pressure on the fret to keep the note clean and avoiding grinding the string into the fret/fingerboard as you bend.

Andy

[Toad]

Ok that is good.  The reason I asked is because the skiin under my middle fingers nail is starting to tear apart from the nail.  It's very painful.  This happened to my ringer finger, but doesn't happen anymore.  I guess my middle finger will just have to get used to it. 

[Bootstrap]

Hey Justin,

Just watched BL-014 through all the way again.

Whilst you demonstrate the string muting in BL-014 and it is on the whole a better lesson and in context of a real application, the value of the old lesson was that you also explained good technique to get the bend happening with the thumb over the top and using the wrist action to bend the strings up.

I mention it because it is a technique that confounds a lot of beginners.

Cheers, Boots

[steveo2]

That thumb is over for better vibrato control as well.
A lesson the shows that a person should bend with all four fingers a full tone with no back up is advance I guess but it;s what I do and works well for me.
Good eyes boot or Mr strap

[Bootstrap]

Hey Justin,

Just watched BL-014 through all the way again.

Whilst you demonstrate the string muting in BL-014 and it is on the whole a better lesson and in context of a real application, the value of the old lesson was that you also explained good technique to get the bend happening with the thumb over the top and using the wrist action to bend the strings up.

I mention it because it is a technique that confounds a lot of beginners.

Cheers, Boots

Ahhhh - I see it is now covered in detail in IM-144 - nice one

http://www.justinguitar.com/en/IM-144-StringBending.php

[RichS]

I noticed in Justin's lessons about playing Pentatonic scales that he recommends using 1st and 3rd fingers a lot on the LH, to faciliate bending.  For example, consider playing a Minor Pentatonic Pattern 1 (E min shape)...  I've always played the pattern with the following fingering:

1, 4
1, 3
1, 3
1, 3
1, 4
1, 4

But Justin suggests using fingers 1 and 3 throughout.  It makes perfect sense and I can see why he's suggested this.  And I also know he says not to worry about precise fingering too much.  But I was wondering: is it wrong to be doing string bends including the little finger?  I've always happily done bends using three fingers or all four, and now I'm wondering if using four is incorrect. 

Thanks.

I just started working on this technique, and have finally memorized the patterns for the Minor Pentatonic scale. I saw where Justin mentioned this also. I was wondering if you do this for all patterns, and do it when not doing bends also? It seems it might get confusing using the third finger only when doing bends and using the fourth other times?

[shadowscott007]

I tend to use my pinky when running the scale quickly to get some where else.  And when I'm hanging out in a particularly bendy spot I use my ring finger in lieu of my pinky. 

Confusing at first, but it gets to the point where you don't think about it anymore. 
Shadow

[RichS]

Sounds good. Just wanted to be sure what was right, since I just got the patterns memorized.