Bending strings is used to give the guitar a more personalized and harmonic quality. The technique is used mostly by lead guitar players but is also applied in all styles of playing. String bending and vibrato techniques are two large components in making up a guitar player's style. The combination of these skills more or less defines a considerable part of what makes your playing different than the next guy.
Bending the strings far enough to reach a desired pitch is the goal. One of the keys is to use three fingers to bend the string, instead of just one finger. Use your third finger on the fret you're bending and place your first and second fingers on the frets behind it, and use the strength of all three fingers when you do a bend.
Fret the note on the 7th fret of the third string with your third finger. Your other finger should follow on the 6th and 5th fret. Our goal is to bend this note up one step (the equivalent of two frets) and then release the note to its original pitch. Before you do your first bend hit the note on the 9th fret, this will be your reference note. When you do your bend the goal is to make the tone of your bend ?reach? the tone of the reference note. Repeat: hit your reference note, then immediately jump to the correct position and play a bend until to can consistently match the reference note.
The length you hold the bend, how quickly you release it and any vibrato you add to the bend will define a large part of playing your style. It's good to just have fun and try doing a number of bends and releases to hear all the different sounds you can generate. Try bending the note before you strike it so you just hear the release, or try using a wide or narrow vibrato so act character and color to your bends.
Be patient you haven't used these muscles before, and is will take time to strengthen. Keep practicing, and you'll get the hang of it eventually.
The first time I picked up a guitar my whole life changed. I think I slept with it the night I brought my first new guitar home. It's a bit embarrassing to admit, but it is true. I remember the feel of the guitar in my hands and the shape, which reminded me of a girl I once dated. But seriously it was love, pure love.
Then I plugged it in and hit those first magic notes?.. Wow did it sound awful, maybe the worst noise I ever heard in my life. So started my journey in the world of music some 23 years ago, I found my one and only mistress, the guitar.
Today I am happily married with 3 kids, a real job, and my guitars. The only thing my wife has ever been jealous over is my guitars. I told her once I could have girlfriends or guitars, she said she'd settle for the guitars. Thus is the secret to a happy marriage.
Oh more importantly, the guitars. No two are the same, even the same model, made in the same year, with sequential serial numbers, are going to play and sound different. They have their own personalities, their own feel and their own mood swings. I have Fender's, Gibson's, Washburn's, Parker's, solid bodies, hollow bodies and semi-hollow body guitars.
Every week I go to a friend's house, or a local store and just pickup every guitar I can and play it for a few minutes. It really is an obsession. I think, dream and dwell on playing guitar 24 Hours a day.
Is this story the same as your's. As humorous as this may sound, many of my playing friends say the same thing. You can never have enough guitars, or spend enough time playing your guitar.
Bill Mcrea has sinced written about articles on various topics from Music, Time Management Skills and Golf Guide. Bill McRea is publisher of http://www.guitarwarehouse.com/ and http://www.kansasfans.com/. Bill Mcrea's top article generates over 27100 views. Bookmark Bill Mcrea to your Favourites.