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Guitar Technique - Advanced String Bends

This guitar technique lesson will delve deep into advanced string bends like the unison bend, stationary bend, double-note bend, and more. These techniques are vital to your success in playing great guitar riffs, licks, and solos.

Back in the 1930's and 40's before rock and roll was invented, guitar strings were very thick and heavy. Because of this, jazz and blues guitar players alike were limited to slight string bends or half step bends. Although this greatly developed the strength in blues and jazz players' fingers, it definitely limited their technique and freedom to try new types of bends.

It could also be said that this lack of technique due to heavy guitar strings was a blessing! Jazz and blues players alike figured out other ways to coerce new sounds from the guitar. Jazz players like Django Rheinhart and Charlie Christian and blues players like Tampa Red and Blind Lemon Jefferson used hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, vibratos, and double notes to create new guitar licks and riffs that are still used today!

As guitar string technology improved in the 1950's and 1960's, blues and rock players began to push the limits of string bending technique. Guitar technique would never be the same thanks to Chuck Berry, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, and many others.

• I recommend you review half bend guitar technique before you try to learn the following advanced bending techniques.

UNISON BEND TECHNIQUE

This bending technique probably was introduced by Johnny Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, or one of the great blues guitar players of the 1940's or '50's.

For the unison bend, you need to remember these rules:

• Do not bend the 1st finger note
• Play both strings at the same time
• Use 3 fingers to bend the note

(HEAR IT!)

	There are many ways to play this bend technique:
	1. Bring the bend note up to the other note's pitch. (see comparing bends)
	2. Bring the bend note up only slightly to achieve a very cool "out of tune" effect
	3. Bend the note slowly or bend it quickly

 

 

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Now let's try a unison lick:

• There should be no guitar strings ringing between the unison bends. To do this, release the pressure off of the notes, and you may also mute the notes with your pick.

(HEAR IT!)

Practice Track (HEAR IT!)

	1. First practice playing the three unison bends in a row.
	2. Practice the last 5 notes. Count!
	3. Play the whole lick slowly! Count!
	4. Play the lick slowly with the metronome
	5. Play the lick with the practice track!

This guitar technique is just like a unison bend, except that the bent note does not move up to the same pitch as the stationary note.

 

For the stationary bend, you need to remember these rules:

• Do not bend the 1st finger note
• Play both strings at the same time
• compare full bend pitch to 2 frets above
• Use 3 fingers to bend the note

(HEAR IT!)

Now let's try a stationary bend lick:

(HEAR IT!)

Practice Track (HEAR IT!)

	1. Play the whole lick slowly! Count!
	2. Play the lick slowly with the metronome
	3. Play the lick with the practice track!

This guitar technique was also probably introduced by the great blues players of the 40's and 50's. When playing this technique, the top note is bent a half step, and the bottom note is bent a whole step. For a more dissonant sound, bend each note slightly.

For the double bend, remember these rules:

• Bend both notes at the same time
• compare the the double bend to the other notes in parenthesis.

(HEAR IT!)

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Now let's try a double bend lick:

• You should not release the double bend before you play the first double notes. To do this, release the pressure off of the notes, and you may also mute the notes with your pick.

(HEAR IT!)

Practice Track (HEAR IT!)

	1. Play each measure alone, slowly - Count!
	2. Play the entire lick slowly - Count!
	3. Play the lick slowly with the metronome.
	4. Play the lick with the practice track!