Bending Technique In Blues

[Willsie]

@elevatortrim I am thinking of muting the string after the bend but it needs work!
@sclay I’m trying to pivot around the edge of my palm, just below the index finger, but your analogy to a doorknob is interesting. I’l think of that.
@TheMadman_tobyjenner Good video. I think it’s given me an idea as to why I found the PRS easier to bend on: compared to my guitars. It has a very comfortable low neck profile and I believe that my thumb fitted more easily over the top edge. Another visit to the shop to check is called for. I do know it was the most comfortable electric I’ve ever tried out. Are they known for low profile necks? I’ll check out Richard’s Smoke On The Water.

[Willsie]

@TheMadman_tobyjenner

But that PRS looks sweet, especially the Faded Blue Burst version.

In the shop I tried the charcoal burst, which doesn’t look so good online but in real life is superb.

[Willsie]

@Richard_close2u

but do you want / need 24 frets and a trem system?

no idea whether I’d ever use 24 frets but Apache is on my bucket list so the tremolo, yes.

[Stuartw]

@elevatortrim

Hard to understand from the video angle but I do not see your right hand muting the string at the top of the bend. For this one, it should be the side of your right hand touching the string to stop the sound at the highest point of the bend.

This is a hard one for me. Tricky yo get the sequence right at the moment.

@elevatortrim

Try to keep your thumb at the back of the neck while practising (especially if it is doing nothing like muting the bottom E string)

I thought for bending it was better to have the thumb/hand grasping the neck to give better grip?

@elevatortrim

Like your index finger was glued to the fretboard and you are trying to shake off a ladybird from the tip of your pinkie. Concentrate on the tip of the pinkie, not the index finger.

Thanks for this tip. Makes a lot more sense when putting it like that!

@elevatortrim

Practice this lick with a metronome so you can time it better.

Not sure how this lick would work with a metronome as it’s so short and can be playing in a number of variations - fast, slow, gaps between, etc.

[Stuartw]

@TheMadman_tobyjenner

Think of the action of turning a doorknob.

Never seen it described that way. Thanks for the tip.

[TheMadman_tobyjenner]

@Stuartw

I thought for bending it was better to have the thumb/hand grasping the neck to give better grip?

Yes Stuart correct sir. It reinforces the pivot action or the strings would push the hand away from the neck.

[Willsie]

I revisited the music store this morning and it’s very convincing that the PRS neck profile is way more comfortable for me than any of my current guitars. I think this is a strong argument for selling my current electrics and getting a PRS or other brand with similar advantage. I haven’t checked out any other guitars yet.

Edit: One thing I noticed was the PRS guitars look as if they are well made but the frets on the two models I tried need dressing. A lot of edges and corners need sorting.

[Stuartw]

I read somewhere that if you want to play the scale the ‘blues’ way you should just use fingers 1 & 3 and not 1 & 3/4? Is that right?

[sclay]

@Stuartw

Hey Stuart,

As blues playing involves alot of bending, its more practical, necessary even, to often utilise the ring finger over the pinky. Unfortunately, the little fella is not great on bends. .

Cheers, Shane

[Stuartw]

@sclay

As blues playing involves alot of bending, its more practical, necessary even, to often utilise the ring finger over the pinky. Unfortunately, the little fella is not great on bends

Thanks. So guess that’s a yes then!

[jjw]

Indeed, Justin discusses this in the minor pentatonic lesson of his blues lead module:

Minor Pentatonic Pattern 1

[TheMadman_tobyjenner]

Stuart use 1 and 4 on the thick E string and 1 & 3 on the B and e, the two thinnest strings. Like most things its advisory not mandatory. When Justin first teaches the first Pentatonic scale

E 1-4
A 1-3
D 1-3
G 1-3
B 1-4
e 1-4

It only to get you used to which threads to hit/finger. In reality you will be bending a lot on the two thinner strings and using your ring finger will be stronger. But I am using another Blues teacher who encourages you to use both ring and pinkie depending on what you are playing. But I’d advocate fingering the Pent scale playing B & e with 1 & 3 (is that poetry?) but also trying to bend with your pinkie ONCE you have nailed it with your ring finger,
My 2 cents, prices vary,

[Stuartw]

@jjw

Indeed, Justin discusses this in the minor pentatonic lesson of his blues lead module:

Thanks. That lesson is quite a few in front of where I am at the moment, but good to know.

[Stuartw]

@TheMadman_tobyjenner

Stuart use 1 and 4 on the thick E string and 1 & 3 on the B and e, the two thinnest strings. Like most things its advisory not mandatory. When Justin first teaches the first Pentatonic scale

I have been using both for practice. Finger 3 of the to thinnest strings is a bit of a stretch but getting there.

[doninetexas]

New dude here in the Community. Thanks for the info on the 4 exercises – I kept hunting for them. Now have your response printed out and in my notebook.

[TheMadman_tobyjenner]

No problem Don. I assume from your reply the additional text/tab guide was never added. This seems like ages ago and so it was ! I had to check which of my responses you were referring to !

Anyway hope they help.

And welcome to the Community. If you want to introduce yourself to folks, go HERE

Cheers

Toby

[math07]

I just got a 30% off deal on a PRS SE McCarty 594 in faded blue for the black friday. I can’t wait to receive it. On a side note, some reviewers said that its scale lenght (24.594") helped for bending. It was not the main reason why I bought it, but it’s nice.

[Willsie]

Enjoy your new guitar. Early Christmas present to yourself? I’m attracted to the idea of short scale guitars for their string bending capability too.

[Boris1565]

It is an amazing instrument overall. I am as impressed now as I was the first day I got it. Bending is definitely easier than on Strat.

[klboyd1978]

Thanks,