Hmmm... If I want to get a big bend a la Buddy Guy on the third (g) string, or a bent vibrato, I will pull down, but if I want to play the adjacent string (b), I will bend away from it (up). The b and e strings are too close to the edge of the neck for me to get a good bend if I pull them. I hang my thumb over the top of the neck for leverage when bending or shaking a string. Works for me.

It's hard to help because you have'nt said if you play acoustic or electric or your string gauge. I tend to push up on the treble strings and pull the bass strings.
That's  on electrics. I'm too much of a 'finger wimp' to do much bending on strings above 10 gauge!!   

Wildwood, I actually posted a very similar topic a while back, which is here:

http://12bar.de/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1679

I also tend to pull the string down... actually, I think I play just the way Blind Boy does- I'll always pull the 3rd string down, but I don't think the 1st and 2nd have enough room; then if I want to connect anything on the 3rd string with the 1st or 2nd strings, up it goes; and my thumb is nearly always over the top of the neck.

If your fingers are slipping, might it be small frets?  I've played a few Stratocasters with the vintage-style frets, and I find them much too small for really getting a hold on the string- and I think they were strung with 9s....

leftyslim wrote:

Wildwood, I actually posted a very similar topic a while back, which is here:

http://12bar.de/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1679

I also tend to pull the string down... actually, I think I play just the way Blind Boy does- I'll always pull the 3rd string down, but I don't think the 1st and 2nd have enough room; then if I want to connect anything on the 3rd string with the 1st or 2nd strings, up it goes; and my thumb is nearly always over the top of the neck.

If coming off of a pull into a bend on the G string like 8/7 5b my first finger will sometimes decide to pull bend the 5 depending on the angle it was left at, works either way really.

Here is some help I found about string bending that was posted on another forum.
It works for me - I hope it helps here.

A tip on bending, that was passed on to me years ago, and has helped me.

Let's say you want to bend the third string at the seventh fret a whole step up. Or in other words, to the same sound as made with the third string ninth fret position.

I put my ring finger on the third string at the seventh fret. Then my first finger on the third string, but at the fifth fret. And push up with both the first and ring fingers. This not only reduces the force needed by any one finger, but also reduces the amount of movement needed to reach the whole step target note.

Another variation of this - if you use heavier strings and need more muscle behind it - Is to place the first finger on the third fret (or forth fret, if your stretch is short), and add the middle finger on a fret between the first finger and ring finger positions, like on the fifth or sixth fret. which ever is more comfortable for you. This lets you not only add still another finger for muscle to make the bend, but spreads the bend area even further for those BIG bends. Also helps to prevent pushing the string off the frets at the sides of the fingerboard and still let you reach the desired sound.

Something I noticed myself doing, which I thought at the time was bad form and a bad habit I had picked up, was hanging my thumb over the top of the fretboard and pivoting the bend movement on that. Later I found where some others have recommended doing that same thing for good, smooth, powerful bends.

It looks like to me that you have to listen, watch and learn from every guitar player you can, to pick up enough so you can do whatever works best for you. We all learn from each other, and steal other players licks to make them our own. After we play them our way, they become our licks that someone else will use their way to become their licks.

Last edited by Ebm (Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:13:24)

Guys thanks for the great advice. I will try to respond to all below:

Blind Boy - I have been working on my "thumb over the top" technique with some success.

microtech - I do watch many videos and you are correct, everyone does it a little different. Me too! And I like it that way! Why be normal... I like having (and developing) my own style.

Bluesmole - I play both and use 10's.

leftyslim - I will check your similar topic when I get a chance. Thanks...Again with the thumb over the top of the neck. I guess I need to spend more time working on that. I mostly play my PRS Singlecut so I don't think the frets are considered small.

SOG - I'm sure I am loaded with bad habits! Story of my life! In regards to the angle of my hand to the neck...not sure how to exactly describe it but my hand tends to be in the shape of the letter "C" with the thumb resting on the top of the neck rather than over the top. I keep my wrist pretty straight most of the time. I do like the "door knob" visual. Very discriptive. I will work on the "thumb for leverage" thing as well. My thumb gets back there when I play barre chords so I am familiar wth that position.

pee.gee - When I played in high school I slung the guitar way low ala '70s Joe Perry. Totally uncomfortable but it looked cool. I now keep the guitar up higher with the fretboard closer to my face (mostly because I can't see sh*t anymore!!)

Thanks again for all the advice. You guys are tight (sorry...a term my teenagers use all the time). I've been on a lot of forums over the years but this one just feels good. I think I will stay for a while!

Hey

I'm one of the guys that hooks his thump and uses 1,2 or 3 fingers to perform my bends.  The direction can be either, up or down.
I happen to have some youtube vids that show quite well how I bend.  (Both *non-blues though)

Jamming over the BT I used for "Alone in the crowd" :

http://www.youtube.com/halfblindlefty#p/u/2/2SRlO1ly9Kc

Demoing my Epi by playing a paer of "Searching"

http://www.youtube.com/halfblindlefty#p … BaI0dQR4LI

Not my best stuff, but they should point out "my way"

I'm with peegee.  Your hands and arms are most powerful when they are close to your body.  Try doing some bends while holding the neck close to your chest.

Same thing with the right hand.  When you have the guitar slung really low, and your right hand is down below your waist, it is not as strong or as precise.  If you want to play with a strong right hand, it helps to have the guitar up high.  Look at the old pix of Clapton and Hendrix.  The body of the guitar is at or above their belly button.  Their left elbow is bent more than ninety degrees (right elbow for Jimi).

Last edited by badbluesplayer (Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:15:10)

SOG wrote:

It beats me how guys like Slash can play slung so low it might look cool but it's not very practical.

Slash does have it low slung, but he does often tilt it up so the necks almost vertical, which in effect makes his left hand much higher up.

I was watching som G'n'R on youtube the other day- I'd forgotten Axl Rose loved the lycra bike shorts.  Sorry to go off topic...

Last edited by Majortom (Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:24:34)

Pump some Nylon Uaala same benefits, ok it won't sound as nice but it won't cheese grate your fingers up either, thus you can practice harder & longer (a major benefit when your as slow as I am) , if I could play past the 15th fret it would be the perfect practice instrument.

Last edited by SOG (Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:49:32)

Sorry I forgot who I was talking to, Uaala play a steel string acoustic like an electric for long enough and you wont have any callouses left, which is the whole point, personally I'd rather work things out on the Nylon which still requires plenty enough strength as mine has quite a wide neck, and i don't see the point in destroying fingers on "practice" runs, especially  as I've never developed a ''super callous'' I wear them out and grow new ones like everyone else but I'd rather do that on the electric. But to each their own,..... bet if I said Eric did it you'd do it..... probably be a nylon signature series