Good String Bending?

[tugboat]

One thing I’ve noticed when practicing songs utilizing string bending is that it’s mind numbingly easy to somehow play unwanted notes/strings. Only thing I can think of to mitigate is to somehow mute the strings close to the target string/note.

Is this common practice or do I just suck and need to practice string bending more? The answer I think is both.

[OldStrummer]

One thing I’ve noticed when practicing songs utilizing string bending is that it’s mind numbingly easy to somehow play unwanted notes/strings. Only thing I can think of to mitigate is to somehow mute the strings close to the target string/note.

Is this common practice or do I just suck and need to practice string bending more? The answer I think is both.

Your answer is the truth. Muting "neighbor" strings --if you are able-- will allow you to play the unmuted strings with more clarity and attack. But nothing will get you there "mo' better" than practice. Practice. Practice.

(Incidentally, I suffer from "unwanted string" syndrome too, on occasion. It usually happens when I'm not giving my playing 100% of my attention.)

[Offshore Angler]

The issue you describe is often but not always associated with improper wrist postion.

I would focus on two things b3efore that:

1) Make sure you are bending to pitch. Use your tuner to get your ears and hands working together. You'll need this skill to do pre-bends.

2) Timing. Timing. Timing. So many players I see or work with lose their timing on bends. A good practice technique is to practice your vibrato with a click track doing quarter notes, then half notes, then 16th notes. This will carry over into your bending.

Playing music well is like wooing the women, timing is everything.

[blackonblack]

This
Click track
or if you’re old metronome

mic drop

[S. Cane]

The modern guitarist's two great pillars to good playing: practice and read. Back in the old days there was no map or manual available. Nowadays, you can learn a lot by reading and applying.

So, woodshed as much as you can, try to have fun while doing it, and you'll improve.

As for reading, here's a nice article

https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/...g-blues-guitar

[tugboat]

The issue you describe is often but not always associated with improper wrist postion.

I would focus on two things b3efore that:

1) Make sure you are bending to pitch. Use your tuner to get your ears and hands working together. You'll need this skill to do pre-bends.

2) Timing. Timing. Timing. So many players I see or work with lose their timing on bends. A good practice technique is to practice your vibrato with a click track doing quarter notes, then half notes, then 16th notes. This will carry over into your bending.

Playing music well is like wooing the women, timing is everything.

I have actually been working on #1. For example, starting at A on the g string, 14th fret and then bending up to B, then immediately playing the B on the 12th fret, b string. Conveniently this also is part of the solo to Communication Breakdown so I’m killing two birds with one stone.

Also been working on actually knowing the notes on the fretboard. 😂 That’s a lot easier on the piano, I can still easily ID them on the piano (played piano for 11 years) but it’s comparatively confusing on guitar.

[tugboat]

The modern guitarist's two great pillars to good playing: practice and read. Back in the old days there was no map or manual available. Nowadays, you can learn a lot by reading and applying.

So, woodshed as much as you can, try to have fun while doing it, and you'll improve.

As for reading, here's a nice article

https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/...g-blues-guitar

I’ll watch this next time I have a few, thank you! Looks like I also need work with a metronome. I don’t call it a click track, I still call it a metronome app