Technique: Bending Strings (Guitar Lesson IM-144) How to play IF Stage 4
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0:10 - 0:11Hi, How are you doing?
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0:11 - 0:12Justin here.
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0:12 - 0:14Welcome to IM-144.
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0:14 - 0:17In which we are going
to be checking out String Bending. -
0:17 - 0:19Now, String Bending is
a very very cool technique -
0:19 - 0:21used a lot in Rock, and also Blues
-
0:21 - 0:25but it's unfortunately
an electric guitar only technique. -
0:25 - 0:27Those of you who only have an acoustic guitar,
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0:27 - 0:29please feel free to watch the video
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0:29 - 0:31and maybe try doing it
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0:31 - 0:32but you will probably find it very difficult
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0:32 - 0:34and I don't want you to hurt your hands.
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0:34 - 0:36So maybe you might want to
leave this lesson -
0:36 - 0:38until you have an electric guitar.
-
0:38 - 0:40The most important thing
when you learn String Bending -
0:40 - 0:42is making sure
that you get your technique right. -
0:42 - 0:45Many people start trying
to do String Bending -
0:45 - 0:46by using their fingers
-
0:46 - 0:47and that just doesn't work.
-
0:47 - 0:50You really have to use your
"Wrist" and your "Arm." -
0:50 - 0:51So, let's get into a close up
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0:51 - 0:52and I will go ahead and show you
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0:52 - 0:54exactly how
to perform this technique. -
0:55 - 0:56The first note we are going
to be bending -
0:56 - 0:58is the note D.
-
0:58 - 0:59So, I would like you
to start by putting your -
0:59 - 1:05Third Finger down in the Seventh Fret,
of the Third String. -
1:05 - 1:07Now, the first rule of String Bending
is that you -
1:07 - 1:10always use more than
one finger, where possible. -
1:10 - 1:12So, your Third Finger is down here.
-
1:12 - 1:14That's the one that's going
to be dong the String Bending. -
1:14 - 1:17So we are going to support that one,
with the Second Finger -
1:17 - 1:19back behind it, in the Sixth Fret.
-
1:19 - 1:21It doesn't really matter where
in the fret it goes. -
1:21 - 1:22It can go right up the the fret,
-
1:22 - 1:24even if it snuck into the Seventh Fret
-
1:24 - 1:25that wouldn't be too bad.
-
1:25 - 1:29But, try and keep it back
in the Sixth Fret, if you can. -
1:29 - 1:30Now the second rule is that
-
1:30 - 1:33you are going to
be using your "Hand and "Arm" -
1:33 - 1:35and not your fingers.
-
1:35 - 1:37Now this is really important.
-
1:37 - 1:39It's probably the most common mistake
that people make when they -
1:39 - 1:41are learning to do String Bending.
-
1:41 - 1:43So, what you are not going to do is:
-
1:43 - 1:45do not keep
your fingers square to the fret, -
1:45 - 1:46while trying to push up,
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1:46 - 1:47like this.
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1:47 - 1:48It's really difficult.
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1:48 - 1:50Difficult to hold, difficult to control
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1:50 - 1:53and it is generally just bad.
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1:53 - 1:54So, don't do that.
-
1:54 - 1:55The whole idea here,
-
1:55 - 1:58what you should be doing
is using your "Wrist" -
1:58 - 1:59to create the Bend.
-
1:59 - 2:01You can see that
my fingers are actually "locked" -
2:01 - 2:05And that I'm using the motion of
my Arm and Wrist -
2:05 - 2:07to push the string up.
-
2:07 - 2:08And this is the motion.
-
2:08 - 2:10Now what you will
most likely find is that -
2:10 - 2:12it is very awkward to start off with,
-
2:12 - 2:14to try and get
this Wrist movement happening. -
2:14 - 2:16And for a little while
you will be struggling -
2:16 - 2:17and you will be going like this
-
2:17 - 2:19moving your fingers
and trying to figure it out. -
2:19 - 2:20You will grip it incorrectly
-
2:20 - 2:22but then one day you will do it
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2:22 - 2:23and it will be really easy.
-
2:23 - 2:25And when you get that one,
and it's really easy, -
2:25 - 2:27you will know that you are doing it right.
-
2:27 - 2:29Because it's always that feeling.
-
2:30 - 2:32Now, probably the easiest way
to think of it -
2:32 - 2:33is that if you hold your hand out -
-
2:33 - 2:36you can see that my fingers are
now pointing toward the camera - -
2:36 - 2:39if I just, now press my palm,
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2:39 - 2:40up against the neck,
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2:40 - 2:42similar to pivoting it.
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2:42 - 2:43Pivoting here,
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2:43 - 2:45where the edge of First Finger,
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2:45 - 2:46actually touching on the neck.
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2:46 - 2:48And when you are doing
your String Bending -
2:48 - 2:51you will find that part
of your finger, right where it joins the hand, -
2:51 - 2:54will be actually touching the guitar neck
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2:54 - 2:56because that is your pivot point.
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2:56 - 2:57Now you can see,
-
2:57 - 2:59if I fold my hand,
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2:59 - 3:02it looks like a "L" shape.
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3:02 - 3:03Then I put it in the same place.
-
3:03 - 3:05If I make the same movement
-
3:05 - 3:09you can see that the fingers
seem to be pushing across the strings. -
3:09 - 3:09Now, of coarse,
-
3:09 - 3:10it really doesn't look like that
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3:10 - 3:12when you are doing bending
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3:12 - 3:14but that's just to give you the idea.
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3:14 - 3:16The idea of levering against here.
-
3:16 - 3:18Against that part of
the guitar neck. -
3:18 - 3:20That's the movement that
you are after. -
3:20 - 3:22And you will find that when
you get that, -
3:22 - 3:24bending becomes really simple.
-
3:24 - 3:25So, let's go back.
-
3:25 - 3:30Put your Third Finger and Second Finger
in the Seventh Fret and Sixth Fret, respectively -
3:30 - 3:32and try pushing up.
-
3:32 - 3:33You might even want to
-
3:33 - 3:35put your First Finger down
in the Fifth Fret as well. -
3:35 - 3:39But see if you can get that feeling,
of your arm doing it. -
3:39 - 3:41The fingers you can see are locked into place.
-
3:41 - 3:42They are not moving at all.
-
3:42 - 3:43They are solid.
-
3:43 - 3:45It wouldn't matter how I move my hand,
-
3:45 - 3:46my fingers should stay the same.
-
3:46 - 3:48And once holding the guitar neck,
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3:48 - 3:49That's how they move.
-
3:49 - 3:51It's this motion here.
-
3:51 - 3:53It does take a little bit of practise.
-
3:53 - 3:55Don't worry if you don't get it
correct immediately. -
3:55 - 3:58Just see if you
can keep doing that motion -
3:58 - 4:00and when you find it getting easy
-
4:00 - 4:03you will probably know
that you are doing it correct. -
4:03 - 4:06Now, the next really important rule - number three:
-
4:06 - 4:08It is, "Know where you are bending to,"
-
4:08 - 4:11because in String Bending,
it is possible to play really horrible -
4:11 - 4:12after two notes.
-
4:12 - 4:15So what we are going to start off doing,
is learning a little exercise -
4:15 - 4:18to help you get your "bends" in-tune.
-
4:18 - 4:21So what were are going to start of with is
playing this note at the -
4:21 - 4:23Seventh Fret,
Third String, with our Third Finger. -
4:23 - 4:26. . .
-
4:26 - 4:28Then we are going to move our hand up one fret
-
4:28 - 4:30and play the Eight Fret
of the same string. -
4:30 - 4:32. . .
-
4:32 - 4:34Then we are going to move back
to the Seventh Fret -
4:34 - 4:35and play it again
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4:35 - 4:37. . .
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4:37 - 4:39And then try and bend it to the sound,
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4:39 - 4:42to the pitch of that note at the Eight Fret
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4:42 - 4:45. . .
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4:45 - 4:45So again we go
-
4:45 - 4:46Seventh Fret
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4:46 - 4:47. . .
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4:47 - 4:48Eight Fret
-
4:48 - 4:49. . .
-
4:49 - 4:50Seventh Fret
-
4:50 - 4:51. . .
-
4:51 - 4:51Bend
-
4:51 - 4:54. . .
-
4:54 - 4:58Now, don't be putting
any vibrato on as yet. -
4:58 - 5:00Just try and get your bend
to the accurate pitch. -
5:00 - 5:01It should feel quite easy.
-
5:01 - 5:03It's only a semi-tone bend.
-
5:03 - 5:05You could probably do it
with your fingers the wrong way -
5:05 - 5:06and get away with it.
-
5:06 - 5:10But it should feel extremely easy
if you are doing the technique correctly. -
5:10 - 5:11Let's go again:
-
5:11 - 5:11Seventh Fret
-
5:11 - 5:13. . .
-
5:13 - 5:13Eight Fret
-
5:13 - 5:15. . .
-
5:15 - 5:15Seventh Fret
-
5:15 - 5:16. . .
-
5:16 - 5:17Bend
-
5:17 - 5:19. . .
-
5:19 - 5:21So it's a little four note sequence.
-
5:21 - 5:26. . .
-
5:26 - 5:32. . .
-
5:32 - 5:34Now, you want to
practise that a little bit first. -
5:34 - 5:36This is called a Semi-Tone Bend
-
5:36 - 5:38Because we are just bending one fret.
-
5:38 - 5:41. . .
-
5:41 - 5:44But we can also bend a whole tone,
which is two frets. -
5:44 - 5:45In which case we would play the
-
5:45 - 5:46Seventh Fret
-
5:46 - 5:47. . .
-
5:47 - 5:47Ninth Fret
-
5:47 - 5:48. . .
-
5:48 - 5:49back to the
Seventh Fret -
5:49 - 5:50. . .
-
5:50 - 5:50and bend a tone
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5:50 - 5:54. . .
-
5:54 - 5:59. . .
-
5:59 - 6:01Like I said, "Absolutely no vibrato."
-
6:01 - 6:07Make sure that you get the bend
really nicely in-tuned. -
6:07 - 6:14. . .
-
6:14 - 6:16Now, once you feel comfortable with that,
the Semi-Tone -
6:16 - 6:21. . .
-
6:21 - 6:22and the Tone.
-
6:22 - 6:28. . .
-
6:28 - 6:30Then you might want to try it
on the Second String. -
6:30 - 6:32Same frets as before are acceptable.
-
6:32 - 6:37. . .
-
6:38 - 6:43. . .
-
6:43 - 6:44and then a Tone
-
6:44 - 6:55. . .
-
6:55 - 6:57And then finally on the thinnest string
-
6:57 - 7:02. . .
-
7:02 - 7:07. . .
-
7:07 - 7:08and a Tone
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7:08 - 7:13. . .
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7:14 - 7:19. . .
-
7:20 - 7:21Some of you may have noticed
-
7:21 - 7:23that all of the bends
I was doing -
7:23 - 7:24were going up
-
7:24 - 7:25and you've never heard them
come down. -
7:25 - 7:26And the reason for all that is
-
7:26 - 7:29I was muting all
of the strings with, my picking hand. -
7:29 - 7:32So, as soon as I performed the bend
-
7:32 - 7:33(plays)
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7:33 - 7:36The picking hand touches the strings
-
7:36 - 7:38then I release the bend.
-
7:38 - 7:40That way you avoid
the "Seagull Effect". -
7:40 - 7:44for example (plays)
-
7:44 - 7:48Sometimes it sounds "cool",
but most times it is not desirable . -
7:48 - 7:50So, try and get into the habit of
when you are doing -
7:50 - 7:51your bending practice,
-
7:51 - 7:54that you go (plays)
-
7:54 - 7:55. . .
-
7:55 - 7:56with this hand
-
7:56 - 7:57Mute
-
7:57 - 8:00Relax the bend,
then you can move to the next note. -
8:00 - 8:04. . .
-
8:04 - 8:06Here touches the strings.
-
8:06 - 8:07It's the outside of the palm
-
8:07 - 8:08here
-
8:08 - 8:11that does the string dampening
-
8:11 - 8:12just to ensure that the
note sounds properly -
8:12 - 8:14. . .
-
8:14 - 8:16stop, and relax
-
8:16 - 8:18Otherwise, you get (plays)
-
8:18 - 8:22And often that sound (plays)
doesn't really sound cool. -
8:22 - 8:24It can be used to good effect later on
-
8:24 - 8:27but it's not probably something
that you would want to start off learning. -
8:27 - 8:29Make sure that you
grasps the Palm Muting -
8:29 - 8:33because it will really make
your bends sound a lot better. -
8:33 - 8:35Now, as well as getting
your technique right, -
8:35 - 8:36the other really important thing is
-
8:36 - 8:38making sure that you, "bend the right note"
-
8:38 - 8:41So what I want to do now is go through
the Minor Pentatonic Scale -
8:41 - 8:43and the Blues Hybrid Scale
-
8:43 - 8:47and show you which are
the "cool" notes to bend, and why. -
8:47 - 8:50So we are just going to be looking
at the thinnest three strings. -
8:50 - 8:52Because they are the ones
that we most commonly bend on. -
8:52 - 8:54It is possible to bend
on these thicker ones -
8:54 - 8:57but it's not what you want
to start off with. -
8:57 - 9:00So, starting off we have
the A Minor Pentatonic Scale -
9:00 - 9:02on the thinnest three strings,
and the Fifth Fret -
9:02 - 9:07. . .
-
9:07 - 9:10Now, if we look at this
top note that we were playing -
9:10 - 9:11this is the note C.
-
9:11 - 9:13And regularly,
you will probably find that -
9:13 - 9:14you are playing that
with your little finger. -
9:14 - 9:17. . .
-
9:17 - 9:21But with String Bending,
we never ever do it with our little finger. -
9:21 - 9:22There are a couple of exceptions
-
9:22 - 9:25but 99% of guitar players,
bend with their Third Finger. -
9:25 - 9:26It's a lot stronger.
-
9:26 - 9:28The little finger is too short
and too weak -
9:28 - 9:29and doesn't give you a good bend.
-
9:29 - 9:32So, get into the habit of using
your Third Finger for the bend. -
9:32 - 9:36Even if it means
that you have to re-finger the scale. -
9:36 - 9:37But you have already learned that,
-
9:37 - 9:40"It is not important, what fingers play
the notes for the scale." -
9:40 - 9:42So we can use Third Finger (plays)
-
9:42 - 9:45for all of those notes.
-
9:45 - 9:47. . .
-
9:47 - 9:49If you don't believe me,
check out Eric Clapton. -
9:49 - 9:51Watch some videos
of guitar players you like -
9:51 - 9:52and notice that
-
9:52 - 9:5899 times out of 100,
they will be using their Third Finger for the bend. -
9:58 - 9:59Now, this top note here:
-
9:59 - 10:02This note can be bent One Tone
-
10:02 - 10:03which is Two Frets.
-
10:03 - 10:07. . .
-
10:07 - 10:09Now we haven't done the next scale pattern
-
10:09 - 10:10but this note, D
-
10:10 - 10:12is the next note is note in
the A Minor Pentatonic Scale -
10:12 - 10:14if we start moving up the neck.
-
10:14 - 10:17So that's why this note
must be bent a Tone. -
10:17 - 10:18Bending a Semi-Tone to here:
-
10:18 - 10:22This isn't a good scale note.
As it tends to sound sour. -
10:22 - 10:23So, if you are going to bend
the Eight Fret -
10:23 - 10:25Make sure you bend it One Tone.
-
10:25 - 10:26It's worth practising.
-
10:26 - 10:31. . .
-
10:31 - 10:36. . .
-
10:36 - 10:37Now also on the thinnest string;
-
10:37 - 10:39you will remember from our Hybrid Scale
-
10:39 - 10:45. . .
-
10:45 - 10:45We've got here
-
10:45 - 10:46the Seventh Fret.
-
10:46 - 10:48Now the next note up in the scale
-
10:48 - 10:50. . .
-
10:50 - 10:51was the Eight Fret.
-
10:51 - 10:53So what you want to
practise off the Seventh Fret -
10:53 - 10:55is a Semi-Tone bend.
-
10:55 - 10:56It's a one step bend.
-
10:56 - 10:57you would practise the following (plays)
-
10:57 - 11:04. . .
-
11:04 - 11:06So, for the Eight Fret,
it should be a Tone. -
11:06 - 11:10. . .
-
11:10 - 11:12And for the Seventh Fret,
it should be a Semi-Tone. -
11:12 - 11:16. . .
-
11:16 - 11:20Now, exactly the same thing happens
on the Second String -
11:20 - 11:20This note here:
-
11:20 - 11:21The note G.
-
11:21 - 11:22Bends up a Tone.
-
11:22 - 11:24. . .
-
11:24 - 11:24which is
-
11:24 - 11:25(plays)
-
11:25 - 11:26the same as that note actually.
-
11:26 - 11:30. . .
-
11:30 - 11:32So we have our Tone off the Eight Fret.
-
11:32 - 11:35. . .
-
11:35 - 11:36And then we've got a Semi-Tone off the Seventh Fret.
-
11:36 - 11:38. . .
-
11:38 - 11:39Because it's bending to that note
-
11:39 - 11:54. . .
-
11:54 - 11:56And it's exactly the same
on the Third String. -
11:56 - 12:00. . .
-
12:00 - 12:03On the Third String,
it's just slightly different, in that -
12:03 - 12:05on the Seventh Fret,
we can bend a Tone -
12:05 - 12:10. . .
-
12:10 - 12:11because it bends to this note
-
12:11 - 12:12which is the note E.
-
12:12 - 12:15. . .
-
12:15 - 12:17You can hear that it's the same note.
-
12:17 - 12:17E
-
12:17 - 12:21(plays and hums)
-
12:21 - 12:22You can even play them both at the
same time, if you like. -
12:22 - 12:25. . .
-
12:25 - 12:29So, it's important from
the Seventh Fret on the Third String, -
12:29 - 12:30you can bend a Tone.
-
12:30 - 12:33The difference is that you can also bend a Semi-Tone.
-
12:33 - 12:34. . .
-
12:34 - 12:35Because you've got the "Blue"
-
12:35 - 12:39. . .
-
12:39 - 12:42So here from the Seventh Fret
you can bend a Tone -
12:42 - 12:45or a Semi-Tone.
-
12:45 - 12:46So you should practice a Tone.
-
12:46 - 12:53. . .
-
12:53 - 12:55or a Semi-Tone.
-
12:55 - 13:02. . .
-
13:02 - 13:03Now what I would recommend
that you start doing is -
13:03 - 13:07exploring all of those bends
when you improvise. -
13:07 - 13:08If you put a backing track on,
-
13:08 - 13:11just start to experiment with all of those
different things. -
13:11 - 13:12You've got the bend
-
13:12 - 13:28. . .
-
13:28 - 13:29Lot's of fun!
-
13:31 - 13:32Practising your bending technique
-
13:32 - 13:35and making sure that you've got
the technique exactly right -
13:35 - 13:36is very important.
-
13:36 - 13:37But also very important
-
13:37 - 13:40is listening to the original Blues Masters,
do their string bending -
13:40 - 13:44so you know what it is
that your string bending, should sound like. -
13:44 - 13:47Now, probably my favourite string bender
of all time is -
13:47 - 13:48Albert King
-
13:48 - 13:50He's got a wonderful string bend.
-
13:50 - 13:52He does them really slow,
and really fast. -
13:52 - 13:54Lots of vibrato; no vibrato.
-
13:54 - 13:56So if you do not have any Albert King,
-
13:56 - 13:58I would highly recommend that you get
either his album: -
13:58 - 14:01"King Albert" or "Born Under a Bad Sun"
-
14:01 - 14:05Both of those albums have loads and loads of fantastic guitar playing
-
14:05 - 14:07and are also a really good source of getting
-
14:07 - 14:08traditional blues licks.
-
14:08 - 14:12And listening to what
really good string bending sounds like. -
14:12 - 14:16So the first thing that you should be doing is practising the exercise:
-
14:16 - 14:18So playing a note (plays)
-
14:18 - 14:19Playing it a semi-tone higher (plays)
-
14:19 - 14:21Back (plays)
-
14:21 - 14:23and then doing the bend (plays)
-
14:23 - 14:26That's to really help make sure that you get you pitching good -
-
14:26 - 14:27that you are bending in-tune.
-
14:27 - 14:31. . .
-
14:31 - 14:32and a tone
-
14:32 - 14:35. . .
-
14:35 - 14:38So, practise that
on all three of the thinner strings. -
14:38 - 14:39That's exercise one.
-
14:39 - 14:41It's really really important,
-
14:41 - 14:42and it's one that you should
do for a little while until -
14:42 - 14:47you feel totally confident
that you've got your bending in-tune. -
14:47 - 14:48Once you've conquered that,
-
14:48 - 14:49the next really important thing
-
14:49 - 14:51is to actually put it into practise.
-
14:51 - 14:52So, put a backing track on
-
14:52 - 14:55and just jam along;
experimenting with your string bending. -
14:55 - 14:59You'll find that it brings a whole life
to your guitar playing -
14:59 - 15:01that you might not have discovered before.
-
15:01 - 15:05When you are improvising,
it just gives something really expressive. -
15:05 - 15:08There's something magical about string bending once you get it
-
15:08 - 15:10but it doesn't really have
that magical feeling -
15:10 - 15:12until you have gotten the technique correct.
-
15:12 - 15:14So, plenty of practise on the technique.
-
15:14 - 15:15Then plenty of practise using it
-
15:15 - 15:17and I will see you for another lesson
some time really soon. -
15:17 - 15:18take care of yourself.
-
15:18 - 15:19bye
- Title:
- Technique: Bending Strings (Guitar Lesson IM-144) How to play IF Stage 4
- Description:
-
Justin's Completely Free, Intermediate Guitar Course Lesson IM-144.
Stage 4, Lesson 4.This guitar lesson is an in depth look at the technique of string bending, exact hand positions and exercises to get them in tune!
Find the related course notes on the following link:
http://justinguitar.com/en/IM-144-StringBending.phpThis is part of Justin's Intermediate Guitar Method, Foundation. A series of lessons available free online!
http://justinguitar.com/en/IM-000-IntermediateMethod.php
Taught by Justin Sandercoe.
Full support at the justinguitar web site where you will find hundreds of lessons on a wide range of subjects, and all the scales and chords that you will ever need! There is a great forum too to get help, no matter what the problem.
And it is all totally free, no bull. No sample lessons, no memberships, no free ebook. Just tons of great lessons :)
To get help with this lesson (and for further info and tabs), find the Lesson ID in the video title (like ST-667 or whatever) and then look it up on the Lesson Index page of justinguitar.com
http://www.justinguitar.com
Have fun :)
.
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- JustinGuitar (legacy)
- Project:
- Intermediate Method (IM)
- Duration:
- 15:26
konyv 1977 approved English subtitles for Technique: Bending Strings (Guitar Lesson IM-144) How to play IF Stage 4 | ||
D Grant edited English subtitles for Technique: Bending Strings (Guitar Lesson IM-144) How to play IF Stage 4 | ||
D Grant edited English subtitles for Technique: Bending Strings (Guitar Lesson IM-144) How to play IF Stage 4 | ||
D Grant added a translation |