Been playing 12 years. I always struggled with bends slipping. This Is the best lesson there is regarding the exact positioning. Wish I had this lesson 12 years ago. Many thanks!
Bro how isn’t this video everywhere? You explain it so well anyone could understand it. It’s great people like you who put effort in their tutorials and actually teach people. Keep it up !
Players, adjust your shoulder strap for better string bending! Many of us wear our guitars low to look and feel more rock and roll or whatever, but this puts your arm low too and pinches your wrist, making that reach under and around the neck harder. Raise up where your guitar hangs an inch or two at a time and you'll reach a sweet spot closer to classical position where your lead play and bends generally feel easier. It's because you have more power and freedom in your wrist now. And less tendonitis if that's a problem for anyone. So all of us should look at our body mechanics to see where small changes could help us play and sound better. This is one of the only videos I've seen addressing that. Thanks!
@@panamajack5972 @mark pell I'm going to eventually do a video breaking down stage movement. Mostly, it's an offshoot of using your body to keep time. 🙂 It is called a "performance" after all. Even on Steve Vai's Bad Horsie, it's all pre-rehearsed stage movement stuff. So you can totally balance looks with a great performance! It's integral.
I just feel like i lose all my mobility in my fingers when i’m not using only my fingers😂 it’s like an entirely new thing i’m going to need a decade to learn
The best. Watch several videos during the last 3 years, just tonight, watched 12, even from well known musicians, but yours, is the best proper lesson by far. Who would believe it, looking so young. Straight to the matter, but with very important and well presented details, not too short or in a hurry, not too long and lacy, not loud or quiet, no rambling, shouting or nonsense, good video quality.Thank you very much indeed. Take care. Cheers.
Totally learning this. As an acoustic player who’s moving into electric it opens up tons of expression. All my favorite solos ever have tons of solos. Scales take on new meaning. You can run 3 notes with a different kind of voice with bending its mind bending …
@@ryosapien27 IKR? It’s also difficult to learn how to bend and at the same time continue playing other notes, but I guess one has to learn how to do so
I can’t say anything about this video and lesson that hasn’t already been said… I’m 53 and know now that I’ve been bending wrong the entire time. I will practice and apply this, great lesson.
Society needs to reconsider who should, and who should not be a guitar teacher. There are some real bar punks out there. You probably got bad instruction.
Brilliant! The idea of dividing you fingers into thirds and contacting the strings there by itself corrected many of my issues. I’ve been looking for this information for awhile now. Thanks so much. Great stuff.
Matt Wright's video is fine for bio-mechanics. Semi-specific information is helpful. It's good that you noticed the proximo-Math. This instructional video is for intellectuals who are good at applying principles. The people who are commenting on the video are quite smart.
This helps a lot! I'm in my 50s, and just came back to guitar now for last 4 yrs. I still sometimes slip when bending. Now I know why. I'm self taught thanks to you tube, and especially videos like this! I e been playing on a Les Paul, but had LTD, SG, Fenders etc. I think it's time for a PRS Guitar. The neck and weight is a little too much for the kind of rock I wanna Play. It's fine for Zeppelin, etc, but my hands aren't big enough to keep thumb on top and pressing down hard enough on E string all the time Thanks and wishing you much sure in your future guitar adventures!!!!
Great explanation! I'm the type of guy who need to understand everything to do something good and I needed an explanation of that type for the bend. So thank you very much, good sir!
darn it man I checked maybe like 10 or 20 videos on bending and you are the only one give much details. many videos just talk about get the right pitch...how could you get the right pitch without right execution? ty so much bro salute
You're welcome! Practice targeting half steps to start. Then practice targeting whole steps. Play the note, then bend to it. Play the note, then bend to it. Play the note, then bend to it. Eventually, you won't need to pre-play the note. It takes time to develop! Just do the exercise in the video. :)
Fck yes! I've had these questions for YEARS and found zero info online.. everythi g was always so basic, and my questions were never thought of. I love this😍 will work hard on guitar for the first time in my life, just to master bends.. they are sooo important to sound more professional
That is by far the best video on bends and vibrato I saw. Ive been studying it for past three days, slowing and zooming on your hands and Ive been practicing the bends the way youve shown it. Ive got 10 52 gauge strings and I find it very difficult to bend it the way youre doint it - my fingertips hurt massively from the pressure of the string and the hook - is it normal that on the first days the fingers will hurt? I thought also that maybe i should loosen up the strings a bit just for the sake of practicing. Youve explained everything so well but im struggling to move the wrist how youve showed it due to the fingertips pain!
Yes, it may hurt initially. That's why I say only practice for ~5 mins for the whole exercise. You will get used to it. :-) Experiment with the minimum amount downward pressure you can use to get the result.
@@mattwright466 cool, thanks for answer! And thanks for reassuring me in my practice sessions. Im doing your workout for past three days and it does seem to get better but very slowly - but yeah, 5 minutes suffice absolutely! Absolutely great content. Maybe someday you could make a practice video on pull offs as well? It would be super useful for many people I think - for me for sure. You got a gift of explaining things in a very precise and organized manner. Thanks again!
Thank you! This is the best tutorial on the mechanics of string bending that I've seen. Awesome - so much more control - just been trying Gilmour style multi-step bend and release - much easier now, although still working towards 2.5 step bends! 🎸🎶🎶
Another exercise you can do is 1/2 step, 1 step, 1.5 step bend up, then down in time. That will give you epic control of the bends. I just don't use that kind of thing in my playing. Have fun :-)
Great Video! Really helped me out getting my bendings right. I'm a self taught guitarist, playing for years now and my progress is very much relying on such videos! ❤ This very precise collection of information was exactly what I was looking for! Very much appreciated! Excited watching your other videos!
Been struggling with my 2nd knuckle hurting after bending practicing Gilmour for hours a day. I noticed that I was bending classical style, and saw people doing the thumb wrapped around and using the wrist turn trick. It makes the bends sound so much better, but it’s really hard on dexterity so far. Hoping i can get this finger to stop hurting with your recommendations in the video, thanks!
You are correct about it not being pretty out there. It does seem like all of a sudden, there are new videos finally addressing these issues. Especially in the last 2 years. Thanks.
The vertical thirds of the finger section is so important and has fixed my problems with string noise immediately! To clarify the video, for up bends, the finger should fret the string on the portion of the finger that is closer to the ceiling. This feels vaguely unnatural as the finger is off to one side of the string which is not normally good technique for fretting notes. But this placement prevents the finger from coming ahead of the string that's being bent and getting caught under the adjacent strings being moved towards. And vice versa for down bends. Thanks so much for the video.
The best tutorial on bending and vibrato out there! This is exactly what I was looking for! Another tip -practice in front of a mirror - easier to spot accidental 'finger' bending vs 'wrist' bending
In my opinion this channel is very, VERY underrated. Even though i started playing electric guitar just 4 months ago, I'm certain that I made a big progress, and Matt is the one responsible for that. I mean he's explaining everything so well and exactly in a way that i can i understand. Keep up the work Matt!
Discovered you just now and this one video has helped me to grow better technique in the last half hour of practice than the 20 years spent playing before watching this video. My main gripe was adding vibrato to up bends on the higher strings but just going back to basics with this has shown instant improvement (with some more to go but that’s why we practice)
Hi Matt I’m just learning blues,and was having problems with bending notes.Just watched your lesson,and applied your technique and now it seems so much easier.No bumping other strings and I have so much better control.Thankyou❤
Holy cow this was great for me. Looking forward to giving it some consistent work. The explanation of the mechanics is super helpful for me. Thank you!
Geez, why do no other videos mention some of these details? I had to figure some of this out through trial and error. This could've saved me so much time. Thanks!
Great video… I would say the most important thing is having your thumb on top of the neck for the bigger bends in the blues position like you said. Common mistake for beginners
Hello Sir Matt i watched your video and i saw that your recommended exercise regarding for string bending. I saw some of your bending that you use multiple finger for it how do we apply the exercise in case we are already comfortable with bending but using only one finger at a time. Because that is the one you have demonstrate on your video. Hope to have a response, sir thank you in advance.
If doing a bend on the first finger, use one finger. If doing a bend on the 2nd finger, bring in the first finger behind it as backup. It doesn't press like the 2nd finger does, but it will help. If doing a bend on the 3rd finger, bring in the first AND 2nd fingers behind it as backup. They don't press down like the like the 3rd finger does, but they reinforce what the 3rd finger is doing. Hope that helps!
@@mattwright466 thank you Sir Matt. So your saying that the first finger is much stronger than the other two? anyway Sir thank you very much ill apply it. 😁
Great tutorial, I have a question - example: Sustaining 5th fret note on high E and bending on the 8th fret on the B string. Can you give a demo thanks
You’ll hold down first finger on the higher string and then apply the same bending techniques already described in this video. I STRONGLY recommend trying it higher up first and working your way down as 5-8 is a pretty darn low range for performing that bend. Try starting on 12-15.
Awesome tutorial. I struggle with bending, but your video made sense of my mistakes. I will try out this technique out and look forward to the results.
I like the way you describe how to bend, very well explained with so many possible variables taking the guess work out,l understand more about it thanks a lot.
Thbis video is why I fkin love the internet. Thanks so much for the extremely insightful information provided on the mechanics of proper bending, this is also a great gateway to properly apply vibrato to a bend. Thanks so much. Insta-subscribed!
This content is amazing!!! I'm just getting into guitar myself - I've made close to 100 videos. I'll add this bending understanding to my exercises. Again, thank you Matt Wright!!!
What gauge do you use on this guitar? excellent video, thank you for clarifying these basic doubts, which even having many years on the guitar are overlooked
HI Matt, great video! Do you have any tips on playing other strings while holding a bend? You can find several examples throughout Sultans of Swing. When I perform them, I feel the need to assume more of classical position order to have my pinky remain in line with the frets, but I'm wondering if this is a compensation. Any advice would be appreciated.
Matt,, you're killing it. You really have a gift for teaching. So well explained and demo'd Really hope you put out much more content with some geared towards us newbies even more. Really good stuff. Can you address the "pinky" fly? I'm really working on getting my fingers to do what I want. They are starting to calm down a bit with practice. I started with Guitar Tricks lessons, but they really don't cover enough detail. So I've backed up to working on fingers and technique then I'll go back and learn chords. Plus I'm learning tabs etc... with Guitar pro. Thanks again for your hard work on these video's.
Duude, this video appeared as recommended and decided to watch it while having dinner, after that went back to my seat, took my guitar and guess what, the part of the thirds in the fingers suddenly made my bends sound cleaner, by a lot. You got a new subscriber :D this week is gonna be all about practicing those bends. Thank you
This is addressed in the FAQ section of the video. ;-) Unless I'm misinterpreting your question and you mean cramming your fingers underneath strings... In which case, no.
I love how you break down the contact points on the finger. That's so key. Especially learning through video since we can't feel what part of your finger is contacting the string. What gauge string are you using? 19:06
At the time of the video, I was using 10's. I switched to 9's 2 months ago and I'm loving them. I'm still trying to find which brand I like since the G string can feel a little squirrel-y... But 9's are MUCH easier to bend in general.
Mostly what you’ve shown here is first finger vibrato. It’s a necessity to use the tip of the third finger to do whole step bends, and especially when doing double stop/bends when the pinky and or middle finger are simultaneously playing other notes.
I didn't cover double stop bends. Use what works for you 🙂 Regarding other finger bends, I specifically demonstrated it. If you're playing on the tip, you MAY be curling over too much. I play them on the 45° still. 🙂
Bringing biomechanics to a lesson on bends - Brilliant! Matt, can you apply the first principles of engineering too! Let me know when you can help me calculate my stochastic differential equation problems. Great video Matt and exceptionally well produced and delivered. Now a sub!
It depends. Really wild vibrato is probably best done with this technique. Pre bending is probably better with this technique than classical/straight fingers, but can be done both ways. Subtle vibrato can go either way honestly. Better yet, do it on whammy so you can get pitch going up and down.* *down will only be possible with floating bridges.
your videos are really helping me a lot.. Keep posting and spread your amazing knowledge to the whole world🌼.. And i would like to request a video full analysis on Tim Henson playing style. Thank you
Thanks man! I'll be honest, I haven't touched the Tim Henson stuff. I can tell you one BIG tip I got from him when I met him at John Petrucci's guitar camp though. He said that if you set your action too low, the harmonics don't really respond the same... So if you're having trouble getting proper response, check in on that. :-) Until I come out with my own vids, the Thomann videos on guitar setup are VERY good.
Wow what a revelation! I’ve been playing for 14 years and could never understand why my fingers would fatigue so quickly compared to my peers. I always had the string near the “0 degree” part of my finger, where you’re pretty much playing right on the bone. I experienced no problems with slipping, and I had good control over my vibrato. However, long practice sessions containing many bb king-style index finger whole step bends would hurt like hell a bit after a while. I thought I just had weak hands and even tried 8s for a while, which presented new problems like having to relearn how to bend in tune. I tried playing closer to the 45 degree angle and the pain is significantly less. Moreover, my thumb feels more natural when placed over the neck. However I don’t really understand what you mean by having the string fall on one of the lateral sides of the finger, rather than square in the middle. Could you elaborate on that?
Glad it’s helping! Pause the video at where I have the finger annotated with lines. Basically, do you want the string on either side of the finger, not on the center of the fingerprint?.
Holy moly man, I started bending the strings from the side (in the 45º zone) and even tho I got callus on the tips of my fingers I didn't have them there, and oh boy, it stings.
I got a blister on my third finger now, god damn it. It's also weird how the blister is not even on the side of the 45 degree zone, but I am playing bends from that area, I feel it because of the wrist rotation.
@@mattwright466 nah man im a big p***y im on electric and using 9s hahaha. I just haven’t ever used that part of the finger to bend, I always used to play them with the upper part where u say that one shouldn’t play them from
Hahah I LOVE 9's!!! Yeah it will take some getting used to... Maybe not specifically "calloused" but there can be a sort of pressure point that you'll find. You won't get calloused per se, but you'll get used to the feeling.@@Fer-un9vh
@@mattwright466 I'm not sure. My current practice goals: -Blending the great many "shred patterns" or sequences I've learned together seamlessly into phrases. Eventually arpeggios as well, but that's for the future. -Executing the very common "screaming bend/vibrato at the end/top of a run" trope we see all over rock, metal etc. Not so much physical execution but "fitting it in" with timing, number of notes etc. I wouldn't say I have much of a coherent plan for either of these goals as yet.
@@endincite4149 1. I wouldn't concern yourself with "blending the patterns" as a sheer technical exercise. There are too many combinations for it to really make sense. It DOES make sense to have a few common things in your back pocket, but it would be impossible to do every combination. Instead, I'd recommend using the patterns to inspire you to create and assemble something musical. Something that SAYS SOMETHING. Then practice THAT isolated thing to perfection. That high level of performance will bleed over as ease into your other playing. 2. See above. :-)
What do I do if my strings break before I even move a half step? Do they break because my technique is wrong or is there something about my setup causing the problem?
Sorry this is happening to you! Best advice is to find a skilled tech in your area. Call Sweetwater and ask who they recommend in your area. Any tech they recommend will be certified. :-) It is most often issues with bridge setup, then there can be issues with the nut.
Btw for you guys that might have problems knowing if you've reached the correct note, I recommend to have a drone playing alongside the metronome with the note you intend you hit. Personally, this helps me a lot to measure the correct movement of the wrist
@@mattwright466 I think i figured it out! At the top of bends, I was using a more up-down motion with the weight of the guitar, bc i didn't think there was enough room to do the anchor/rotation technique. But i tried just with really small wiggles like you said and they sound so much better.
I'm a little confused coach 😁 Are we talking 'bending' as in playing UP to higher notes from lower frets, or 'bending' as in rapid movement of the string to simulate a tremolo like effect? Every blues and rock player I see uses both. For the former, the thumb is anchored and the bend accomplished with multiple locked fingers pushing up or down, while for the latter, they use the fish hook. What am I missing? 🥴
I specifically cover this. Bends don't come from the thumb at all. Watch the video again and try to find the spot. It's in the first half. ;-) This technique can be applied to both bending to sustained notes as well as vibrato.
I'd like to point out a nuance that is often left out. It's better to be consistent with your strings: if you keep switching between brands and gauges all the time, your muscle memory can get you out of tune pretty easily. I know that pros would probably 'catch' the runaway bend by ear, but I've been working on my bends for 4 months, and when I pick up my Strat with the 9s instead of the usual Superstrat with the 10s, I can no longer rely on my muscle memory and have to listen to each note I bend to individually. That's way too much of a mental strain, especially with quick runs. Maybe there's a way around this problem, but for now I've decided to settle on a brand and gauge and stick to it.
I noticed the 3rd joint of your first finger (closest to fingertip) is in a bent position while bending (like a fish hook). Do you ever have it locked in a straight position? I find it easier doing it that way some times, especially when i'm feeling finger fatigue
What are you doing that's causing your fingers to feel fatigued? No, my finger always wraps around like that. If it's straight, you're going to end up on the pad of the fingertip which is an inferior surface for manipulating lateral direction of the string.
@@mattwright466 by finger fatigue i mean that towards the end of my daily exercises, it becomes harder to bend because the contact point on my fingertip gets sore. So switching to the pad gives me relief. Maybe i just need to build up callouses on the sides of my fingertips? Thanks for the reply
@@seancastleton Ahh - Fingertips being a little shredded isn't the same as PAIN in the hands. How long have you been playing? The more you play, the easier it gets and your fingers won't get aggravated. I don't have significant callouses even with decent playing hours. These bends will be pretty intense on the fingertips when you first start. Follow the protocol in the video and you'll get used to it.
What do I do to avoid fretting the lower (in tone) strings when I bend upwards? My finger either directly catches the string above and it slips under fast enough that they ring once they hit the fret. Should I allow it to be fretted and mute it, or should I try to keep it above the fret (and how?)
Did you watch the ENTIRE video? I believe I address this in the later half. ;-) Try experimenting with the pressure point being more on the SIDE of the string than on TOP of the string.
@@mattwright466 thank you for the reply. ;) sure I watched the whole thing. This is a great and a very helpful video. It’s just that I bought a guitar, started doing your exercises and they seemed to work. However I kind of pushed the adjacent strings upwards while they remained in the air (not touching the frets)… kind of with the pad of my fingertip. Then I gave my guitar for some fret smoothening, where the dude who did it also lowered the strings and nothing works the same way now. 😄😄😄 You’re talking about them sounding on the release in case it was trapped right next to the bent string. My issue is with it hitting the fret on the way up, when my fingertips try to move it out of the way.
This is a REALLY hard thing to troubleshoot over UA-cam comments so stick with me... haha 1. There is such a thing as having too low of an action... Try bends on another guitar and note the action. If it's easier on another guitar with higher action, it could just be the interaction of the geometry of your hands and the action and you may want a higher action.. 2. There is a hard to explain art of releasing without letting the other string ring. I don't think I can really explain it other than keep trying. YOU are aware of the problem AND where it's coming from AND (because you watched this video) the principles of good bending. So use those and figure out your own solution! :-) @@nicolaimanev
@@mattwright466 thank you sir. 🙏 Just one more question. Since noticing this kind of stuff in videos is next to impossible, tell me please: does the adjacent string touch the fret as you’re doing a bend or does it stay away and the only string that touches the fret is the one you’re bending? Maybe I’ll put it another way just in case: does the adjacent string end up between your fingertip and a fret as you’re pushing it away, or does it only stay on your fingertip? I need to understand this 🤯
It may or may NOT touch the fret. The thing that ultimately matters is how much pressure that adjacent string that we don't want to ring actually receives. ;-)@@nicolaimanev
I've started learning BB King and this lesson has helped me a lot. I really like your teaching method and the FAQ section, it helps drive home the points of the lesson.
![How to Hold a Guitar Pick the RIGHT Way [Guitar Playing Masterclass PART 1]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/v9RIjw8psHo/mqdefault.jpg)
Been playing 12 years. I always struggled with bends slipping. This Is the best lesson there is regarding the exact positioning.
Wish I had this lesson 12 years ago. Many thanks!
This is the first string bending video I've seen that hasn't just been like "Yeah use wrist rotation" and then 20 minutes on bending in tune. Thanks!
Bro how isn’t this video everywhere? You explain it so well anyone could understand it. It’s great people like you who put effort in their tutorials and actually teach people. Keep it up !
Players, adjust your shoulder strap for better string bending! Many of us wear our guitars low to look and feel more rock and roll or whatever, but this puts your arm low too and pinches your wrist, making that reach under and around the neck harder. Raise up where your guitar hangs an inch or two at a time and you'll reach a sweet spot closer to classical position where your lead play and bends generally feel easier. It's because you have more power and freedom in your wrist now. And less tendonitis if that's a problem for anyone. So all of us should look at our body mechanics to see where small changes could help us play and sound better. This is one of the only videos I've seen addressing that. Thanks!
Great tip! Next video is going to cover some of this with right hand issues.. :-)
Are you saying looks aren't everything?
@@panamajack5972 Well... I guess sometimes you have to look and feel good to sound good too. So maybe find a compromise position?
@@panamajack5972 @mark pell
I'm going to eventually do a video breaking down stage movement. Mostly, it's an offshoot of using your body to keep time. 🙂
It is called a "performance" after all.
Even on Steve Vai's Bad Horsie, it's all pre-rehearsed stage movement stuff.
So you can totally balance looks with a great performance! It's integral.
A good comment for practice. Stage work mandates a, "cool" low strap. There's no beating culture.
I just feel like i lose all my mobility in my fingers when i’m not using only my fingers😂 it’s like an entirely new thing i’m going to need a decade to learn
this is what the internet was meant to be used for.. so useful. man.. thumbs up subbed and i wish you continued success..
The best. Watch several videos during the last 3 years, just tonight, watched 12, even from well known musicians, but yours, is the best proper lesson by far. Who would believe it, looking so young. Straight to the matter, but with very important and well presented details, not too short or in a hurry, not too long and lacy, not loud or quiet, no rambling, shouting or nonsense, good video quality.Thank you very much indeed. Take care. Cheers.
Thank you VERY much. :-)
@@mattwright466 No thank YOU
it's amazing how proper guitar bending can evolve one's playing to the next level
Totally learning this. As an acoustic player who’s moving into electric it opens up tons of expression. All my favorite solos ever have tons of solos. Scales take on new meaning. You can run 3 notes with a different kind of voice with bending its mind bending …
@@ryosapien27 IKR? It’s also difficult to learn how to bend and at the same time continue playing other notes, but I guess one has to learn how to do so
Its even better when you just bend the string 😀👌
I can’t say anything about this video and lesson that hasn’t already been said… I’m 53 and know now that I’ve been bending wrong the entire time. I will practice and apply this, great lesson.
Society needs to reconsider who should, and who should not be a guitar teacher. There are
some real bar punks out there. You probably got bad instruction.
Brilliant! The idea of dividing you fingers into thirds and contacting the strings there by itself corrected many of my issues. I’ve been looking for this information for awhile now. Thanks so much. Great stuff.
Matt Wright's video is fine for bio-mechanics. Semi-specific information is helpful. It's good that you noticed the proximo-Math. This instructional video is for intellectuals who are good at applying principles. The people who are commenting on the video are quite smart.
This helps a lot! I'm in my 50s, and just came back to guitar now for last 4 yrs. I still sometimes slip when bending. Now I know why. I'm self taught thanks to you tube, and especially videos like this! I e been playing on a Les Paul, but had LTD, SG, Fenders etc. I think it's time for a PRS Guitar. The neck and weight is a little too much for the kind of rock I wanna Play. It's fine for Zeppelin, etc, but my hands aren't big enough to keep thumb on top and pressing down hard enough on E string all the time Thanks and wishing you much sure in your future guitar adventures!!!!
Great explanation! I'm the type of guy who need to understand everything to do something good and I needed an explanation of that type for the bend.
So thank you very much, good sir!
I'm the same way!
darn it man I checked maybe like 10 or 20 videos on bending and you are the only one give much details. many videos just talk about get the right pitch...how could you get the right pitch without right execution? ty so much bro salute
You're welcome! Practice targeting half steps to start. Then practice targeting whole steps.
Play the note, then bend to it. Play the note, then bend to it. Play the note, then bend to it. Eventually, you won't need to pre-play the note.
It takes time to develop! Just do the exercise in the video. :)
Fck yes! I've had these questions for YEARS and found zero info online.. everythi g was always so basic, and my questions were never thought of. I love this😍 will work hard on guitar for the first time in my life, just to master bends.. they are sooo important to sound more professional
That is by far the best video on bends and vibrato I saw. Ive been studying it for past three days, slowing and zooming on your hands and Ive been practicing the bends the way youve shown it. Ive got 10 52 gauge strings and I find it very difficult to bend it the way youre doint it - my fingertips hurt massively from the pressure of the string and the hook - is it normal that on the first days the fingers will hurt? I thought also that maybe i should loosen up the strings a bit just for the sake of practicing. Youve explained everything so well but im struggling to move the wrist how youve showed it due to the fingertips pain!
Yes, it may hurt initially. That's why I say only practice for ~5 mins for the whole exercise. You will get used to it. :-)
Experiment with the minimum amount downward pressure you can use to get the result.
@@mattwright466 cool, thanks for answer! And thanks for reassuring me in my practice sessions. Im doing your workout for past three days and it does seem to get better but very slowly - but yeah, 5 minutes suffice absolutely! Absolutely great content. Maybe someday you could make a practice video on pull offs as well? It would be super useful for many people I think - for me for sure. You got a gift of explaining things in a very precise and organized manner. Thanks again!
Thank you! This is the best tutorial on the mechanics of string bending that I've seen. Awesome - so much more control - just been trying Gilmour style multi-step bend and release - much easier now, although still working towards 2.5 step bends! 🎸🎶🎶
Another exercise you can do is
1/2 step, 1 step, 1.5 step bend up, then down in time. That will give you epic control of the bends. I just don't use that kind of thing in my playing.
Have fun :-)
Great Video! Really helped me out getting my bendings right. I'm a self taught guitarist, playing for years now and my progress is very much relying on such videos! ❤ This very precise collection of information was exactly what I was looking for! Very much appreciated!
Excited watching your other videos!
Been struggling with my 2nd knuckle hurting after bending practicing Gilmour for hours a day. I noticed that I was bending classical style, and saw people doing the thumb wrapped around and using the wrist turn trick. It makes the bends sound so much better, but it’s really hard on dexterity so far. Hoping i can get this finger to stop hurting with your recommendations in the video, thanks!
You are correct about it not being pretty out there. It does seem like all of a sudden, there are new videos finally addressing these issues. Especially in the last 2 years. Thanks.
I'm playing for a long time, and I'm insecure about bending, this guy is brilliant!👍😁💯
The vertical thirds of the finger section is so important and has fixed my problems with string noise immediately! To clarify the video, for up bends, the finger should fret the string on the portion of the finger that is closer to the ceiling. This feels vaguely unnatural as the finger is off to one side of the string which is not normally good technique for fretting notes. But this placement prevents the finger from coming ahead of the string that's being bent and getting caught under the adjacent strings being moved towards. And vice versa for down bends. Thanks so much for the video.
Great clarification! Glad you found it helpful!!
Thank you Sir for this video. It's really helpful
The best tutorial on bending and vibrato out there!
This is exactly what I was looking for!
Another tip -practice in front of a mirror - easier to spot accidental 'finger' bending vs 'wrist' bending
In my opinion this channel is very, VERY underrated. Even though i started playing electric guitar just 4 months ago, I'm certain that I made a big progress, and Matt is the one responsible for that. I mean he's explaining everything so well and exactly in a way that i can i understand. Keep up the work Matt!
It makes my heart so happy to hear this. Thank you.
This is the best lessons on bends I've gotten to date
You’re welcome! Share it with a friend ;-)
The rotation rather than pulling with the fingers helped me out a lot. Thanks.
this is gold.
Discovered you just now and this one video has helped me to grow better technique in the last half hour of practice than the 20 years spent playing before watching this video.
My main gripe was adding vibrato to up bends on the higher strings but just going back to basics with this has shown instant improvement (with some more to go but that’s why we practice)
🙏 🙏 🙏
Hi Matt
I’m just learning blues,and was having problems with bending notes.Just watched your lesson,and applied your technique and now it seems so much easier.No bumping other strings and I have so much better control.Thankyou❤
Thanks man. Great explanation !!! I have been having trouble with the hand placement but your video really helped me. Keep goin, good vibes.
Glad to hear it! :-)
Thank you this was thoroughly useful. Any tips on how to play single notes while maintaining a bend?
Holy cow this was great for me. Looking forward to giving it some consistent work. The explanation of the mechanics is super helpful for me. Thank you!
Extremely well done, thorough treatment of the subject. Thanks so much, I look forward to benefitting from more of your lessons.
omg your videos finally explain things i couldnt get right for years
You've pretty exhausted this topic mechanically. Thank you. I will get right to learning bends after 10 years of playing guitar.
Geez, why do no other videos mention some of these details? I had to figure some of this out through trial and error. This could've saved me so much time. Thanks!
Welcome to the community! :-)
Great video… I would say the most important thing is having your thumb on top of the neck for the bigger bends in the blues position like you said. Common mistake for beginners
I literally demonstrated that the thumb is not necessary for bends. lol
@@mattwright466 you’re right, what I meant was for whole step bends with 3 fingers
@@Lhnzy Yes! Agreed.
Specificity is CRUCIAL! ;-)
The most detailed bending lesson yet!
Hello Sir Matt i watched your video and i saw that your recommended exercise regarding for string bending. I saw some of your bending that you use multiple finger for it how do we apply the exercise in case we are already comfortable with bending but using only one finger at a time. Because that is the one you have demonstrate on your video. Hope to have a response, sir thank you in advance.
If doing a bend on the first finger, use one finger.
If doing a bend on the 2nd finger, bring in the first finger behind it as backup. It doesn't press like the 2nd finger does, but it will help.
If doing a bend on the 3rd finger, bring in the first AND 2nd fingers behind it as backup. They don't press down like the like the 3rd finger does, but they reinforce what the 3rd finger is doing.
Hope that helps!
@@mattwright466 thank you Sir Matt. So your saying that the first finger is much stronger than the other two?
anyway Sir thank you very much ill apply it. 😁
You’re awesome man, keep it up, you’re doing great and I hope you have a fantastic week
Or, even two fantastic weeks.😃🙃😷🦶. This video befoots one.
Excellent video.
Didn't learn how to bend strings effectively but I did learn I suck at guitar!
Thanks for the great lesson! Been doing this the hard way for way too many years. Gonna get a metronome and dig in real soon!
4 mins a day! That's all it takes!
You're never past your prime. Don't buy lemonade from people who choose the wrong shade of sports jacket for TV.
@@羅允駿 With encouragement like that, how can I go wrong? I’ve noticed an improvement in my ability already!
Great tutorial, I have a question - example: Sustaining 5th fret note on high E and bending on the 8th fret on the B string. Can you give a demo thanks
You’ll hold down first finger on the higher string and then apply the same bending techniques already described in this video. I STRONGLY recommend trying it higher up first and working your way down as 5-8 is a pretty darn low range for performing that bend. Try starting on 12-15.
Thank you definitely easier on the 12th fret. Once I get that down will work my way down to the 5th
Awesome tutorial. I struggle with bending, but your video made sense of my mistakes. I will try out this technique out and look forward to the results.
I like the way you describe how to bend, very well explained with so many possible variables taking the guess work out,l understand more about it thanks a lot.
Thbis video is why I fkin love the internet. Thanks so much for the extremely insightful information provided on the mechanics of proper bending, this is also a great gateway to properly apply vibrato to a bend. Thanks so much. Insta-subscribed!
This content is amazing!!! I'm just getting into guitar myself - I've made close to 100 videos. I'll add this bending understanding to my exercises. Again, thank you Matt Wright!!!
Awesome video! Clear and super concise info. Thanks again!
Awesome, thank you! Bending is something I really want to get better at.
Brilliant tutorial! Kudos Maestro and thank you.
What gauge do you use on this guitar? excellent video, thank you for clarifying these basic doubts, which even having many years on the guitar are overlooked
I think was still on 10s at the time of recording this video. I play 9’s now.
Flying Colors.. from 2012 unbelievable great songs
For real!
Thanks Matt! I have now successfully scraped the rest of the skin from my fingertips.
😆 You'll get there, man!! Don't overdo it.
Thank you so much!!!!!
HI Matt, great video! Do you have any tips on playing other strings while holding a bend? You can find several examples throughout Sultans of Swing. When I perform them, I feel the need to assume more of classical position order to have my pinky remain in line with the frets, but I'm wondering if this is a compensation. Any advice would be appreciated.
This is the most detailed bending guide I've seen. Thanks a lot! Boomer bends here I come!
Matt,, you're killing it. You really have a gift for teaching. So well explained and demo'd Really hope you put out much more content with some geared towards us newbies even more. Really good stuff. Can you address the "pinky" fly? I'm really working on getting my fingers to do what I want. They are starting to calm down a bit with practice. I started with Guitar Tricks lessons, but they really don't cover enough detail. So I've backed up to working on fingers and technique then I'll go back and learn chords. Plus I'm learning tabs etc... with Guitar pro. Thanks again for your hard work on these video's.
Duude, this video appeared as recommended and decided to watch it while having dinner, after that went back to my seat, took my guitar and guess what, the part of the thirds in the fingers suddenly made my bends sound cleaner, by a lot. You got a new subscriber :D this week is gonna be all about practicing those bends. Thank you
You're totally welcome! :D
Hi Matt. Great video. When bending up should you go under the strings above? Thanks
This is addressed in the FAQ section of the video. ;-)
Unless I'm misinterpreting your question and you mean cramming your fingers underneath strings... In which case, no.
Matt. Muchas gracias Maestro you rock 🎸🎸🎸🎸!!!
De nada 🙂
Thank you, my practice routine starts today!
Thank you.
Thank you for this video, got really good tips how to fix my bending technique!
I love how you break down the contact points on the finger. That's so key. Especially learning through video since we can't feel what part of your finger is contacting the string. What gauge string are you using? 19:06
At the time of the video, I was using 10's. I switched to 9's 2 months ago and I'm loving them. I'm still trying to find which brand I like since the G string can feel a little squirrel-y... But 9's are MUCH easier to bend in general.
Very well explained--nice job
Mostly what you’ve shown here is first finger vibrato. It’s a necessity to use the tip of the third finger to do whole step bends, and especially when doing double stop/bends when the pinky and or middle finger are simultaneously playing other notes.
I didn't cover double stop bends. Use what works for you 🙂
Regarding other finger bends, I specifically demonstrated it.
If you're playing on the tip, you MAY be curling over too much. I play them on the 45° still. 🙂
Now, there's a well-theoried comment.
you are amazing thank you!!!
Bringing biomechanics to a lesson on bends - Brilliant! Matt, can you apply the first principles of engineering too! Let me know when you can help me calculate my stochastic differential equation problems. Great video Matt and exceptionally well produced and delivered. Now a sub!
😆😆😆
Glad you found it helpful! However, first engineering principles are not yet in my repertoire...
Great lesson. Thanks!
Very good. But why all the fx on the tone ? Clean tone would be better when teaching I think.
11:00 I use clean tone for all teaching, sir. 😛
@@mattwright466 Im srry - but isnt there echo / delay or something like that, and reverb involved ? Good lesson 👍
11:03 - Compressor. That's it.
@@mattwright466 you’ve got overdrive, delay, and reverb going on there.
Does the vibrato follow the same technique or you have other videos showing that? cheers!
It depends. Really wild vibrato is probably best done with this technique. Pre bending is probably better with this technique than classical/straight fingers, but can be done both ways. Subtle vibrato can go either way honestly. Better yet, do it on whammy so you can get pitch going up and down.*
*down will only be possible with floating bridges.
@@mattwright466 Nice, I see there a are various types, I’ll use the same philosophy to learn them (60 bpm: quarter,eight, sixteenth, then crazy…)
So helpful, best video I have seen about bends
Thanks so much, man! That was my goal! 💪
your videos are really helping me a lot.. Keep posting and spread your amazing knowledge to the whole world🌼.. And i would like to request a video full analysis on Tim Henson playing style. Thank you
Thanks man!
I'll be honest, I haven't touched the Tim Henson stuff. I can tell you one BIG tip I got from him when I met him at John Petrucci's guitar camp though.
He said that if you set your action too low, the harmonics don't really respond the same... So if you're having trouble getting proper response, check in on that. :-)
Until I come out with my own vids, the Thomann videos on guitar setup are VERY good.
@@mattwright466 thanks big bro.. Your so kind.. Untill then🎸
That was so well thought out!
Thanks!
Faq answered this ...thnks ...gd. Different to others i feel
Wow what a revelation! I’ve been playing for 14 years and could never understand why my fingers would fatigue so quickly compared to my peers. I always had the string near the “0 degree” part of my finger, where you’re pretty much playing right on the bone. I experienced no problems with slipping, and I had good control over my vibrato. However, long practice sessions containing many bb king-style index finger whole step bends would hurt like hell a bit after a while. I thought I just had weak hands and even tried 8s for a while, which presented new problems like having to relearn how to bend in tune. I tried playing closer to the 45 degree angle and the pain is significantly less. Moreover, my thumb feels more natural when placed over the neck. However I don’t really understand what you mean by having the string fall on one of the lateral sides of the finger, rather than square in the middle. Could you elaborate on that?
Glad it’s helping! Pause the video at where I have the finger annotated with lines.
Basically, do you want the string on either side of the finger, not on the center of the fingerprint?.
Holy moly man, I started bending the strings from the side (in the 45º zone) and even tho I got callus on the tips of my fingers I didn't have them there, and oh boy, it stings.
Now I understand why u say to do it for one minute hahhahaha
I got a blister on my third finger now, god damn it. It's also weird how the blister is not even on the side of the 45 degree zone, but I am playing bends from that area, I feel it because of the wrist rotation.
Sounds like you’re doing it right! Are you on electric or on acoustic?
@@mattwright466 nah man im a big p***y im on electric and using 9s hahaha. I just haven’t ever used that part of the finger to bend, I always used to play them with the upper part where u say that one shouldn’t play them from
Hahah I LOVE 9's!!! Yeah it will take some getting used to... Maybe not specifically "calloused" but there can be a sort of pressure point that you'll find. You won't get calloused per se, but you'll get used to the feeling.@@Fer-un9vh
thank youi that helped
Damn I’m working on the Joji “run” solo and this is perfect for that! Awesome deep dive man 🤌
This is great. Love very targeted, problem solving exercises of these sort.
More to come. ;-)
Any particular thing you want me to cover?
@@mattwright466 I'm not sure.
My current practice goals:
-Blending the great many "shred patterns" or sequences I've learned together seamlessly into phrases. Eventually arpeggios as well, but that's for the future.
-Executing the very common "screaming bend/vibrato at the end/top of a run" trope we see all over rock, metal etc. Not so much physical execution but "fitting it in" with timing, number of notes etc.
I wouldn't say I have much of a coherent plan for either of these goals as yet.
@@endincite4149
1. I wouldn't concern yourself with "blending the patterns" as a sheer technical exercise. There are too many combinations for it to really make sense. It DOES make sense to have a few common things in your back pocket, but it would be impossible to do every combination. Instead, I'd recommend using the patterns to inspire you to create and assemble something musical. Something that SAYS SOMETHING. Then practice THAT isolated thing to perfection. That high level of performance will bleed over as ease into your other playing.
2. See above. :-)
What do I do if my strings break before I even move a half step? Do they break because my technique is wrong or is there something about my setup causing the problem?
Sorry this is happening to you! Best advice is to find a skilled tech in your area. Call Sweetwater and ask who they recommend in your area. Any tech they recommend will be certified. :-)
It is most often issues with bridge setup, then there can be issues with the nut.
@@mattwright466 alright, thanks!
Btw for you guys that might have problems knowing if you've reached the correct note, I recommend to have a drone playing alongside the metronome with the note you intend you hit. Personally, this helps me a lot to measure the correct movement of the wrist
Very smart idea!
Awesome explanation! Thank you!!🎸🎸🤘🏻🤘🏻
You're welcome :-)
This is a great lesson. However i wish it covered vibratos at the top of a bend. Can't seem to figure it out.
Do a little wiggle instead of a big wiggle. :-)
@@mattwright466 I think i figured it out! At the top of bends, I was using a more up-down motion with the weight of the guitar, bc i didn't think there was enough room to do the anchor/rotation technique. But i tried just with really small wiggles like you said and they sound so much better.
Thanks a lot. Ill let you know how it goes in a month.
I'm a little confused coach 😁
Are we talking 'bending' as in playing UP to higher notes from lower frets, or 'bending' as in rapid movement of the string to simulate a tremolo like effect?
Every blues and rock player I see uses both.
For the former, the thumb is anchored and the bend accomplished with multiple locked fingers pushing up or down, while for the latter, they use the fish hook.
What am I missing? 🥴
I specifically cover this. Bends don't come from the thumb at all. Watch the video again and try to find the spot. It's in the first half. ;-)
This technique can be applied to both bending to sustained notes as well as vibrato.
I've subscribed!! Great teacher. Thank you buddy.
Thanks much 🙂
@@mattwright466 hahaha no no my friend - THANK YOU!!!! Keep doing what makes you happy!
Thankyou so much brother!!!
Nice shirt
I'd like to point out a nuance that is often left out. It's better to be consistent with your strings: if you keep switching between brands and gauges all the time, your muscle memory can get you out of tune pretty easily. I know that pros would probably 'catch' the runaway bend by ear, but I've been working on my bends for 4 months, and when I pick up my Strat with the 9s instead of the usual Superstrat with the 10s, I can no longer rely on my muscle memory and have to listen to each note I bend to individually. That's way too much of a mental strain, especially with quick runs. Maybe there's a way around this problem, but for now I've decided to settle on a brand and gauge and stick to it.
I noticed the 3rd joint of your first finger (closest to fingertip) is in a bent position while bending (like a fish hook). Do you ever have it locked in a straight position? I find it easier doing it that way some times, especially when i'm feeling finger fatigue
What are you doing that's causing your fingers to feel fatigued?
No, my finger always wraps around like that. If it's straight, you're going to end up on the pad of the fingertip which is an inferior surface for manipulating lateral direction of the string.
@@mattwright466 by finger fatigue i mean that towards the end of my daily exercises, it becomes harder to bend because the contact point on my fingertip gets sore. So switching to the pad gives me relief. Maybe i just need to build up callouses on the sides of my fingertips? Thanks for the reply
@@seancastleton Ahh - Fingertips being a little shredded isn't the same as PAIN in the hands.
How long have you been playing? The more you play, the easier it gets and your fingers won't get aggravated. I don't have significant callouses even with decent playing hours.
These bends will be pretty intense on the fingertips when you first start. Follow the protocol in the video and you'll get used to it.
excellent
Much love
What do I do to avoid fretting the lower (in tone) strings when I bend upwards? My finger either directly catches the string above and it slips under fast enough that they ring once they hit the fret. Should I allow it to be fretted and mute it, or should I try to keep it above the fret (and how?)
Did you watch the ENTIRE video? I believe I address this in the later half. ;-)
Try experimenting with the pressure point being more on the SIDE of the string than on TOP of the string.
@@mattwright466 thank you for the reply. ;) sure I watched the whole thing. This is a great and a very helpful video. It’s just that I bought a guitar, started doing your exercises and they seemed to work. However I kind of pushed the adjacent strings upwards while they remained in the air (not touching the frets)… kind of with the pad of my fingertip. Then I gave my guitar for some fret smoothening, where the dude who did it also lowered the strings and nothing works the same way now. 😄😄😄
You’re talking about them sounding on the release in case it was trapped right next to the bent string. My issue is with it hitting the fret on the way up, when my fingertips try to move it out of the way.
This is a REALLY hard thing to troubleshoot over UA-cam comments so stick with me... haha
1. There is such a thing as having too low of an action... Try bends on another guitar and note the action. If it's easier on another guitar with higher action, it could just be the interaction of the geometry of your hands and the action and you may want a higher action..
2. There is a hard to explain art of releasing without letting the other string ring. I don't think I can really explain it other than keep trying. YOU are aware of the problem AND where it's coming from AND (because you watched this video) the principles of good bending. So use those and figure out your own solution! :-)
@@nicolaimanev
@@mattwright466 thank you sir. 🙏 Just one more question. Since noticing this kind of stuff in videos is next to impossible, tell me please: does the adjacent string touch the fret as you’re doing a bend or does it stay away and the only string that touches the fret is the one you’re bending? Maybe I’ll put it another way just in case: does the adjacent string end up between your fingertip and a fret as you’re pushing it away, or does it only stay on your fingertip? I need to understand this 🤯
It may or may NOT touch the fret. The thing that ultimately matters is how much pressure that adjacent string that we don't want to ring actually receives. ;-)@@nicolaimanev
Great job!
Thanks, man!
I've started learning BB King and this lesson has helped me a lot. I really like your teaching method and the FAQ section, it helps drive home the points of the lesson.
Glad you found it helpful!
Did you try the exercise? And how fast did it make a difference for you? Let me know! (I love discovering new, super-useful exercises). 😎
I always use the blues no matter what. My hand just likes it