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Hi Dudes and Dudets

How best to bend a string up or down, is these bends the same tone?
I always seem to catch another string when bending up which then sounds
Currently working on PF wish you were here.

Thanks guys

RicksPick

RicksPick wrote:

Hi Dudes and Dudets

How best to bend a string up or down, is these bends the same tone?
I always seem to catch another string when bending up which then sounds
Currently working on PF wish you were here.

Thanks guys

RicksPick

Rick- I've been working on that song too. Neil is right, even with light (.012) strings those full bends are tough.

For me, I need at least two fingers to do a good bend and three makes it much easier. Single finger bends only work for 1/4-1/2 bends. Even with 3 fingers, those full bends in WYWH are still very challenging.

Also, as a rule I bend the highest 4 strings up and the two bass notes down. It's much easier to pull down those heavier strings.

Cheers! :cheer:

Yeah, I agree with Bear on this. Also, when bending I find it much easier to skip out on the pinkie when at all possible, as I don't have enough strength in at this point to make a good bend.

Thanks guys

Will keep that in mind
I play with 10's (0.10),
Do you find that when bending the G string up, you run into the D?
I end up trying to bend 2 strings then!!!
Or my nail catches and the D twangs over the nail
Probably more practice until smooth

TY BB n MJ

RicksPick wrote:

Thanks guys

Will keep that in mind
I play with 10's (0.10),
Do you find that when bending the G string up, you run into the D?
I end up trying to bend 2 strings then!!!
Or my nail catches and the D twangs over the nail
Probably more practice until smooth

TY BB n MJ

yep, that happens to me as well. Not a problem if you do not need the D string to ring out..... If you do, not too sure then.....

RicksPick wrote:

Thanks guys

Will keep that in mind
I play with 10's (0.10),
Do you find that when bending the G string up, you run into the D?
I end up trying to bend 2 strings then!!!
Or my nail catches and the D twangs over the nail
Probably more practice until smooth

TY BB n MJ

I don't have that problem because it takes a lot of force to push up my G into the D. Those .010's are really light for an acoustic or are you playing an electric? I can bend up that high on my Les Paul easily but not usally on an acoustic.

Also, it shouldn't matter too much if you touch the D string with the G if you aren't picking the D. It should be kind of muted and you often see good electric guitarists bending both but only playing one. I think they are trying to max out the bend effect.

Cheers! :cheer:

Hi Bear

No not an electric
Maybe the next set I will try 12's
how will that change tone?
I read post about the extra tension of heavier strings
I've always had 10's, hope 1 up will be OK

RicksPick:(

RicksPick wrote:

Hi Bear

No not an electric
Maybe the next set I will try 12's
how will that change tone?
I read post about the extra tension of heavier strings
I've always had 10's, hope 1 up will be OK

RicksPick:(

Rick- very light strings on an acoustic don't get the full sound from the instrument. I think you need a certain amount of vibration to get all your guitar has to give and .010's are just too light IMHO of course. The .012's I play with are labelled "Light" so .010 are "Extra Light" or "Super Duper Light" or something. BTW, I use .010's on my 12 string because there is plenty of sound to get the soundboard moving.

Jumping to .012 will sound richer and fuller. But, because these strings are thicker, they may ride a little higher in the nut so your action will not be as low. You may need a new nut or have your existing nut grooved out to keep your action the same. If you don't do this you will not be a happy camper and blame the strings!!

I believe that every guitar needs to be set up for whatever gauge strings you use and you can't jump around with gauges. Good luck!! :cheer:

I played with 9s on my guitar for quite a long time. It already has all the bass response I need, and the ultra lights gave it the high end I wanted. Not too tough to bend, but still takes a bit.

You just have to practice that bend a zillion times to get it right. Theres no secret to it.

I use 12's on both electric and acoustic with 15's on my Resonator (try bending those suckers!)

With some bends I use two fingers ring and middle and sometimes I need my index but not often