- This topic has 11 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 8 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
-
Senior learner, Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin 2, Boss Katana 50, 10-48 strings.
1) On a single bend note the string has to be muted before returning to the start position. Am I touching it with my pick or the palm of my hand?
2) Especially 10 fret and above the next string to the one being bent often clicks off my callous as it heads lower on the fingertip, thereby sounding. I can limit this by bending with the finger at an angle, but this seems like a nasty habit to get into, no one else is having to do this. Does this magically resolve with practice?
3) I usually practice clean – a titch of reverb and echo. My bent notes above the 12th fret sound decidedly unmusical – squeaky and thin. Is this as much of the amp setting as it is technique? Are there preferred amp settings around here?
Thanks in advance. -
Hi Brad,
Great questions.
To choke a bend at it’s peak I can mute it with the pick or tip of my middle finger or where the pick and middle finger meet. Depending on the effect you want, you can also let the pitch fall back to the unbent tone.
Creating noise from the string above often resolves with practice. Everybody’s fingers are different, you will find what works for you. You have to carry the higher (lower pitched) string with the bend, it shouldn’t catch under your finger. Muting with side of palm of the picking hand for the strings above the bend can help.
Things like compression, mild overdrive, reverb and slapback can fatten up the tone of those higher notes. Your gear sounds perfectly capable of getting nice tones up there. Hope that helps.
John -
-
Hey Brad. Not dumb questions at all. This earlier thread on the same topic contains some YouTube links to a couple of good lessons on the subject of muting and bending. Definitely worth a look.
-
-
So, it turns out that the reason having the fingers on a slant works is because it places the index higher naturally. Now that I am beginning to do this intentionally, the next higher string is held lower and is no longer clicking off my callous. I have a ways to go with this and other muting techniques but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Just following up, no need to reply, thanks again. brad
-
-
-
String noise and minor imperfections for me are analogous to a couple of crackles and some hiss on a legit vinyl LP. There is life in there. Do you want your music to be sterile? My guitars have wound strings, and my music is not overly produced, there will be squeaks when sliding and other peripheral noises when bending. I try to minimize the noise, but I don’t lose sleep over any of it. It’s on you/them (the listener) if these things are bothersome. Play on playa!
[url url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOEtDN4A6kT8wq1o_8HcChQ]My Youtube Channel[/url]
-
You’re right and I like some dirty bar room blues. Maybe better when it is how I choose to play as opposed to the only way I can play. The minor imperfections you are describing is where I am at now with the improvements I am adding. What I had before was a full sounding of the next highest string as it clicked off the callous and was decidedly, pretty darn awful. Placement of the index finger ahead has tamed this a lot. Stepping across the threshold from noise to music.
-
-
For anyone who stumbles across this while looking for answers on inadvertent sounding of strings while bending. The problem is at least 50% that the callouses need to be reshaped and this is accomplished through bending practice. I have practiced bending with all fingers, even the little guy. I have short fingers and if I need to bend the 8th fret and pull-off to the 5th, then it needs to be the little finger on the bend. So, muting strings and update the callouses.
-
Brad
Have you tried Brian’s blues lead course yet? Brian covers at least some of this and a whole range of other things involved in getting a good start
He also sneaks short reviews of techniques into weekly lessons so the information does get repeated as you go.
Brian does update his lead blues course from time to time so checking back is always a good idea.
I did the blues lead course years ago and was referred back to it a little while ago and I was surprised at how much work had been added since I first went there
Good luck -
On #3
Are you identifying the target note that you are bending to ?
Practice of this would be to hit the note
That you want to bend to- then bend until your tone matches. ( 1/2 step -whole step- step and a half) if you are a little bit off it will not sound good
But with a few weeks practice it becomes instinctive
Happy bending-
Hey, thanks for the replies. No, I have not tried the blues lead course. I’ll take a gander but doubt that I am good enough yet. As to getting the right pitch with my bends…..I am better than I was, but there is all kinds of room for improvement. What I lack in talent, I make up for with dogged persistence.
-
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
