Guitar Lesson 11 - Guitar Bend

Tab Video 
E|---------|
B|--7b(8)--|
G|---------|
D|---------|
A|---------|
E|---------|

Download Guitar Bend Part 1 - Video

Download Guitar Bend Part 1 - Wav


Above we will use the 'b' character to denote a bend. In real tablature that you see in books and magazines you will see a curved arrow pointing upwards and will have a half or full next to the arrow.

A bend is usually also noted with how much of a bend to play. In the example above we are going to bend the string just enough to make it sound like the note on the 8th fret (you will not be playing the 8th fret). This is known as a half step, a full step would be 7(9). Take note, some people will leave the () out and note it as 7b8, which is the same as above.

While a bend can be played up or down, it is recommended that you play it upward. Any finger can be used to perform a bend but the best finger to use is your 3rd finger. Using your 3rd finger will allow you to use your 2nd finger to assist your 3rd finger.

Play the Guitar Bend:
1. Place your 3rd finger on the 7th fret of the 2nd string.
2. Place your 2nd finger on the 6th fret of the 2nd string.
3. Pick the string.
4. Immediately after picking the string push (bend) the string upwarded keeping your 3rd finger pressing down. The second finger helps out by pushing upward too.
5. Once you bend to the note you want to achieve, bend the string back down to it's normal position.
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