Guitar Vibrato String Bending Technique Lesson by Paul Kleff

[MrSvjoe]

really good lesson!

[tnic469]

I've been playing a year and I still can't hear if I over-bend or under-bend. It's so frustrating that I'm probably going to quit soon.

[DJspin88988]

don't quit.

thx Paul for the help. I really appreciate it

[bergercurtis]

Would that really motivate you to give up? You need to train your ears. It won't come in a year. When you were an infant (Although I'm sure you don't remember. But please humor me, for the sake of trying to help you out) could you honestly say you could tell the slightest difference between sounds? It takes time. Get used to listening carefully, and being precise. Try going back and forth from the note you are trying to reach, and where you're bending from. Also, try looking into perfect pitch.

[4507paulh]

Play the note you want to bend to first. Sing that note in your head and then bend up to it from the note you want to bend from. Practice this and you'll get to hear if you are bending to the right pitch

[qmcfarlan]

I'm just starting out on electric, but Paul is an excellent instructor. Just gotta get him to teach me Slash's power stance, hah.

[oceantracks]

Thanks Paul. I have been playing forever, but grew up playing in the pre-Hendrix era of Beatles, etc. So I'm more pop based than blues based, and am playing catch up now. Your tips are great and you are an awesome player. Look forward to seeing more videos.....have any on pinch harmonics?

Thanks

Tom

[oceantracks]

I'm just having trouble getting a good vibrato down. Do you suggest trying to get the vibrato going by bending slowly, and in some kind of tempo (like 8ths or 16ths) until you build up strength, or just trying to exercise those fingers at full speed to develop it? It just seems like my fingers lose strength while bending. Thanks!

[PaulKleff]

Bending slowly to a pitch is probably best. If you use a metronome, set it for something like 60 to 70 bpm and do quarter note bends up a whole step to start. You want to have a steady tempo on the bending and releasing--that combined with bending it to the correct pitch is what makes the vibrato sound good and smooth.

[PaulKleff]

As far as finger strength goes, it will develop but it takes some time. Watch the video at about the 5 minute mark and look at how the left wrist/forearm gets used to bend and vibrato the string. The wrist/forearm muscles are much stronger than the fingers--gives you a lot more control on it.

[oceantracks]

Its' really true that we often forget that a bend should be going to a definite pitch...it really does sound so much better. Thanks for pointing this out and it definitely should be the first thing one thinks of while doing a bend! Great tips!

[PaulKleff]

Thanks! It's true--bending strings accurately and developing a good vibrato are two of the most important parts of good guitar playing. They are sometimes overlooked when people work on developing their chops but are a very important part of one's technique and style.