You might’ve noticed blues players making certain grimaces as they play on those heavy-gauge-stringed guitars.
That’s because they’re bending the strings on their guitars to create new, expressive sounds.
If you want to add some soul to your playing, string bending is a great technique to learn.
String bending is a guitar technique where you literally bend the strings with your fingers to create new notes. This can be done either by pushing the string up or pulling it down. This technique can add more expression to your playing.
It’s a great way to make your solos sound more melodic and soulful, and it’s not as difficult to learn as you might think.
In this article, I’ll teach you the basics of string bending and show you some tips and tricks that will help you get the most out of this technique.
What is string bending?
String bending is a technique where you use your fretting hand to bend the guitar strings up or down.
This raises the pitch of the note since you’re creating tension on the string, and it can be used to create some really cool sounding effects.
It’s also called a vibrato technique since you’re essentially vibrating the string to create the bending sound.
For the string bending technique, you apply force with your fretting hand and fingers to “bend” the string in a perpendicular direction to the string’s vibrating length.
This action will increase a note’s pitch and is used for microtonality or to give a distinct “bend” sound.
Depending on how much you bend the string, you can create different vibrato effects.
A bend sound is an articulation, just like a slide, and can be executed on any string. It’s used frequently in lead guitar passages.
A bend has what is known as a target pitch, and your bend must achieve this target in order for it to sound in tune.
The target pitch is usually a note that’s higher than the starting note, but you can also bend the string down to create a lower pitch.
To really get a feel for bends, you should take a listen to Stevie Ray Vaughan play. His style is well-known for incorporating a lot of bending techniques:
What’s the challenge of string bending?
Even experienced guitar players have trouble with string bending from time to time.
The main challenge is that you have to apply the right amount of pressure to bend the string, but not too much pressure that the string breaks.
There’s a sweet spot where you can get the perfect bend, and it takes some practice to find the perfect intonation.
In fact, the intonation is what makes or breaks a bend. You need to get the right pitch to achieve that blues-like sound.
Types of string bends
Did you know there are actually a few different string bending techniques to learn?
Let’s take a look at the bending basics behind each of the common types:
Full-tone bend / whole step bend
For this type of bend, you move the string to a distance of 2 frets. This means that the pitch of the string will increase by a whole step or 2 semitones.
To do this, you place your finger on the string you want to bend and push it up. As you do this, use your other fingers to support the string so that it doesn’t snap.
Once you’ve reached the 2-fret mark, stop pushing and let the bent string return to its original position.
Semi-tone bend / half-step bend
For a half-step bend, you move your bending finger for half the distance or just one fret. This means that the pitch of the string will only increase by a half step or 1 semitone.
The process is the same as the full-tone bend, but you only push the string up for one fret.
Quarter tone bends / micro-bends
A quarter tone bend is a very small movement of the string, usually only a fraction of a fret. This produces a subtle change in sound and is often used to give the note some vibrato.
Single-string bends
While you can bend multiple strings at the same time, it’s often more effective to focus on bending just one string.
This will give you more control over the pitch and help you avoid mistakes.
To do this, place your finger on the string you want to bend and push it up. As you do this, use your other fingers to support the string so that it doesn’t snap.
Once you’ve reached the desired fret, stop pushing and let the bent string return to its original position.
You can also pull the string down to create a bend, but this can be harder to control.
Double-stop bends
This is a more advanced bending technique where you bend two strings at the same time.
To do this, place your finger on the two strings you want to bend and push them up. As you do this, use your other fingers to support the strings so that they don’t snap.
Once you’ve reached the desired fret, stop pushing and let the bent strings return to their original position.
Pre-bends / ghost bends
The pre-bend is also known as the ghost bend because you actually pre-bend the string before you even play the note.
To do this, place your finger on the string you want to bend and push it up. As you do this, use your other fingers to support the string so that it doesn’t snap.
Unison bends
The unison bend is a technique where you bend two strings at the same time to create one note.
To do this, place your finger on the two strings you want to bend and push them up. As you do this, use your other fingers to support the strings so that they don’t snap.
Oblique bends
This is very common for blues and rock guitar players. You can bend the string up or down a very small amount, which will create a subtle change in pitch.
This can be used to add some expression to your playing, and it can also be used to create vibrato effects.
You make the sound slightly sharp using the bend and then sound more bluesy.
Why do guitarists bend the strings?
This playing technique is popular with blues, country, and rock guitarists because it gives a vocal quality to the music.
It’s an expressive and melodic playing style that can make your guitar solos sound soulful and bluesy.
String bending is also popular with lead guitarists as it allows them to play with more expression.
String bends can make your solos sound more melodic and soulful, and they’re a great way to add some flair to your playing.
They’re also a great way to create vibrato effects, which can add a lot of depth and feeling to your playing.
How to do a string bend
String bending is done with more than one finger on the fretting hand.
The most common method is to use the third finger supported by the second and even the first sometimes.
The second (middle) finger can be used to help support the other two fingers, or it can be used to hold down another string behind the one you’re bending (on a different fret).
Then you should be using your arm and wrist instead of the fingers only.
When you try to bend with your fingers, you’ll hurt them since the muscles aren’t as strong.
Check out this video from Marty Music to see how it’s supposed to sound:
There are a few things you need to keep in mind when bending strings:
- The amount of pressure you use – if you use too much pressure, you’ll end up breaking the string. If you don’t use enough pressure, the string won’t bend properly.
- The type of bend – as we mentioned earlier, there are half-step bends and whole-step bends. You’ll need to use different amounts of pressure depending on the type of bend you’re doing.
- The string you’re bending – some strings are easier to bend than others. The thicker the string, the harder it is to bend.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to doing a half-step bend exercise on the high E string:
- Place your finger on the string at the 9th fret.
- Apply enough pressure to bend the string up by one fret.
- Use your other hand to help you keep the string in place as you bend it.
- Once you’ve reached the desired pitch, release the pressure and let the string return to its original position.
- You can also hold the bent note for a few seconds before releasing it. This is called a vibrato bend, and it adds a lot of expression to your playing.
Can you bend strings on acoustic guitar?
Yes, you can bend strings on acoustic guitar, but it’s not as common as on electric guitar.
The reason for this is that acoustic guitars have softer strings, which makes them harder to bend.
They also have a narrower fretboard, which can make it more difficult to get the right amount of pressure on the string.
That being said, it is possible to bend strings on an acoustic guitar, and it can add a lot of expression to your playing. Just be aware that it might take some practice to get the hang of it.
FAQs
Does bending strings damage guitar?
It really depends on the guitar. Some electric guitars can become damaged if the nut isn’t glued down properly when string bending.
This is because the string can pull the nut out of place, which can cause the guitar to go out of tune.
Other than that, string bending shouldn’t damage your guitar. Just don’t be too extreme with this technique, and you’ll be fine.
What is the best way to learn how to bend strings?
The best way to learn how to bend strings is by practicing. Start by doing some simple bends on the low E and A strings.
Then, move on to the higher strings (B, G, and D). Once you’re comfortable with bending these strings, you can start practicing more complex bends.
Who invented string bending?
Although it’s not exactly clear who invented string bending, this technique has been used by guitarists for many years.
It’s believed that string bending was largely popularized in the 1950s by the legendary B.B King.
He was one of the first guitarists to use this technique in his playing, and so he’s credited with popularizing it.
He would bend the note to create a “wailing” sound that was unique to his style of playing.
Other blues guitarists soon began using this technique, and it eventually became the norm.
Therefore B.B King is the musician that comes to mind when we think of string bending and the butterfly vibrato technique.
Why do jazz guitarists not bend strings?
A jazz guitar’s strings are generally too thick to bend without breaking. These strings are also flat-wound, which means they’re less flexible than round-wound strings.
Also, the style of playing is different – instead of bending strings for effect, jazz guitarists focus on creating smooth, flowing melodies.
String bending would interrupt the flow of the music and make it sound messy.
Takeaway
String bending is a guitar technique that can add more expression to your playing.
It’s a great way to make your solos sound more melodic, and it can take your blues, country, and rock to the next level.
Once you learn a basic bend, you can start experimenting with different types of bends to create your own unique sound.
Just remember to practice, and don’t be afraid to experiment.
With a little bit of time and effort, you’ll be bending strings like a pro in no time.
Next, check out my complete guide on hybrid picking in metal, rock & blues
I'm Joost Nusselder, the founder of Neaera and a content marketer, dad, and love trying out new equipment with guitar at the heart of my passion, and together with my team, I've been creating in-depth blog articles since 2020 to help loyal readers with recording and guitar tips.
