Stop Bending Out of Tune! Try This to Fix Your Bends
Bending is one of the most expressive things you can do on guitar, but it takes some deliberate practice to make it sound musical instead of just out of tune. A few things made a big difference for me and my students.
Start with the fourth of the scale rather than the root. In the key of E that's the 14th fret G string, and the reason it's a great starting point is that both a half step and a whole step bend land on notes that fit right in the blues scale. So even as you're developing your ear you're still landing somewhere that sounds good.
Use multiple fingers stacked together for strength and control, and think about starting with your fingertips curved so you have the leverage to push through the bend cleanly. Most importantly, find the target pitch first by playing it straight, then bend up to it. That trains your ear to actually hit the note you're going for. Give it a go!
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More Guitar Resources:
? Get my FREE Guitar Guide PDF—packed with chords, scales, triads, arpeggios, and more: https://www.martymusic.com/the-ultimate-guitar-guide-ebook
? More Guitar Lessons & FREE Courses: https://www.martymusic.com/free-courses
Follow me everywhere: https://linktr.ee/martyschwartz
?️ Come see me LIVE at one of my upcoming events: https://www.bandsintown.com/a/1364263-marty-schwartz
Check out the Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 Guitar - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xkQ6Zy
Free Boss Katana Patches - https://bosstoneexchange.com/creator/125b3da8-184c-48b5-83d8-cbcbe9a15807/?utm_source=share
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Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. The link above is an affiliate link, that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission on.
Start with the fourth of the scale rather than the root. In the key of E that's the 14th fret G string, and the reason it's a great starting point is that both a half step and a whole step bend land on notes that fit right in the blues scale. So even as you're developing your ear you're still landing somewhere that sounds good.
Use multiple fingers stacked together for strength and control, and think about starting with your fingertips curved so you have the leverage to push through the bend cleanly. Most importantly, find the target pitch first by playing it straight, then bend up to it. That trains your ear to actually hit the note you're going for. Give it a go!
? Join my Marty Music Community & surround yourself with other like-minded guitar players! Monthly membership includes livestreams with me & tons of premium content — you can even start for FREE! → https://www.martymusic.com/memberships
More Guitar Resources:
? Get my FREE Guitar Guide PDF—packed with chords, scales, triads, arpeggios, and more: https://www.martymusic.com/the-ultimate-guitar-guide-ebook
? More Guitar Lessons & FREE Courses: https://www.martymusic.com/free-courses
Follow me everywhere: https://linktr.ee/martyschwartz
?️ Come see me LIVE at one of my upcoming events: https://www.bandsintown.com/a/1364263-marty-schwartz
Check out the Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 Guitar - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xkQ6Zy
Free Boss Katana Patches - https://bosstoneexchange.com/creator/125b3da8-184c-48b5-83d8-cbcbe9a15807/?utm_source=share
My Favorite Guitar + Filming Gear at Sweetwater https://imp.i114863.net/e4A326
My Favorite Guitar + Filming Gear at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/shop/martymusic
Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. The link above is an affiliate link, that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission on.
Marty Music
Marty Music is the premier destination for guitar instruction on YouTube. Host Marty Schwartz is a modern classic who combines his love and knowledge of music to help others improve their musical abilities. With everything from guitar lessons to gear revi...