String Bending Masterclass
Pre-bends, unison bends, double stops
Advanced Bending Techniques
You learned basic bends in lesson 27. Now let's expand your bending vocabulary with techniques that add serious expression:
Pre-bend: Bend the string up BEFORE picking. Then pick the note at the bent pitch and release it down. The audience hears the note drop in pitch — a haunting, vocal effect.
Unison bend: Play a note on one string while simultaneously bending an adjacent string up to the SAME pitch. The two identical pitches beating against each other create a thick, singing tone. Classic rock sound.
Double stop bend: Fret two adjacent strings, but only bend one of them. The static note provides a reference while the bent note rises — creates tension and release.
Bend Accuracy
Advanced bending demands precise pitch. Train your ear by:
1. Play the target note normally (e.g., fret 9)
2. Now go back to fret 7 and bend up — match the pitch exactly
3. Do this slowly until your muscle memory knows exactly how far to push
Half-step bends, whole-step bends, and 1.5-step bends should each be deliberate choices, not accidents.
Tab Examples
Pre-bend and release
e---------------------------- B--^10--r8---^10--r8--------- G---------------------------- D---------------------------- A---------------------------- E----------------------------
Unison bend
e------8--------8------ B--8b------8b---------- G---------------------- D---------------------- A---------------------- E----------------------
Tips
- Pre-bends are incredibly expressive — master them
- Unison bends create the classic rock/blues "singing guitar" tone
- Always support bending fingers with the fingers behind them
- Use a tuner to check your bend accuracy during practice
Practice Exercises
- Practice pre-bends: bend silently, pick, release slowly
- Practice unison bends on strings 2 and 1
- Bend to half-step, whole-step, and 1.5-step targets with a tuner for accuracy
- Incorporate pre-bends and unison bends into your blues soloing