By Ken Volpe
This is Lesson #16 in a series on Guitar Improvisation. Last week in Lesson #15 we worked with bending notes in multiple Pentatonic Scale forms.
In the previous 3 lessons we utilized the 1-step bend. We have been bending our notes from within a specific Pentatonic Scale form. Also we have only been playing straight bends without any other technique. This week we are going to take note bending a bit further.
First let’s try some 1/2-step bends. A 1/2-step bend produces the sound of a note, 1 fret higher than the original fretted note. For now, all your 1/2-step bends will be notes that are outside of the scale.
Practice the following 1/2-step bends, using your ring finger:
From within Form #1:
Bend on the E-string at the 7th fret
Bend on the B-string at the 7th fret
From within Form #5:
Bend on the G-string at the 4th fret
Bend on the D-string at the 4th fret
Keep in mind that the starting notes for these bends are not specific scale tones. However, the pitches that are produced from these note bends end up as a scale tone.
Now, let’s try some other bending techniques. I’d like you to bend the note and then mute it before the note returns to its original pitch. You can mute it with your right hand.
Try this technique with these bends:
Play a 1/2-step bend on the E-string at the 7th fret
Play a 1-step bend on the G-string at the 7th fret
I’d like to introduce 1 more technique; a bend followed by a pull-off. Here is a detailed explanation. Play a 1-step bend on the G-string at the 7th fret, then release that bend back to its original pitch of the 7th fret. The 3rd note is played by employing a pull-off with the ring finger to produce the note at the 5th fret. You will need to keep your index finger planted on the 5th fret the entire time. So 3 pitches are produced. The 1st note, the bend is an E note. The 2nd note, the release is a D note. The 3rd note, the pull-off(at the end of the pull-off) is a C note.
Remember to utilize your ear, so your bends are in pitch. Also remember to play your bends in many different keys. Lastly, I would encourage you to try these bends along with any and all of the chords from the rhythm section.
This concludes our lessons on note bending. Note bending is a vast topic and we will revisit it down the line.
In next week’s lesson we will move onto a new topic relating to improvisation. I’ll see you all at the next lesson.
Contact Ken: [email protected]
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