Slow Bending Licks Solo, ok, how to improve this thing?.... Options

[utak3r]

Hello there

It's two weeks I'm practicing this lesson (well, not only that, I'd get mad ) and still it's dirty as hell...
The most problems for me is this first bend and release, and mostly due to two things:

1. while releasing, the pressure from the finger gets lower and the string has not enough power for next tones,
2. while bending so much (it's 2 halftones) and releasing, I'm catching the string above and it sounds! geeezzz....

Every 10-15 takes I can play it almost perfect it's too low ratio, don't you think
Have you any thoughts for me on this?


http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...ideoid=50599475

[David Wallimann]

I watched your take and didn't find it dirty man!
It sounded pretty good!

I think you are on the right track... Just keep doing what you are doing.
Also be very analytical of your playing and come up with new ways to mute all unnecesary noises with different finger placement.

A good way to do that is to film your self playing the lick with a close up on your left hand, then on your right hand. Then watch the video and see what movements should be altered to avoid the superfluous noises...

[Gus]

1. while releasing, the pressure from the finger gets lower and the string has not enough power for next tones,
2. while bending so much (it's 2 halftones) and releasing, I'm catching the string above and it sounds! geeezzz....

Sorry to sneak in, since the question was to a particular instructor, but I think I can help on both matter because I struggled with them for long time

1. I can see you are bending using the strength of 1 finger only. You can use the strength of 1,2,3 and even 4 fingers. Furthermore, you are having your thumb on the back of your guitar. In that way all power must come from your fingers. If you put your thumb up in the neck while bending you can create a mechanism that adds the strength of your arm on the bending, so that not all the pressure is on the fingers.
2. This one took me really long to figure out. But you can use your index finger to mute the string above. Just place it on the string above while your other fingers bend the string you want to bend. Watch carefully the first video from Kris and you will see he does that!

Hope that helps.

This post has been edited by Gus: Jan 18 2009, 10:23 PM

[Boson]

Hey

You are doing great I am finding this very difficult.

[utak3r]

A good way to do that is to film your self playing the lick with a close up on your left hand, then on your right hand. Then watch the video and see what movements should be altered to avoid the superfluous noises...

yeah, after I joined here, I started recording the sound - and hell it helped me really much ok, so let's go with the vdeo... thanks!

Sorry to sneak in, since the question was to a particular instructor, but I think I can help on both matter because I struggled with them for long time

Be no sorry it's here 'cause it's Kris' lesson.

1. I can see you are bending using the strength of 1 finger only. You can use the strength of 1,2,3 and even 4 fingers.

yeah, I'm trying to get used to it....

Furthermore, you are having your thumb on the back of your guitar. In that way all power must come from your fingers.
If you put your thumb up in the neck while bending you can create a mechanism that adds the strength of your arm on the bending, so that not all the pressure is on the fingers.

True, but it's a bit hard to fight with the old habbit taken from a classic guitar... but I'll try, sometimes my right thumb hurts me so much from pressing the neck....

2. This one took me really long to figure out. But you can use your index finger to mute the string above. Just place it on the string above while your other fingers bend the string you want to bend. Watch carefully the first video from Kris and you will see he does that!

geez, I can imagine that and even do that - really slowly..... when playing at normal speed I just don't have time for this lol....
OK, will practice more

You are doing great I am finding this very difficult.

Man, it's a damn two weeks... I can't listen to it anymore My wife neither...

You know what I found? I'm practicing this particular lesson for a maximum 20 minutes, and then I play something I want to. On the next day suddenly it's easier and I can see an improvement...

[Gus]

True, but it's a bit hard to fight with the old habbit taken from a classic guitar... but I'll try, sometimes my right thumb hurts me so much from pressing the neck....

Yep, it takes so time to get used to it
But I come from classical guitar and could manage it...

If you see how shredders do it, they keep the thumb over the neck when playing bends (specially over pentatonic) and move it to the classical position when they want to speed pick (specially on higher strings).
So, it's not really about forgetting the old habit, but learning to use it on proper times...

[utak3r]

If you see how shredders do it, they keep the thumb over the neck when playing bends (specially over pentatonic) and move it to the classical position when they want to speed pick (specially on higher strings).
So, it's not really about forgetting the old habit, but learning to use it on proper times...

Ha, you're right... any other situations coming to your mind?

sometimes my right thumb hurts me so much from pressing the neck....

...of course I meant my left thumb, not the right one

[Kristofer Dahl]

1. I can see you are bending using the strength of 1 finger only. You can use the strength of 1,2,3 and even 4 fingers. Furthermore, you are having your thumb on the back of your guitar. In that way all power must come from your fingers. If you put your thumb up in the neck while bending you can create a mechanism that adds the strength of your arm on the bending, so that not all the pressure is on the fingers.
2. This one took me really long to figure out. But you can use your index finger to mute the string above. Just place it on the string above while your other fingers bend the string you want to bend. Watch carefully the first video from Kris and you will see he does that!

Very good advice - thanks Gus!

Also - I get the feeling that during some parts you have a little trouble keeping in time - or put it like this: Since you need to struggle to play it in time you can't put enough energy on accuracy, bends etc. So I would suggest that you practice this some more at a slow tempo, to perfect it.

All in all - I think this was a very good attempt!

[utak3r]

Since you need to struggle to play it in time you can't put enough energy on accuracy, bends etc. So I would suggest that you practice this some more at a slow tempo, to perfect it.

that's right - without thinking of being on time I can do it more or less quite well
So... more practising... I can't stand this melody already soooo many times played
let's do it.

[David Wallimann]

Sorry, I didn't realize this was addressed to Kris...
Sorry!

[utak3r]

OK, that's it... I just couldn't stand it anymore
Here goes my recent take on it: