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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Bending To Pitch
Posted by: liveOASISforever Mar 23 2013, 12:49 PM
Hi everyone
I am looking for advice on bending to pitch. I normally practice with my headstock tuner on and just target a semi and full tone bends. I try to listen to the sound of the note for a couple of minutes and then I try the bends without looking at the tuner and when I think I am at the correct pitch I look at the tuner to see if am there. I find that I am quite close most of the time but I'm not as accurate as I would like to be.
Is it just a matter of developing my ear more.
Cheers Sean
Posted by: Sollesnes Mar 23 2013, 01:00 PM
Can you hear a difference between when you think you are in tune, and when your tuner is?
If you can hear a difference, then your ear is fine, and you just need to listen closely when you're bending. Practice makes perfect. I am fairly sure you can hear a difference if you try.
If not, and you were fairy close to being in pitch, then why would anyone else? 
Posted by: liveOASISforever Mar 23 2013, 01:16 PM
Hi mate
Yeah a can hear the difference. Its annoying when am practicing a lesson and a bend comes and I don't get the pitch right . I can hear straight away that I messed it up
Cheers Sean
Posted by: Sollesnes Mar 23 2013, 01:20 PM
Then in the lessons you're practicing, know the sound you want before you start bending. Stop when you're there, and keep practicing. Good luck Hearing it in key is much better than just aiming for the magic tuner numbers
Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Mar 23 2013, 01:41 PM
Try doing musical exercises for bending.
The video parts 6 to 9 in this lesson feature some very useful bending exercises : http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Bending-Ballad/
The more you practice it, the more accurate you will be when performing bends in the lessons. The movement and pitch recognition will come internalized. Also, don't forget to practice bending on different positions on the neck - the tension will be different and require less or more strength to get to the pitch.
Posted by: liveOASISforever Mar 23 2013, 03:46 PM
Thanks Bogdan I will work on those exercises.
Posted by: Jouve Mar 23 2013, 04:13 PM
Thanks Gabriel for sharing this wonderful lesson.
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Mar 23 2013, 09:39 PM
heheh I was going to share this one! Well done Jouve!
Also check this lesson:
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Beginners-Corner-21-String-Bending/
Posted by: liveOASISforever Mar 23 2013, 10:59 PM
Thanks everyone
My fingers can't take much more of string bending tonight lol
I actually feel as if I have got better already after Bear Rose lesson. I am going to focus a lot more on string bending in my practice routine.
Cheers Sean
Posted by: leonard478 Mar 23 2013, 11:54 PM
What worked for me was learning blues or rock tunes/solos that had a lot of bends in them (Hotel california for example)
Anything Hendrix Or Gary Moore will work great too!, eventually you will get very strong and comfortable with bends
My fingers can't take much more of string bending tonight lol
I actually feel as if I have got better already after Bear Rose lesson. I am going to focus a lot more on string bending in my practice routine.
Cheers Sean
Posted by: Darius Wave Mar 25 2013, 11:17 AM
Don't worry friend...ear training takes time even if You are already gifted in this case
Posted by: osiris Mar 25 2013, 01:21 PM
When practicing bends I often alternate bending and then fretting one or two frets up the neck (depending on half or whole bend) for reference.
Posted by: Bossie Mar 25 2013, 06:37 PM
Ofcours ...that's the best way for bending and getting free ear training lessons ...!
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 26 2013, 04:54 PM
...and a little exercise
Posted by: gregc1 Mar 26 2013, 05:23 PM
That's a really cool exercise Cosmin!
For me personally, initially it was all about getting the bend to the correct pitch and the pitch is what kept all of my attention. As time has gone by I realize now that I'm really not even listening to the pitch of my bends anymore as much as I use my muscle memory to get to specific "points" depending on how many steps I need to bend (1-3).
I know if I'm playing on the G string, second fret, how much tension I need to use to get that A up to the B. Same goes for further up the neck where much less tension is required. I guess I kind of use the pitch to fine tune once my muscle memory get's me there but I don't rely on it for the majority of the bend.
Not sure if that's actually a proper way to go about it but it's the method my mind came up with on it's own. Whatever method guitarists use, this exercise is great for both aspects.
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 27 2013, 09:49 AM
For me personally, initially it was all about getting the bend to the correct pitch and the pitch is what kept all of my attention. As time has gone by I realize now that I'm really not even listening to the pitch of my bends anymore as much as I use my muscle memory to get to specific "points" depending on how many steps I need to bend (1-3).
I know if I'm playing on the G string, second fret, how much tension I need to use to get that A up to the B. Same goes for further up the neck where much less tension is required. I guess I kind of use the pitch to fine tune once my muscle memory get's me there but I don't rely on it for the majority of the bend.
Not sure if that's actually a proper way to go about it but it's the method my mind came up with on it's own. Whatever method guitarists use, this exercise is great for both aspects.
Indeed, some of my bends are instinctively done without any thinking but that's the whole magic, doing it and not thinking about it as you do it, right? It should become a reflex, I think!
Posted by: PosterBoy Mar 27 2013, 10:03 AM
As I'm getting more and more into the country guitar style getting the pitch and execution of bends spot on is a big part of my practice especially with double stop bends, making sure the bent note goes to pitch and the other note doesn't waver or even harder is the ones where one string is bent a tone and the other a half tone. Yikes, strength and control is needed
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 27 2013, 12:02 PM
Yes indeed! I totally recommend a DVD with Jerry Donahue's techniques - it's quite old I think, but man, does that guy play this sort of stuff...
Posted by: liveOASISforever Mar 27 2013, 07:07 PM
Thanks for the exercise video Cosmin.
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 28 2013, 09:15 AM
Always a pleasure! It would be great if you could shoot a video showcasing some of the exercises you are studying for bending and share them with all of us
Posted by: bleez Mar 28 2013, 09:54 AM
very cool stuff cosmin. I was trying your chromatic notes and bend exercise last night, found it really helpful.
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 28 2013, 10:04 AM
Awesome! 
Glad you liked it! You know, that 1 hour with Guthrie felt like the truth in guitar playing in a can 
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