GUITAR
Lonny Eagleton is a Canadian session and touring guitarist based in Vancouver , BC . He has worked with acts such as platinum-selling artist Shawn Hook , five-time JUNO winner Jimmy Rankin , pop artist Kate Morgan , and many others . For more information , visit www . lonnyeagleton . com or @ LonnyEagleton on social media .
By Lonny Eagleton
Precision String Bending
Bending is an excellent way to help express yourself through your instrument . I believe it was Steve Lukather who said that he can tell how good a guitar player is from just a single bend . In order to properly execute this technique , we must possess the ability to bend in tune and be able to do so with a certain level of confidence . To develop pitch accuracy , play any note on the guitar , then bend up to that note from two frets below until you ’ ve accurately matched it ( Ex . 1 ). Once you ’ ve mastered this , try the same thing except with pre-bending . Pre-bending is when the string is bent up to a given pitch before being plucked ( Ex . 2 ). A good rule of thumb when performing a bend is to bend with two or more fingers , as opposed to just one finger on its own .
EX . 1 EX . 2
In order to execute consistently accurate bends , we must learn to memorize the sensation of what it takes to bend up to our desired intervals . This is where muscle memory comes into play . Our next exercise has us bending through the chromatic scale in half steps , whole steps , and minor thirds ( Ex . 3 ). Be sure to practice each of these examples all along the fret board on all sets of strings .
EX . 3
Next we will work our way up and down the E major scale using pre-bends while checking our accuracy by comparing each bent note to its unbent equivalent ( Ex . 4 ).
EX . 4
Once you ’ re comfortable executing these exercises and techniques , you ’ ll be well on your way to sounding like the greats . Accurate bending will not only take your playing to the next level , it ’ s also a sure way to help develop your ear .
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