[InStInCt^]

Hi all, this is my fisrt post... I've been reading the forum from the lasts months..

Well I got a question.. I started playing guitar about 5 months ago.. love it and play alot ..!

well now I'm trying to do bends on my accoustic guitar in solo's and in songs like Layla from Eric Clapton (original version) and I find it real hard to do full bends...

would "practice more" be the only help?

thank you

[MakoMako]

That's really the remedy for any problem. Aside from asking about technique, which in this case I can't think of any special way to do it, practice is about all there is.

I think a decent way to get use to doing bends would be to just practice with playing one fret bends. Don't worry about going through any sort of riff or part or anything. Just fret a not, play it, and bend it. When you get the hang of getting a full bend in, start throwing in the song part, but don't worry about playing it the exact speed. Slow it down so that you get the bend in time proportionatly. Once it's easy, start slowly speeding it up.

Note**I havn't heard Layla in a long time, so I have no idea if it's fast or slow.

[dadfad]

On some of the tougher bends, especially closer to the nut or on thicker strings, etc, you can also use two (or more) fingers to do it. Just add another finger above (as in closer to the nut than the fretting finger) and use them both to push. It can help a great deal sometimes.

And welcome to GTU.

[palmbayguitarist11]

Welcome to GTU, and yeah, you basically just have to practice them and like DADFAD said, use more than one finger.

[The_buffalo]

I watched a guy in one of our local music stores the other day, and he was bending .013's on an acoustic guitar as easily as I bend the .010's on my electric. So just keep at it, it will come in time.

[brethren]

I've always wanted to tune a whole step lower on acoustic and then play a whole step higher on the fretboard to get more flexibility out of acoustic strings. Never have tried though.

[InStInCt^]

Ok Thank you all, I'll work it out..even if lower E hurts while pushing up... ,well when you try many times in a row heh

[Father Fonz]

Are you finding bending towards the higher (pitch) strings or lower strings easier out of interest?

Other than what has already been said: Try relaxing your grip on the neck and only gripping with the thumb on the centre of the back of the neck and the fingers that are doing the bending. If your anythign like I was you will be holding on to too much of the neck.

Hope that helps.

[noodle69]

hey
get an electric guitar

its easier

i took my acoustic strings off and replaced them with slinkys to play blues on my 3/4 size fender acoustic it sounds amazing and there is no harm done.

Hi all, this is my fisrt post... I've been reading the forum from the lasts months..

Well I got a question.. I started playing guitar about 5 months ago.. love it  and play alot ..!

well now I'm trying to do bends on my accoustic guitar in solo's and in songs like Layla from Eric Clapton (original version) and I find it real hard to do full bends...

would "practice more" be the only help?

thank you

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[InStInCt^]

[quote=Father Fonz,Dec 3 2005, 04:44 PM]
Are you finding bending towards the higher (pitch) strings or lower strings easier out of interest?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[/quote]

Towards the higher is much more harder


[quote=noodle69,Dec 5 2005, 03:36 AM]
hey
get an electric guitar

its easier

i took my acoustic strings off and replaced them with slinkys to play blues on my 3/4 size fender acoustic it sounds amazing and there is no harm done

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[/quote]

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[/quote]

I like the sound of accoustic guitars.. and the songs... but I plan to buy an electric guitar when I'll be better

[john_p12]

Towards the higher is much more harder

sorry but when moving closer to the 12th fret, it does becomes easier since thats the middle of the string.
and why would you learn the original layla on acoustic? just check out the acoustic version, duh.

[john_p12]

Welcome to GTU, and yeah, you basically just have to practice them and like DADFAD said, use more than one finger.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

you're such an ass kisser. lol

jk had to say it.

[InStInCt^]

Towards the higher is much more harder

sorry but when moving closer to the 12th fret, it does becomes easier since thats the middle of the string.
and why would you learn the original layla on acoustic? just check out the acoustic version, duh.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I learned it on the acoustic version(not perfect thought..)... but it would be nice if I could play it the original way, I love how it sounds which is completely different from the acoustic one

This post has been edited by InStInCt^: 05 December 2005 - 09:37 PM

[john_p12]

I learned it on the acoustic version(not perfect thought..)... but it would be nice if I could play it the original way, I love how it sounds which is completely different from the acoustic one

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

okay, i get what you're saying. well to learn it you're gonna have work through the pain and learn other songs, too, for some serious bending practice.

cuz these bends are 2 semi-tones and you're not gonna be able to pull them off on your acoustic unless you've been playing for a while. and even then you'll never get that same sound and substain.

[Father Fonz]

Also if you have the ability too: Then record yourself playing some basic chords sequences, play them back on loop and just solo over the top. It'll help you to bend naturally and its a fun way to practise.