Do bends have to be dead in tune?

[Rekuss]

Hey,
Well I'm having some problems with my bends at the moment, I'm finding it hard to get them exactly in tune. So here's my question, is it ok if bends are slight flat/sharp. If so How many cents, roughly?

One last question, has anyone got any good ideas for perfecting bends?

Many Thanks

Reece

[richard1973]

Is this for your own song/tune or a cover? if its a cover i guess you best get it spot on, if not then it's utpo you, as long as it's in key. You can do bends for half steps or full, upto you (unless its a cover).

my tip is i prefer to bend with my 3rd figner (wedding one) then you can use index and middle for support if your struggling to bend it.

[OLIE_ROCKS_THE_80'S]

Originally Posted by Rekuss

Hey,
Well I'm having some problems with my bends at the moment, I'm finding it hard to get them exactly in tune. So here's my question, is it ok if bends are slight flat/sharp. If so How many cents, roughly?

One last question, has anyone got any good ideas for perfecting bends?

Many Thanks

Reece

Practice, Practice Practice!!! you should always make your bends perfect!!!
I can always tell an apprentice guitarist from a mature player in the way they bend, so No in my opinion is not right to bend out of tune!

[GilkyBear]

Here's the thing, before you do the bend, decide in your mind where you want it to go. If you want it to go up a whole step for example, then it should. If it doesn't, then of course you need to keep working on it. Your fingers should be doing what you want them to, or you need to keep working on it.

[andy7jem]

They don't have to be dead but they do have to be in tune

[GilkyBear]

Originally Posted by andy7jem

They don't have to be dead but they do have to be in tune

[Rekuss]

Originally Posted by andy7jem

They don't have to be dead but they do have to be in tune

Yeah, that's what I'm asking, is it ok if they're a few cents flat/sharp?

Thanks a lot for your responses, I've just changed the way I practice, I used to be all technique but it didn't really help. I wasn't 'shredding', I was boring etc etc. Now I've got goals and study pieces I'm working through and everything is much more enjoyable. Also, I thought I needed time allotments for each area of practice otherwise I wouldn't be getting anywhere. But by throwing away the pressure of working with the clock everything is a lot more laid back.

[andy7jem]

You could try what Satch has mentioned. Just spend a bit of time hitting a fretted note, then hit a note below and bend to it so your ears know the pitch you are aiming for. Repeat over and over all over the neck and different size bends!

[Rekuss]

Yeah, I kinda do that with a chromatic tuner just to make sure i'm in tune.

Thanks a lot for the responses!

Reece

[shogun]

Originally Posted by Rekuss

Hey,
Well I'm having some problems with my bends at the moment, I'm finding it hard to get them exactly in tune. So here's my question, is it ok if bends are slight flat/sharp. If so How many cents, roughly?

One last question, has anyone got any good ideas for perfecting bends?

Many Thanks

Reece

it is your ear that you are having trouble with.. you need to work at it and do ear training until you can hear when a bend is in or out of tune.. if you are bending a halfstep, fret the note halfstep above, then bend to it.. same thing for a whole step.. just use the fretted note as a reference.

[Tubarão Guitars]

bending and vibrato walks together to me, so bending without vibrato is boring and slight always out of tune, IMO.
educated ears can make educated fingers (by all means LOL )

[The Euphor]

Practice. Play your target note, then play a note two frets down and bend up to the target note. Doing this all over the neck may help you getting used to the ever changing tension of the strings from fret 1 to the top fret.

Takes time to get it right, but it is well worth the hassle. And most likely, your ears will improve while you practice your bends. That's a good thing.

[JJEMMER777]

Originally Posted by The Euphor

Practice.

Yep - key word!!


And as Jimmy Savage would say *listen*

[shannon]

I think your bends should be in tune.Whenever I hear guitarists bending either sharp or flat I cringe.If you intend on bending up a whole step,say for example A to B,make sure it is B that you bend to,not B flat or C.

[Rekuss]

Thank you for all your tips.

Originally Posted by shannon

I think your bends should be in tune.Whenever I hear guitarists bending either sharp or flat I cringe.If you intend on bending up a whole step,say for example A to B,make sure it is B that you bend to,not B flat or C.

Yeah, but bends aren't that bad, they are just a few cents sharp/flat.