Vibrato in bends

[evolusean]

Does anyone have any tips on how to improve nice, warm vibrato at the top of bends? I see a lot of people when they bend just push the string up and hold the note, but guys like Vai push it up and add very expressive vibrato. I've been trying to practice this for while, but it always feels like I can't get a decent anchor or grip in my left hand.

[Dee]

It just takes practice, that's all there is to it. Easy after a while, though.

[Davey]

Make sure you're pressing the string at that sweet spot with the right amount of pressure. Like Dee says, it's takes practice, although some guys seem to have it naturally.

I think you've got to feel the notes before you manipulate them though. It helps to have a nice action on the guitar too!

I'd practice bend each string up a half step 3 times and then move up to the next (starting at the 3rd fret) eventually you'll get a feel for it

[sniperfrommars1]

I often cheat when doing this and add an extra finger or two to help me hold the string more precisely/easily. The trick is knowing your thumb placement and how to work your hand. I suggest specifically just watching videos of guys who have an extremely expressive vibrato, such as david gilmour, srv, steve vai etc. As b.b. king once said, theirs no magic trick i just bend it and shake my hand!

[andy7jem]

Originally Posted by sniperfrommars1

As b.b. king once said, theirs no magic trick i just bend it and shake my hand!

Errrr.....we are still talking about guitar playing here,right??

[klp2332]

i just use my middle finger to push up and not let any part of hand touch the fretboard to restrict hand movement and just do what sniperfrommars1 does, just shake your hand.

[mi2tom]

Originally Posted by Dee

It just takes practice, that's all there is to it. Easy after a while, though.

+1 Practice is everything but make sure you're doing it correctly

[mi2tom]

Originally Posted by andy7jem

Errrr.....we are still talking about guitar playing here,right??

Well.... BBking have got superb control over his bending and vibrato, something which is often missing in a shredder even the highly rated shredder

[Dee]

Originally Posted by mi2tom

+1 Practice is everything but make sure you're doing it correctly

I'm not sure if there's even a "correct" way of doing it...

...whatever works!

[john1880]

My vibrato sucked for years, then I got into John Sykes and needed to learn his vibrato style for my cover band. That helped me refine my own vibrato. Mine was fast and crappy and i seemed to make my notes sound sharp. I vibratoed slowly and accurately for months, and it helped a lot. Some people have it naturally, but some have to work at it, like me.
If I'm bending with my ring finger, my middle finger is also there bending with it, and that gives me more support and accuracy.

[Mystical Potato]

Keep your fingers straight in a position and move your forearm + wrist as opposed to bending your fingers, and dig your thumb into the top of the neck. This should help you gain a solid bending technique - then practice.