bending questions

[barbietta]

I've been practicing bends lately, and I noticed that if I bend strings up (towards the 6th), my fingers will actually slide underneath the adjacent strings. Is this wrong? The action is pretty high on my acoustic guitar (I've been meaning to get it fixed, I've just been too busy lately). I'm assuming if I need to bend a string so far that it crosses the path of other strings, that I should push the other strings up along with the one I'm bending?

Also, how far should I be able to bend 010's? I can only seem to get about 1/2 step. A whole step seems impossible. (I couldn't really bend 011 or 012's at all).

I'd appreciate it if anyone could shed a little light on this for me. Thanks!!!

[The Fury]

... if I bend strings up (towards the 6th), my fingers will actually slide underneath the adjacent strings. Is this wrong?

I don't know if it's wrong, but the way I do it (I like to bend strings a lot) is to push the other strings out of the way with the tips of my fingers, this also mutes the strings so you dont get any unwanted noise.

When you bend a string you should support the bend by putting 1 or more fingers on the string and push up with all your fingers, since the only finger that needs to be placed correctly on the sring is the one closest to the fret you can place the others slightly offset to give you some extra to mute the adjacent string(s) and push it out of the way at the same time. (Hmmm... that wasn't very well explained!)

As for how far you should be able to bend a string it really depends how much strength you have (the more you bend the stronger you will get) also where abouts on the fretboard you bend. Bending strings is easier around the 12th fret (the middle of the string) String gauge definately makes a difference, lighter gauges are easier to bend.

I hope that helps, if not let me know.

[barbietta]

Yes, it does help. Thank you. Your explanation made perfect sense. Time to take my guitar in and have the action fixed, I guess. I hate being without it for a week...rats!

[64Firebird]

I do some really BIG bends. Sometimes I'll go up a Major 3rd (5 frets!) and then let it down a half step at a time. Before anybodys asks, I use 11s.

If your fingers go under the other strings you might get some noise from those other strings when you release your bend. You can get away with it if you wrap your thumb around the other side and dampen the strings with it.

[gck]

I had the same problem (plucking the pushed-away strings accidently when releasing the bend) when I started out: the solution is not to use the very tip of the finger(s) when you bend. Use the place a bit below the tip of your fingers to fret the bend, and you won't pluck them accidently any more (although dampening them is always a good idea!)