Guitar technique lesson
How to Bend Guitar Strings in Tune
A good bend is not simply a string pushed upward. It is a controlled move to a specific target pitch with stable support from several fingers.
Step by step
Build the movement correctly
- 1
Play the target note first so your ear knows the destination.
- 2
Place the bending finger behind the fret and support it with one or two fingers.
- 3
Rotate the wrist instead of pushing only with the fingertip.
- 4
Hold the target pitch, then release under control.
Practice exercise
Play the seventh fret on the B string, then bend the fifth fret up until it matches. Repeat slowly with a tuner or reference note.
Rule: increase the tempo only when the movement stays relaxed and every repetition sounds the same.
Common mistake
Stopping between pitches makes the bend sound uncertain. Always hear the destination before moving the string.