bending up or down?

[gwEm]

i always used to bend down on all the strings, except the top E. obviously this can occasionally cause the B string to drop off the edge of the fret board with a strong bend, so i've be trying to train myself to bend up on both the top E and B recently.

in fact, now i'm a bit more practised with upward bends i've noticed several advantages - I get much more control of the bend, and then any further vibrato I decide to put on it. i'm starting to wonder if I should bend up on all the top three strings.

anyone with any anecdotes or thoughts on this one?

[MDV]

I bend up on 1 2 and 3 and down on 4 5 and 6. I believe this is standard practice, to give yourself room and control.

[Lew]

Ofcourse you should bend toward the roof on the E-B-G and to the floor on the E-A-D! Only time I can think of that I do it the other way around is on a Jeff Beck style first finger bend on the G  8)

[gwEm]

i guess this is the problem with being a self taught guitarist - no one to tell you your bad habits. i'd been playing that way for years!

[martinw]

I bend up on thetop B and E. I find bending down on the G gives me more control and easier vibrato, but I also bend up on it, depending on the context (unison bends etc).
I developed the technique when I first started playing, and various guitar teachers tried to get me to change, but it seems very natural to me.

[Lew]

Use the twist of your wrist for bending and vibrato too if you don't already.

[gwEm]

Use the twist of your wrist for bending and vibrato too if you don't already.

i'm quite happy with my vibrato at the moment in fact.. but i've no idea what i do ;)

martin: i'm pleased your doing your own thing too!

[HTH AMPS]

I went to lessons for years when I first started, but my teacher was more of the opinion that whatever worked for you was right - hence my picking technique isn't textbook, but I do alternative pick pretty much everything (except when all downstrokes are required for the br00talz).

[MrBump]

I remember reading Dave Hill from Slade saying that he invented the downward bend...

[Philly Q]

I bend up on 1 2 and 3 and down on 4 5 and 6. I believe this is standard practice, to give yourself room and control.

Likewise, although in fact I hardly ever bend down, mostly up-bends on the top three strings.

And I support the bend with my "unused" fingers for more strength and control - works great when fretting with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th fingers, I can't bend very well with my 1st finger.

[Keven]

I bend up on EGB and down on everything else. sometimes i bend down on G and B when on frets from 1-5 as there's more tension thus less distance to go through for the right pitch to come up.

i use my middle finger for bends very much, or the third with all the others supporting behind, though i tell my students to mostly use their third or fourth unless absolutely necessary. when they see my using my second, i just tell them to do what i say, not what i do. i have bad habits too but they work for me.

we all have a different body. some people have their nails right up against the edge of their fingers, mine need to grow at least 4-5 mm before they go past my finger and interfere with my playing. it's quite useful :D not that i enjoy having long nails. years of teaching showed me that people with hands like that aren't too common (around here at least)

I think pretty much like HTH's teacher thought, if it works, and sounds good, and doesn't hurt or limit your ability, it won't bother me. if it looks uncomfortable or the tone isn't optimum, that's when i nag.

[38thBeatle]

I am same as MDV on this.

[dave_mc]

I bend up on 1 2 and 3 and down on 4 5 and 6. I believe this is standard practice, to give yourself room and control.

same here, by and large. In fact I used to bend everything up, apart from the low E string :lol: I still prefer to bend up when I can, I'll often bend up on the 4th string too, sometimes the 5th as well, but I've practised bending down as well so I don't get into bother. :)