The Bend

The bend is the most versatile and useful technique available to guitarists. Very few instruments have the luxury of being able to bend notes. Pianos, trumpets, and saxophones cannot easily bend notes. As my guitar teacher said, “Because guitarists can bend notes, it means they have to bend notes!” The bend is the most complicated introductory technique, because it takes the most practice and coordination to execute correctly, and because there are many types, but with practice it should be easy. Bends are indicated in tab notation as follows:

                                prebend
    1/2     1         1/2       1/2
   +   +   +   +     +   +   +   +
e:-----------------|------------------|
B:-7^~~~---7^~~~---|-7^~~r------^7~~r-|
G:-----------------|------------------|
D:-----------------|------------------|
A:-----------------|------------------|
E:-----------------|------------------|

The first bend is a bend of 1/2 step on the second string 7th fret.
The second bend is a bend of 1 step on the second string 7th fret.
The third bend is a bend-and-release of 1/2 step on the second string 7th fret.
The fourth bend is a prebend of 1/2 step on the second string 7th fret, with a release.
The Basic Bend
The first bend shown in the above figure is accomplished by fretting the second string 7th fret (usually with your ring finger), picking the note, and actually pushing the string sideways to bend it. Keep the string pressed firmly against the fret, and make sure you keep your finger on the same fret (don’t slide up or down to a different fret). When the pitch of the string increases by one half step, you have correctly executed this bend. To play the second bend, use the same technique, but bend the string until the pitch increases by one step. The most important part of the bend is making sure you bend to the exact pitch. If you don’t, it will sound awful. It is usually easiest if you fret with your ring finger, but your index and middle fingers can be used as well. This will come with practice.

The Bend-and-Release
The third bend shown in the above figure is a bend-and-release. This is accomplished in the same fashion as a normal bend, but when the release in indicated, you gently release the string and allow it to go back down to the original pitch. Remember to keep the string pressed firmly against the fret while you are doing this.

The Prebend
The fourth bend shown in the above figure is a prebend. This is accomplished a fashion similar to a normal bend. However, instead of picking the note and then bending the string, you bend the string and then pick the note. Prebends are almost always followed by a release, as is shown in the figure. This gives an interesting sound: a note which starts high and bends down as opposed to a normal bend where the note starts low and bends up.

That’s about it for the bend. As you have seen, there are many types of bends and all appear in many different kinds of music. The prebend is the least used, so you don’t need to master it yet, but the others are very useful. And remember, the guitar is blessed by bends, so use them! Keep playin!

Hammer On

The hammer-on is one of the most widely used techniques for soloing. It is very simple and can be applied in many different ways to many different situations. A hammer-on is indicated in tab notation by this symbol:

   +   +
e:---------|
B:-----5h7-|
G:---------|
D:-4h6-----|
A:---------|
E:---------|

The first hammer-on is played on the 4th string from the 4th fret to the 6th fret.
The second hammer-on is played on the 2nd string from the 5th fret to the 7th fret.

The hammer-on’s shown above are accomplished by fretting the desired note with your index finger, picking the note, then hammering your ring finger down onto the desired higher fret. Make sure you keep the index finger down until slightly after you fret the higher note. This is the most important part of the hammer-on: making sure your index finger isn’t moved before you place your ring finger on the higher note. You can also hammer-on with different fingers, and you can work on this as you get better at them.

+ +

e:---------|
B:---------|
G:-----7h9-|
D:-7h8-----|
A:---------|
E:---------|

For the first, use your index finger to fret the fourth string 7th fret, and your middle finger to hammer-on the 8th fret. For the second, simply move your index finger up a string to the third string 7th fret, and hammer-on with your ring finger.

That’s about it for the hammer-on. They are easy to perform, but do take some practice. The hardest parts are making sure you hold down your index finger until after you fret the higher note with your ring finger. Make sure you try hammering with other fingers, because this versatility is required when performing complex solos later. Good luck with this new technique!

The Pull-Off

The pull-off is one of the most widely used techniques for soloing. It is very simple and can be applied in many different ways to many different situations. It is the exact opposite of the hammer-on, but requires a slight modification of technique. A pull-off is indicated in tab notation by this symbol:

   +   +
e:---------|
B:-----6p4-|
G:---------|
D:-7p5-----|
A:---------|
E:---------|

The first pull-off is played on the 4th string from the 7th fret to the 5th fret.
The second pull-off is played on the 2nd string from the 6th fret to the 4th fret.

The pull-off’s shown above are accomplished by fretting both notes: the higher note with your ring finger and the lower note with your index finger. You then pick the note (and the higher note should sound), and release your ring finger quickly. The string should sound on the lower note after you have released the top finger. This is the most important part of the pull-off: making sure you fret both notes initially, and then making sure that you pull-off quickly enough that the lower note still sounds. You can also pull-off with different fingers, and you can work on this as you get better at them.

Other fingers can be used in the pull-off. Let’s try to play this example:

   +   +
e:---------|
B:---------|
G:-8p7-----|
D:-----9p7-|
A:---------|
E:---------|

For the first, use your index finger to fret the third string 7th fret, and your middle finger to pull-off the 8th fret. For the second, simply move your index finger down a string to the fourth string 7th fret, and pull-off with your ring finger.

That’s about it for the pull-off. They are easy to perform, but do take some practice. The hardest parts are making sure you fret both fingers and that you pull-off quickly enough so that the lower note still sounds. Make sure you try pulling off with other fingers, because this versatility is required when performing complex solos later. Good luck with this new technique!

The Slide

The slide is the simplest technique for a beginning guitarist to learn. It gets its name from the technique: you actually slide your finger up or down the fretboard while fretting a string. A slide is represented in tab notation by this symbol:

+   +
e:---------|
B:-----6\5-|
G:---------|
D:-5/7-----|
A:---------|
E:---------|

The first slide is a slide on the 4th string from the 5th fret up to the 7th fret.
The second slide is a slide on the 2nd string from the 6th fret down to the 5th fret.
The slide is accomplished by fretting the desired note, picking the note, then moving your finger up to the desired higher note. Make sure you maintain pressure on the string as you slide, so the string is not muted. This is the most important part of the slide: making sure the string stays against the fretboard while you slide. You can also slide down, using the same technique but moving down the fretboard to a lower note.
And so had ended your first beginners guitar lessons.