Bend with vibrato

[JP82]

Lately I've been focusing on bending with vibrato to sound less amateuristic... but it surprises me how hard it is. I can bend but not with vibrato. I have heavy gauge strings on one guitar and there i just can't, it is too hard, especcially to do it fast. How do these pro players do it , especially with heavy gauge string? I have tried lighter gauge, it is easier, but the sounds less good with them. Heavy gauges just sound better. But I can't learn it on heavy gauges or i get finger injuries from constanly bending.

I have read some articles on it but it surprises me that not one of them mentiones the most important aspect in learning it, and that is that you have to use a lot force from your wrist!

Anyone has similar experience or advice on vibrato?

[shyboy12]

I had similar problems to you even though I only use medium gauge strings. I used to have a lot of problem getting that nice constant vibrato at the top of my bends. I still am not perfect at it, and I know you've probably heard this before, but practicing the motion helped alot. One exercise I heard of which kept me from straying too much from the original pitch is slowing down and first bending the note to pitch and then making it slightly sharp before bringing it back to the original pitch (not below it), apparently this kind of sets the pitch in your mind and helps you to keep returning to the original pitch after each fluctuation. I guess after that just practicing that same motion helped me develop speed and fluidity (which I still haven't quite got...). I'm probably talking a load of nonsense here but I hope it helped. :)

[curiousgeorge]

Make sure you are reinforcing the bend with your other fingers...work on it slowly and gradually speed it up...it takes a bit of time to get good at it, but if you work at it every day, you will notice improvements...

[Koala]

If you are bending from the wrist, supporting the bend with other fingers just practice, all you need is the strength to pull it off.

[forgottenking2]

******************WARNING************************* **

PLEASE BE CAREFUL when attempting bends with vibrato for a long time. Steve Vai's advice of vibrating a note for a full hour wouldn't be a good idea with a Telecaster with 11 gauge strings bending a full step on the 3rd sting on the 2nd fret. (extremely exagerated example, I know) The golden rule: "If thou shall feel any disconfort at all thou mustn't continue and return to it at a much later time" (in other words, IF IT HURTS STOP).

It may actually be a good idea to start on a lighter gauge and build back up on heavier strings as your fingers get stronger. Also after a session of vibrato work out, stretch your wrists and fingers gently and take a hot shower or get a massage (yeah right!) make sure you relax those muscles in the forearm so you can try it again safely the next day.

You could also work out your forearms (as in a full body weight lifting or calistenics routine) it will not only help with your stamina and strenght while playing but it will also be good for your health.

Some people don't like the grip master kind of devices but I've used it as a rehab tool after my injury and it seems to work (it WON'T make you play like Paul Gilbert!!) the trick is to use it in a smart way, just like a work out machine. You don't go and bench press 100 lbs doing 20 reps in sets of 5 10 times a day do you? Try it and most likely you'll end up with shoulder problems (your chest would be CUT though lol) Same thing here. Work out those muscles once a day and then let it sit and do it the next day. It does what it's suposed to. Build forearm strenght and improve your grip.

I hope this helps.

[Bert S]

You might want to try what I've been doing for the past month which has helped my vibrato a lot. I practice it for 10 minutes each day with a metronome so that the vibrato is very even, and I work each finger one at a time, using the the other fingers to reinforce the bend when they are available. I start with no bending and practice classical vibrato on each string with each finger, then I do half bends on each string with each finger with vibrato, then I do one step bends on each string with each finger except the index (try it and you'll see why). Then I do a step and half (check the note before the first bend for accuracy 3 frets up, the rest just seem to fall automatically after you establish the first pitch). This method has quickly built up my finger strength and allowed me to concentrate on making sure the movement is from my wrist. Give it a try, I'm actually starting to be impressed with my own vibrato which in the past has left my guitar stinking.