[azerothian]

I have been looking at different videos on tips for bending. I am trying to learn a solo part in a song called Tornado of Souls. There are a lot of bends in the solo part and I am trying to learn how to do them properly.

There are full bends, bend and 1 quarter, half bends, etc.

I wish I could show a diagram, but I can't so I'll explain my problem.

There are 3 bends on the 5th string 14th fret. It goes 14 1 1/2 bend, 14 full bend, 14 full bend.

So for the first one, I want to bend it up towards me so it sounds like the 16th fret. Now about the other two... When I do these bends, do I release my fretting hand after the first bend? Then do a full bend, release, do another full bend? Or am I bending 14 1 1/2 then down to two full bends on the 14th fret.

My second question is on the 4th string 9th fret. It goes 9 1 1/2 bend with an arrow pointing up, but then it after that the arrow goes down. And then it looks like this on my sheet of music

9-------9 <--- 4th string
V
-1

The V is connected to both the 9s that I show there. Would that mean it goes down and then up again? How would I do that?

[thodwris]

Hello there...
I am no expert but in my opinion at the first question you have to do a whole bend,release and then do a whole bend again.On the second question,you have to bend and come back to where the arrow shows.That means that you have to bend half way on the 9th fret,but you shouldn't release,you must let the note come back to the same note or wherever the sheet tells you.I hope this helps.If you have further questions,feel free to ask...Good luck...

[azerothian]

Originally Posted by thodwris

Hello there...
I am no expert but in my opinion at the first question you have to do a whole bend,release and then do a whole bend again.On the second question,you have to bend and come back to where the arrow shows.That means that you have to bend half way on the 9th fret,but you shouldn't release,you must let the note come back to the same note or wherever the sheet tells you.I hope this helps.If you have further questions,feel free to ask...Good luck...

hey thodwris thanks for your response. When I am doing that first bend, will I be striking the string 3 times, because that's how I read it. Or do I just let it ring?

I managed to get a diagram of both.


Shot at 2009-10-01

[thodwris]

Hi Azerothian...
The good part is that by looking at your tab I can tell you exactly what to do with the bends.The bad part is that I don't know the part with the two lines and the -1 ...
Anyway,at the first part that you circled.You have to do a whole and a half bend on the 3rd string 9th fret and then without releasing come back to the 9th fret...In order to explain myself better I will tell you this.When you do a bend,you can release or continue back to the same note.An example.A half bend means that you go higher on a note half a step,meaning a semitone.So if you bend a C half a step you get a C#.Now,you can release as soon as you have obtained that C# (so you are playing a C and you go up to C# -you are actually playing a C and a C# but you do so using the bend and not playing the notes seperately ) ) or you can keep fretting the string back to its first position coming back to the same note.So for example you bend the C half a step to C# and without releasing the bend you go back to C (as if you are playing C,C# and again C but not individually but using a bend ).So on the first part you have to play an E,bend it three semitones to G and play an E again.So you have to play E,G,E but not individually but using a bend.That is what the arrow is showing,bend the note and come back to the same note (it shows that you have to come back to the 9th fret again).
On the second part,you have three bendings on the second string.You have to bend a whole and a half step at the 14the fret and then you have to do another two bends on the same fret but this time it is a whole bend that you have to do(full means that it is a whole band,two semitones).Now since there is no arrow pointing down it means that you have to release as soon as you reach the peak of the bend.When you fret down the 14th fret on the 2nd string you get a C#.You have to bend at first three semitones(so it is as you are playing C# and E but you do so using a bend).The idea here is that as soon as you get the E you have to release.Then you have to play a C# but it is a whole bnd that you have to do so you are going up two semitones meaning to D#(so you are playing a C# going up to D# and after you got to that D# you have to release)...
I am sorry about this long reply but I was trying to do my best so that you can understand what is going on.I just hope I got to explain in a way that you will understand...Good luck with the bends.If you still don't understand we can meet at the forum's video chat and I could show you there what it is all about...
All the best,
Theo

[azerothian]

Originally Posted by thodwris

Hi Azerothian...
The good part is that by looking at your tab I can tell you exactly what to do with the bends.The bad part is that I don't know the part with the two lines and the -1 ...
Anyway,at the first part that you circled.You have to do a whole and a half bend on the 3rd string 9th fret and then without releasing come back to the 9th fret...In order to explain myself better I will tell you this.When you do a bend,you can release or continue back to the same note.An example.A half bend means that you go higher on a note half a step,meaning a semitone.So if you bend a C half a step you get a C#.Now,you can release as soon as you have obtained that C# (so you are playing a C and you go up to C# -you are actually playing a C and a C# but you do so using the bend and not playing the notes seperately ) ) or you can keep fretting the string back to its first position coming back to the same note.So for example you bend the C half a step to C# and without releasing the bend you go back to C (as if you are playing C,C# and again C but not individually but using a bend ).So on the first part you have to play an E,bend it three semitones to G and play an E again.So you have to play E,G,E but not individually but using a bend.That is what the arrow is showing,bend the note and come back to the same note (it shows that you have to come back to the 9th fret again).
On the second part,you have three bendings on the second string.You have to bend a whole and a half step at the 14the fret and then you have to do another two bends on the same fret but this time it is a whole bend that you have to do(full means that it is a whole band,two semitones).Now since there is no arrow pointing down it means that you have to release as soon as you reach the peak of the bend.When you fret down the 14th fret on the 2nd string you get a C#.You have to bend at first three semitones(so it is as you are playing C# and E but you do so using a bend).The idea here is that as soon as you get the E you have to release.Then you have to play a C# but it is a whole bnd that you have to do so you are going up two semitones meaning to D#(so you are playing a C# going up to D# and after you got to that D# you have to release)...
I am sorry about this long reply but I was trying to do my best so that you can understand what is going on.I just hope I got to explain in a way that you will understand...Good luck with the bends.If you still don't understand we can meet at the forum's video chat and I could show you there what it is all about...
All the best,
Theo

Hi Thodwris, thaks again. I think I am understanding it a bit better. Now when you "release" do I just lift my finger off when I at the top E? Because sometimes the string rings out or the other string rings with it.

[kidhaiti]

the bend down is your whammy bar.
found this notation legend that you might find useful
they call it a vibrato bar, which is the same as tremolo bar or whammy



with the three bends instead of thinking of release think in terms of sounding the notes. so in the return bend you sound the starting note up to the bend note and sound the return to the start note in one move.

in the three up bends you sound the start note up to the bend note. you then sound the start note immediately again up to the bend note and repeat for the third bend.

The technique would differ depending on your playing style but you would not release the fretting finger that would be a pull-off.

to get a clear definition of the note ending you can mute with the the picking hand as you return for the next bend.

[azerothian]

Originally Posted by kidhaiti

the bend down is your whammy bar.
found this notation legend that you might find useful
they call it a vibrato bar, which is the same as tremolo bar or whammy



with the three bends instead of thinking of release think in terms of sounding the notes. so in the return bend you sound the starting note up to the bend note and sound the return to the start note in one move.

in the three up bends you sound the start note up to the bend note. you then sound the start note immediately again up to the bend note and repeat for the third bend.

The technique would differ depending on your playing style but you would not release the fretting finger that would be a pull-off.

to get a clear definition of the note ending you can mute with the the picking hand as you return for the next bend.

that is a great chart thanks. that info also makes sense.

however about that V or dip, you say its a whammy bar. I know for sure the guitarist who does this solo does not use a whammy bar or even have one on his guitar. So does he vibrato or how does it work?

I have another question related to this.

I think my strings are too thick, but I am not sure. I played on a stock epiphone gibson sg. I replaced the stock strings a year ago because they snapped (had the guitar for over 5 years now). My friend bought me the strings at the time and I didn't complain. I stringed it myself, but I don't know if these are the right strings for this guitar. They seem kind of thick an tough to push up. Is using two fingers for bending on thicker strings better?

[kidhaiti]

however about that V or dip, you say its a whammy bar. I know for sure the guitarist who does this solo does not use a whammy bar or even have one on his guitar. So does he vibrato or how does it work?

not sure, i was just going of the chart, it could be an error in the transcription or taken off a alternate version. Not familiar with the song ,I'm presuming after youtube-ing it, its megadeth?
Best bet is to listen to it and try and work out by ear what he's doing.

nothing wrong with 2 finger bends if you have to but i would probably go for lighter strings, as you progress and your fingers strengthen you can start to play with gauges that suit you and your playing.

Your basically trading tonal richness for ease of play and flexibility as you get lighter in gauge.

[azerothian]

Originally Posted by kidhaiti

not sure, i was just going of the chart, it could be an error in the transcription or taken off a alternate version. Not familiar with the song ,I'm presuming after youtube-ing it, its megadeth?
Best bet is to listen to it and try and work out by ear what he's doing.

nothing wrong with 2 finger bends if you have to but i would probably go for lighter strings, as you progress and your fingers strengthen you can start to play with gauges that suit you and your playing.

Your basically trading tonal richness for ease of play and flexibility as you get lighter in gauge.

Thanks I never knew that about the strings. I suppose lighter would work. Maybe I should just take it in and get it re-stringed instead of me doing it. Because I did not wind a lot of string around the pegs when I did it.

and yes the song is by Megadeth off the Rust in Peace album. The solo is by my favorite guitarist, Marty Friedman.

Here's a live clip of the solo if you are interested.
YouTube - Marty Friedman - Tornado of souls (solo)

[thodwris]

The thing about the release that I was talking about is taking your finger off the string,making it stop ringing as soon as you have achieved the desirable note using a bend.Yes,other strings may ring accidentally but that is a thing that you have to practice...As far as changing the strings you must first know what kind of strings you are using with your guitar now.Lots of guitars as well as my Strat,come with 9's,which is the lightest that they get.However if you have heavier strings on your guitar(let's say 12's)you have to go to a guitar shop and get some help with changing to 10's or 9's because the guitar will need modifications on the settings.If you are currently using 10's,then it is OK to change them yourself to 9's...Good luck...
All the best,
Theo

[azerothian]

Originally Posted by thodwris

The thing about the release that I was talking about is taking your finger off the string,making it stop ringing as soon as you have achieved the desirable note using a bend.Yes,other strings may ring accidentally but that is a thing that you have to practice...As far as changing the strings you must first know what kind of strings you are using with your guitar now.Lots of guitars as well as my Strat,come with 9's,which is the lightest that they get.However if you have heavier strings on your guitar(let's say 12's)you have to go to a guitar shop and get some help with changing to 10's or 9's because the guitar will need modifications on the settings.If you are currently using 10's,then it is OK to change them yourself to 9's...Good luck...
All the best,
Theo

I have no idea what kind they are, I never looked the package I just put them on. I had to adjust the bridge when I did it. I used pliers then and now I realized I can use an allen key or a screwdriver.

[thodwris]

Originally Posted by azerothian

I have no idea what kind they are, I never looked the package I just put them on. I had to adjust the bridge when I did it. I used pliers then and now I realized I can use an allen key or a screwdriver.

Well let me tell you something.I would personally advise you to go to a guitar shop and have things checked out.You need to kno the gauge of the strings you are using(if you kept the package of the strings you can see the gauge there)and I am sure that they can tell you.Once you know the strings youare using you will know if you can change to something lighter or if you have to keep practcing in order to strenghten your fingers.Furthermore you must not try and adjust the bridge yourself,at least not at this point.Someone specialised should show you and then you could do it yourslef.If you can't go to a guitar shop or you don't want to,at least try watching some video about adjusting the bridge on your guitar on youtube(I guess that there should be somone with a video).Anyway,the best of luck with everything...
All the best,
Theo

[azerothian]

well to me it sounds like the 9 bend with -1 is just the 8th fret bent down then back to normal and vibrato. that's my guess at least after watching a few videos.

ok here's the best close up video I found.
YouTube - Tornado of Souls Solo Take 2!!!

This guy does it on the 9th fret but I still can't really tell what he is doing. It is at the 10 second mark. It looks like a bend down but I am nto sure.

[azerothian]

i still can't get that 14th 3 bend thing either. is there a video on this website that shows 3 bends like that in a row? I didn't find any in the free lessons.

[thodwris]

It is just a bend on the 14th fret that repeats three times.Listen had to the song and try to figure out the way the bends sound.My best guess is that there are three bends but close to one another.It is a very common thing,lots of guitarist use this style of bends...
All the best,
Theo