Is it harder to bend with an acoustic guitar than an electric? Do people who bend strings with acoustics tend to use lighter than usual strings? Thanks.

I would tend to say yes. The higher action and heavier gauge strings would make it harder to bend.


On my acoustic I have lowered the action and I am using 10's on it.

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

I've been using D'Addario Light 12 - 53, I want to change to a custom light so that the "bends" do come easier. I think the ol' fingers are strong enough now.

Hi Rudy: my Yamaha acoustic came loaded with 13s. My fingers are so puny I had to change those down to 11s to do bends the way I like. Feeble, huh?

Also, I guess some people just don't bend strings on an acoustic. Other playing styles are possible...

Cheers - C

Rudy, it's not only harder, it's painful.

Gotta do it, tho.

I use Ernie Ball coated ph/bronze mediums 12-54 and i bend them all the time. It takes lower action than standard acoustic setup and alot of practice to do it right. When you first start you might want to play on lights 10-50 until you build up your callouses and finger/wrist strength.

I play Blues and wanted to do more (ok, better) bends, so I just recently changed to the Ernie Ball Rock-n-Blues 10's. They're awesome and I can bend like crazy! For a lighter gauge they still sound pretty bluesy.

Check'em out.

It's really hard but depends on the strings brand too.
I had 2 sets of D'addarios 11's Ph/Br. The ones the guitar came with and an extra set I bought. There was no way to bend these wires. Also the D'addarios lost their sparkle and became muddy and dull only two weeks after installing them new.

I had some similar experience with D'addarios on the electric so I made a promise to myself never to use them again. (I know, I know, many player's choice but not mine).

So I installed a set of GHS (11' gauge).
Wow... I CAN BEND. And a week later the strings are as good as new.
So experiment.
I don't suggest though to get smaller gauge strings. It's an acoustic after all. All the sound is coming out of those strings and hollow body. So strings must be loud and soft strings aren't as loud as they should for an acoustic that is.

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I like to do alot of bends with my electrics, but almost never with the acoustics.

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I usually play Martin M140 Light Acoustic Guitar Strings (.12 gauge) and bend all the time. Course, I play .11s or .12s on my electrics so I'm used to it ^^

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My personal preference is gauge 13 or higher on acoustic guitar and gauge 10/11 on electric. When i swap my acoustic to electric the transition is amazing. It makes bends easier on electric if you practice on acoustic in my mind.

Not for me, I play a Telecoustic Deluxe.

Generally it will always be but all you need to do is try different string guages. Otherwise it's generally good to play a toughER acoustic because it works wonders for your finger muscles and when you pick up the electric it glides!

CC

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