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Post subject: Tobougg causing another argument..
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 8:44 am
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Just kidding,

Got a question for you guys. I'm trying to get back into guitar, after spending my youth from the age of 11 until maybe early 20's playing guitar. I learned basically from listening to metallica over and over and over and working out how to play the songs/solo's.

I kind of ran into life then after that and spent the last 10 years basically only picking the guitar up once or twice a week and fiddling with it, And am not nearly as competent as i was before.

What my main issue is, now that im trying to work scales into a small lead part etc (as you do when you're sitting unamplified on the couch), im noticing it's all good apartfrom the B string.

Im finding the B string hard to bend and hard to get any purchase on it when im only using one finger(3rd or 4th fingers generally) i can bend it when im using couple of fingers etc. My fingers are quite thin and not very strong.

I though it might have been the 11's i was using and the fact that the strongs were kinda getting old. I switched to 9's, and all the strings feel lovely and light and easy to bend and use but the 4th string is just a stiff mess for me.

anyone experienced that? any suggestions?
edit: i did work in 3 guitar shops when i was in college, but i never did the whole sitting there all day tring to impress everyone who comes in with my l33t skillz)


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Post subject: Re: Tobougg causing another argument..
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 8:58 am
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It's almost impossible to bend properly with just one finger, you need two fingers on the string to support and control the bend properly. Watch any good guitarist closely and you'll see that he/she bends with two fingers on the string.

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Post subject: Re: Tobougg causing another argument..
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 9:13 am
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You might need to strengthen your third and fourth fingers; there are a myriad of exercises that one can find out there for just such a purpose.

If your hand and/or fingers were injured in the past, you might need to have some specific exercises and therapy, perhaps even from a physical therapist.

As for difficulty bending, it may not be a strength issue but rather a flexibility issue...flexibility exercises can be found from the same sources. I have flexibility issues due to a couple of injuries and some minor arthritis (even at my relatively young age of 43 :lol: ). But with determination and practice, I was able overcome or worked around...I figure if Django could do what he did with that claw of a left hand, I should be able to work around my comparatively minor issues.

Depending in the technique used, I respectfully disagree with Gilgafrank's supposition about bending properly with just one finger; I do it all the time, especially with my middle finger (the one least affected by injury and arthritis). It's a technique/practice thing more than anything.

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Post subject: Re: Tobougg causing another argument..
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 12:34 pm
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First you say you have problems with the B string, then you say the 4th string. Which one is it?

And is it push, pull, or both?


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Post subject: Re: Tobougg causing another argument..
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 12:48 pm
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I'm with Frank. I used to be a one finger bender. My teacher got me using two fingers and the bends are now much more controlled and on pitch at the proper time. I still slip and do a few one finger bends, but I see no advantage to doing it one fingered, especially on a full step bend or more.
I also find that using two fingers saves a lot of strain from my joints and fingertips.

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Post subject: Re: Tobougg causing another argument..
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 12:55 pm
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Drew365 wrote:
I'm with Frank. I used to be a one finger bender. My teacher got me using two fingers and the bends are now much more controlled and on pitch at the proper time. I still slip and do a few one finger bends, but I see no advantage to doing it one fingered, especially on a full step bend or more.
I also find that using two fingers saves a lot of strain from my joints and fingertips.


It's the other way for me - I have more control over single fingers than I have over the combination of two or more. This is especially the case if I have to hit a full bend and then play the same unbent note on a higher string right after it. If I use two or more fingers, I not only have a hard time hitting the exact spot, but I have more fingers to move afterwards too.


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Post subject: Re: Tobougg causing another argument..
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 3:29 pm
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arth1 wrote:
First you say you have problems with the B string, then you say the 4th string. Which one is it?

And is it push, pull, or both?


jesus did i type B? it's the G string i apologise.
basically i though that if i went down to a lower string diameter, the G string would get alot lighter and wouldn't be so hard for me to bend and manipulate. but it seems to be just as erm.. hard/firm? as before.
Im wondering if a wound G string would be better for me?


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Post subject: Re: Tobougg causing another argument..
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 3:55 pm
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tobougg wrote:
arth1 wrote:
First you say you have problems with the B string, then you say the 4th string. Which one is it?

And is it push, pull, or both?


jesus did i type B? it's the G string i apologise.
basically i though that if i went down to a lower string diameter, the G string would get alot lighter and wouldn't be so hard for me to bend and manipulate. but it seems to be just as erm.. hard/firm? as before.
Im wondering if a wound G string would be better for me?


Wound strings are often easier to bend because you get better grip, and because the core isn't thicker - rather the opposite. The core in the deep E string is usually similar to the G string.
But if you go to a wound G, make sure your bridge allows you enough intonation slack.
And you may have to raise the action to avoid ringing.

Changing the type of string can help too. I have found Dean Markley Blues to be the most bend friendly (i..e. least power needed), but they also seem to break easily. I now use Ernie Ball Carbons almost exclusively on electrics, because they're nickel free, but also because they can be bent quite a bit, and sound beefier than their size. I get more sustain and bass from EB Cobalt 9s than from D'Addario 10s.
They color my fingers and fretboard black, though, but that's still better than the acoustic strings I use that turn my fingers green.

Some use plastic coated strings like the DRs because they allegedly slide easier over the frets when bending. I can't say I have noticed that, but your mileage may vary.


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Post subject: Re: Tobougg causing another argument..
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 4:00 pm
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arth1 wrote:
tobougg wrote:
arth1 wrote:
First you say you have problems with the B string, then you say the 4th string. Which one is it?

And is it push, pull, or both?


jesus did i type B? it's the G string i apologise.
basically i though that if i went down to a lower string diameter, the G string would get alot lighter and wouldn't be so hard for me to bend and manipulate. but it seems to be just as erm.. hard/firm? as before.
Im wondering if a wound G string would be better for me?


Wound strings are often easier to bend because you get better grip, and because the core isn't thicker - rather the opposite. The core in the deep E string is usually similar to the G string.
But if you go to a wound G, make sure your bridge allows you enough intonation slack.
And you may have to raise the action to avoid ringing.

Changing the type of string can help too. I have found Dean Markley Blues to be the most bend friendly (i..e. least power needed), but they also seem to break easily. I now use Ernie Ball Carbons almost exclusively on electrics, because they're nickel free, but also because they can be bent quite a bit, and sound beefier than their size. I get more sustain and bass from EB Cobalt 9s than from D'Addario 10s.
They color my fingers and fretboard black, though, but that's still better than the acoustic strings I use that turn my fingers green.

Some use plastic coated strings like the DRs because they allegedly slide easier over the frets when bending. I can't say I have noticed that, but your mileage may vary.


yeah sorry dude i wrote an edit saying that it's mainly a problem getting the string down with my 4th finger during scaling on the lower frets, i presume because my finger isn't strong or quick enough to push it all the way down when my fingers are stretched out. Mainly it's pushing the string up towards me im getting the issue with


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Post subject: Re: Tobougg causing another argument..
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 4:05 pm
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If exercise is needed on your fingers for bending the strings, I'd recommend one of these:

Image

It's made by Planet Waves, I use it a lot as I have a touch of arthritis in my left hand. They're pretty reasonably priced, and great for building up finger muscles, and lower forearms.

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Last edited by Steviecaster on Fri Nov 01, 2013 4:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Tobougg causing another argument..
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 4:06 pm
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arth1 wrote:
tobougg wrote:
arth1 wrote:
First you say you have problems with the B string, then you say the 4th string. Which one is it?

And is it push, pull, or both?


jesus did i type B? it's the G string i apologise.
basically i though that if i went down to a lower string diameter, the G string would get alot lighter and wouldn't be so hard for me to bend and manipulate. but it seems to be just as erm.. hard/firm? as before.
Im wondering if a wound G string would be better for me?


Wound strings are often easier to bend because you get better grip, and because the core isn't thicker - rather the opposite. The core in the deep E string is usually similar to the G string.
But if you go to a wound G, make sure your bridge allows you enough intonation slack.
And you may have to raise the action to avoid ringing.

Changing the type of string can help too. I have found Dean Markley Blues to be the most bend friendly (i..e. least power needed), but they also seem to break easily. I now use Ernie Ball Carbons almost exclusively on electrics, because they're nickel free, but also because they can be bent quite a bit, and sound beefier than their size. I get more sustain and bass from EB Cobalt 9s than from D'Addario 10s.
They color my fingers and fretboard black, though, but that's still better than the acoustic strings I use that turn my fingers green.

Some use plastic coated strings like the DRs because they allegedly slide easier over the frets when bending. I can't say I have noticed that, but your mileage may vary.


i wouldn't go any lower then 9s i don't think, because the B and high E are getting very thin and arn't very loud at all through my amp.
and im noticing my intonation is slighty out since i changed from the (i think between 10-12s). ill loosen my truss a bit. also my house is really cold, it's having a major effect on that G string i think and my fingers. It's crazy how you can grate your fingers for years over metal surfaces like that and you wear out the metal, not your fingers!


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Post subject: Re: Tobougg causing another argument..
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 4:07 pm
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Steviecaster wrote:
If exercise is needed on your fingers for bend the strings, I'd recommend one of these:

Image

It's made by Planet Waves, I use it a lot as I have a touch of arthritis in my left hand. They're pretty reasonably priced, and great for building up finger muscles, and lower forearms.


i might try that dude thanks. by the way with your arthritis, have you tried wearing a pure copper wrist bracelet/thing? an old guy friend of mine used to be a painter, always painting outside for years so he's hands were starting to get screwed, so he started to wear that copper band on his wrist and he never got arthritis in the end, he's gone now tho bless him. was such a nice guy


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Post subject: Re: Tobougg causing another argument..
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 4:17 pm
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tobougg wrote:
Steviecaster wrote:
If exercise is needed on your fingers for bend the strings, I'd recommend one of these:

Image

It's made by Planet Waves, I use it a lot as I have a touch of arthritis in my left hand. They're pretty reasonably priced, and great for building up finger muscles, and lower forearms.


i might try that dude thanks. by the way with your arthritis, have you tried wearing a pure copper wrist bracelet/thing? an old guy friend of mine used to be a painter, always painting outside for years so he's hands were starting to get screwed, so he started to wear that copper band on his wrist and he never got arthritis in the end, he's gone now tho bless him. was such a nice guy


Haven't tried copper bracelets might give it go though, thanks. Glad I could help with the finger exerciser though, really strengthens your fingers and hand up. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Tobougg causing another argument..
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 4:23 pm
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Steviecaster wrote:
tobougg wrote:
Steviecaster wrote:
If exercise is needed on your fingers for bend the strings, I'd recommend one of these:

Image

It's made by Planet Waves, I use it a lot as I have a touch of arthritis in my left hand. They're pretty reasonably priced, and great for building up finger muscles, and lower forearms.


i might try that dude thanks. by the way with your arthritis, have you tried wearing a pure copper wrist bracelet/thing? an old guy friend of mine used to be a painter, always painting outside for years so he's hands were starting to get screwed, so he started to wear that copper band on his wrist and he never got arthritis in the end, he's gone now tho bless him. was such a nice guy


Haven't tried copper bracelets might give it go though, thanks. Glad I could help with the finger exerciser though, really strengthens your fingers and hand up. :wink:


yeah do yourself a favour, from what i hear they're brilliant for arthritis, and as i said this guy was an outside painter for years (in ireland where it's very wet and cold most of the year). can't hurt to try, and thank's ill pick one up!


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Post subject: Re: Tobougg causing another argument..
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 4:29 pm
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Thanks buddy, just ordered one on Amazon. It's an aluminium, or something coated one so that your wrist doesn't go green :lol:

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