Great bend vibrato exercise!!

In my previous post I underlined the importance of a good vibrato in a lead guitar part.


Most guitarists will tell you it can take years to develop a good vibrato, and in terms of getting a vibrato with great feeling and power, this can be true. But before you start developing that you need to get the technique down. The bend vibrato is a technique that takes great finger strength and a strong grip on the neck. Here is an exercise that will help you build up that strength, and get you pulling off some good bend vibratos in as little as two weeks.


When you watch videos of great shredders like Jeff Loomis and Yngwie Malmsteen you will notice that a lot of the time they are doing their vibrato with just one or two fingers, but do all their big bends with three or four fingers. The reason for this is because with this vibrato you have to constantly bend the string back and forward, in a sort of rocking motion, instead of just up and hold. Creating this rocking motion is much easier when you use just one or two fingers, and as you do not have to bend a big distance you do not need the other fingers to add strength to the bend.


How you do this is basically the same as any bending technique. You have to fret the note you want to vibrato and twist your wrist to create the bend, sort of like your turning a door nob. What ever you do, do not bend using your fingers as your wrist muscles are much strong and your fingers will only end up hurting. It helps if you think of your hand as a pivot on the neck.


To get the right grip, place your thumb right over the neck on the bending, and as you bend let your thumb come over the fretboard a little bit, so you really are gripping the neck. This will make the whole process a lot easier and give the vibrato a much better tone and sustain.


Now for the exercise. Put your first finger on the 2nd string at fret twelve and using just that finger alone, bend the note up a whole tone. Then remove your first finger from the fretboard and put your middle finger at fret 13 on the 2nd string, and using just that finger alone, bend the string a whole tone. Then repeat this process with your other two fingers.
Repeat this exercise for a few minute, trying it out in a few different positions on the neck as you go. This is great for building strength in individual fingers and getting each one used to the bending motion.


This exercise helped me out big time, and it can do the same for you. Just work it into your daily practice routine.




Tell me what you think about vibrato, which guitarists have the best vibrato and what tips you have about developing good vibrato by commenting on this post.


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