Full bends

[conduit]

I was wondering why I can't get a full bend done on my bass, even though I try to bend it with all my might. Has it something to do with my bass or the type of strings I use? I'm currently using Elixirs on an Ibanez SRX700.

[Suckbird]

I can't do fullbends either, i dont do bends at all.

[geoffkhan]

Well obviously the size of the strings you're using is going to make a difference. Might want to look into that.

[the ombudsman]

As Geoff said, string gauge will make a difference. Lighter strings will bend easier, since there's less tension.

Also, try using two or more fingers instead of just one. I usually use two, personnally.

[tplyons]

String gauge will make a huge difference, lighter gauge strings will be naturally easier to bend. Regardless of this it still takes a lot of strength. How long have you been playing.

However, I use as many fingers as I can to bend.

Also, I find it's easier to bend upwards towards your face, as opposed to pulling the strings down to the floor. You can bend all the strings upward except your E string, which will inherantly be the most difficult to bend because of tension and the motion.

[Joe P]

Originally Posted by tplyons

...You can bend all the strings upward except your E string...

Yeah, but by "full bend" does he mean 'a whole step' in pitch? Wouldn't a 'second from the top' string (E in my case) bend up off of the neck too, if you pulled it up so far that it gained a whole step of pitch?

Joe

[tplyons]

Originally Posted by Joe P

Yeah, but by "full bend" does he mean 'a whole step' in pitch? Wouldn't a 'second from the top' string (E in my case) bend up off of the neck too, if you pulled it up so far that it gained a whole step of pitch?

Joe

I guess it depends on the bass, but my A string on a P-bass neck can bend up a whole step and be a bit from the edge of the fretboard.

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by tplyons

SRegardless of this it still takes a lot of strength.

It does? I found maybe it did when I started playing, but these days I can make the strings do whatever I want. Now on my double bass, things are a bit different. Still at the fighting with it physically stage.

Just throwing that out there. My thoughts are that unless using really huge strings (50 - 110 or something) bending should be pretty easy. Maybe the bass' setup is to blame?

[tplyons]

Well, yes and no. After about five years of playing metal, I can bend 2-1/2 steps almost effortlessly, and I bend guitars out of tune without even thinking about it (meaning I have to find guitars with small frets and then throw .10's on em) And yes, I know what you mean, URB is still difficult, slightly different hand motions, I guess.

And yes, setups can be responsible for something that's hard to bend...

[Matt Till]

Ah, beat me to Setups.

Yes, lighter strings and get your bass setup and soon you'll be bending like a pro. Make a total wank face so you look sincere when you do it.

[conduit]

I have a standard string gauge, and I don't think it has something to do with strength; when I bend the 12th fret on the G string a half step it already feels like my string is about to snap, and it's impossible to bend it more... So what setup changes can make bending easier?

[JMX]

I can do full bends with 035-095 but then I almost run out of fret space on a 4-string.

[gsys]

I find that I can approximate the sound of larger bends by combining a hammer-on with a half step bend in a certain way, which is a good technique to know since it's fairly easy to pull a half step pretty much anywhere on a bass even with heavy strings.

[WillBuckingham]

Hey Typlons, don't the lower strings have less tension? Wouldn't this make them easier to bend. I have a lot more trouble bending my high G and C strings than my low E.