This is a technique I’ve long been known for, and I sort of picked it up by listening to the late, great Clarence White. When I was just a kid loving and learning from White’s playing on the Byrds’ records, I was unaware that he had invented the B-string “bender,” which is a mechanical string-pulling device that had been built into his guitar. Instead, I started emulating this effect by bending the strings with my fingers, while still recreating the mechanical pedal steel-like sound.
Many of the bends are relatively easy to do since they involve the second or third finger then using the extra fingers to help push up the bend. But it’s the index finger-only bends combined with the chords that are the really tough.
In this short lesson, I’ll attempt to get you started off on the right foot – or finger – to get the proper pitch and action within this exciting and dynamic style. Most people associate this technique with country music, but you’ll see that it is also well-adaptable to blues and rock. Enjoy!—Arlen Roth
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