https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 20:34:59 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369531 Tue, 04 Oct 2011 06:21:26 +0000
But as a bonus, I'll give you the way to actually use modes once you have that scale down: change one note.

The Lydian mode is the major scale with a #4. So if you're in C major, just play the C scale and sharp all the F notes.

The Mixolydian mode is the major scale with a b7. In C, just flat all the B notes.

To do the Dorian and Phrygian, learn the natural minor scale first. Then Dorian is the natural minor with a #6 - if you're in A minor, you sharp all the F notes. The Phrygian is the natural minor with a b2 - in A minor, flat all the B notes.

(You might have noticed that the notes you alter are the SAME pitches in the major and relative minor keys... there's a reason for that, but I won't get into it now. Study the circle of fifths, and you might discover it for yourself!)

If you want to mess around with Locrian, get the Phrygian down first. Locrian is just Phrygian with a b5 - if you're in A Locrian, you're playing A Phrygian with all the E notes flatted.

Thinking of the modes as alterations of other scales will let you use them coherently, without over-thinking things.

As far as which notes to bend in any scale, it depends on what you want it to do. Bending the third in a blues scale brings you up to a chord tone IF you're playing over the I chord; you create a nice consonant harmony... but it won't work so well over the IV chord (where you'd be creating a IVmaj7) or the V7 chord (where you'd be creating a V13 - that'll work, but it depends on the context of the other stuff you're putting in your line).

Whole step bends on the b3, 4 or b7 will take you to the next scale tone (the 4, 5, or root). You're basically slurring into the next scale note, but doing it with a bend instead of a hammer-on.

Half step bends on the 4 bring you to the 'blue note' - the b5 that's in a blues scale, but not in the pentatonic.

You can also use bends to get other chord tones not in the scale; the IV chord compared to the major scale contains 4, 6, and 1 - a whole step bend on 5 gets you to 6. Over a V7 chord, the chord tones are the 5, 7, 2, and 4 of the major scale... so you can bend the b7 a half step, or the 1 a whole step.

Other bends are possible too. You can bend, hold, and bend some more on 4 or b7, creating a passing tone to the next scale pitch. You can bend and then release practically any scale tone, creating a 'neighbor note'. And you can pre-bend practically any scale tone and release it to the pitch, creating an appoggiatura. Just let your ears be your guide.]]> Guitar Players Discussion NoteBoat https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369531 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369524 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 23:25:38 +0000
If you read Tom's new article about soloing as a language that's more what I'm talking about. Using just one note as one of his instructors made him do sounds like a both a good idea and probably difficult to do at the same time.

Adding modes now would be like wanting to speak Italian when you can't really communicate in English yet. Sure you can probably do it but I think it would distract you from learning how to speak fluent English if you get what I mean.]]> Guitar Players Discussion cnev https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369524 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369523 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 23:13:06 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion rparker https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369523 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369522 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 22:00:47 +0000
You should be able to make great solo's from one scale position if you can't (I can't)then I still don't think modes will add anything and that's if you really play the modes correctly.

Most people that think they are playing modes aren't playing modes and wonder why they don't sound any different. The modes use the same notes but they are not the same scale pattern they have a pattern all their own. It's not just playing the same scale starting from a different root.

Anyway there is nothing wrong with experimentation so do whatever you feel.

The more I think about this (cuz I rarely practice soloing) I think in the long run you really have to know the fretboard and internalize the sounds being tied to scales etc will always limit you.]]> Guitar Players Discussion cnev https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369522 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369521 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:52:57 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion rparker https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369521 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369519 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:13:47 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion cnev https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369519 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369516 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:42:33 +0000
Modes. That's the phrase I iwas trying to think of. I think I've got them in one of David's books or somewhere else. Thanks for the nudge in the right direction. :)]]> Guitar Players Discussion rparker https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369516 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369513 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:13:42 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion cnev https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369513 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369511 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:16:27 +0000
The third note of the Minor Pentatonic scale is actually the 4th. Be careful not to refer to it as the 3rd even though it's the third note. If you know what I mean.

I.e. the minor pent consists of the root, minor 3rd, 4th, 5th and minor 7th.

A minor quibble but quite important.

---

As for your question in general, the #9th (#2nd, b3) is a common colour note in blues (the "Hendrix" chord), and often used as an approach note to the major 3rd, so that can definitely be made to work.

The b5 (#4) made by bending up the 4th can almost certainly be used and will give a Lydian flavour.

Bending up the 6th to a b7 might work (Mixolydian flavour).

The b2 and b6 are avoid notes in general but I'm sure there are people who make them work.]]> Guitar Players Discussion hbriem https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-369511 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-41852 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:01:33 +0000
My questions is this. Say I'm doing an A-Major scale at the 5th, like so: (A) = denotes the root fret 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 E |----|----|----|-G--|-(A)|----|-B--|----|----|----|----|----| B |----|----|----|----|-E--|----|-F#-|----|----|----|----|----| G |----|----|----|-B--|----|-C#-|-D--|----|----|----|----|----| D |----|----|----|-F#-|----|-G--|-(A)|----|----|----|----|----| A |----|----|----|-C#-|-D--|----|-E--|----|----|----|----|----| E |----|----|----|----|-(A)|----|-B--|----|----|----|----|----| Which note(s) are common to bend or otherwise color. I know I can bend anything I want, but do different genres take this scale and make it their own by coloring a particular step, or in the chart above, a particular note (or step in the scale, if you prefer)?


I think I've got the question worded properly. :?]]> Guitar Players Discussion rparker https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/which-notes-to-bend/#post-41852