This is Why You Suck at Guitar: Your Vibrato on Bends SUCKS!

[@BenEller]

Thanks for learning why your vibrato on bends USED TO suck! Come hang with me on my Patreon page and get access to SO MUCH bonus stuff! www.patreon.com/posts/106645950?

[@lyricbread]

Dude. Your wife is an absolute legend! Not only is that guitar on my bucket list, but I can’t think of a better birthday gift for my uncle! Happy Birthday!

[@00_MyBestAdvice_00]

@beneller I saw the Patreon post that you were looking for a Jem. Then your wife goes and buys you the legendary late 90's floral design? No words there. I remember 30 years ago lusting after that beauty. Wait, that was Aunt Julie. Wait, wrong again, it was both.

[@davidemmons899]

"shaking the ropes like the Ultimate Warrior in Summer Slam '92" made my weekend.

[@Silverhands]

I was literally just watching clips of ultimate warrior before coming here😂

[@absolutmauser]

Same here. Came for the vibrato tips, stayed for the WWF throwbacks.

[@IsaacMTSU]

Where else can you learn guitar while watching stand up comedy? Thanks, Uncle Ben!

[@ryandavis4247]

Ditto

[@l.a.rodriguez9581]

That Floral Ibanez Jem looks NICE.

[@BenEller]

I like things that are nice!

[@burnsZY85]

@@BenEller so does my step mom.......which is why i am not allowed in the main living area anymore.... wink wink

[@neilhowellmusic]

By far the best guitaring channel on the internets. Been playing for 35 years, and I still find your content to be fresh and fun.

[@davidsk8rz]

Uncle Bend Eller

[@RuiN4265]

First off your guitar playing is phenomenal but your sense of humor is even better, I laugh so damn hard watching your vids man. Pure comedy and solid guitar playing advice in the same video....GOLD

[@Patrick-857]

The comedy is his evil plot to trick us into learning the basics that we overlooked when we were just starting out. We're too busy laughing to notice we're learning stuff.

[@chirinea]

You know you've been around KZbin for a while when Uncle Ben starts to actually look the age of an uncle

[@touchtennis]

I’m old enough to remember your aunt Julie! Even she wouldn’t have me because my vibrato sucked then and it sucks now.

[@Grumbll]

It was a necessary lesson. I've been playing guitar for more than 30 years and I've always had my doubts about the recipe or recipes for good vibrato. Thank you for this lesson.

[@BenEller]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tonym7051]

Please do a video on how to do tremolo picking! That’s a beautiful Ibanez btw

[@BenEller]

Great suggestion!

[@M-Guitars]

I barely practiced any lead guitar techniques. Only recently I became interested. Thx for this tutorial! I did it all wrong (bending the string higher) and it always sounded like sheet.

[@Patrick-857]

Many of my favourite players are the only player in their respective bands. Lead and rhythm become the same thing when you start to look at the instrument holistically. A big revelation to me recently was Eddie Van Halens massive sound chords are literally just basic triads on the D,G and B strings. Basically, take all the other strings away from your simple cowboy chords. I try to approach things in such a way that lead and rhythm are not separate things, I think it's a limiting way of thinking about it. That being said rhythm should be the foundation. If you can play all the right chords and arpeggios and have groove, that's most of what you need. But knowing lead guitar techniques allows you to add interesting things to your rhythm playing.

[@whatarefriends4]

This is a perfectly executed Ben Eller video performance

[@BenEller]

Hahaha thank you

[@jolu1621]

I really need this now. Thx Ben

[@markusschaffer2418]

I bought the same guitar in 1990 and sold it in 1994, regret it til today…😢 a real beaut ❤

[@LeonRHarvey]

thanks for the video aunt julie

[@BigHermAZ]

Finally a video where I'm actually half decent at what you're showing (for once), which is why I've shifted my focus to wanting to know more about Aunt Julie. Stories? Videos? Websites? Address? But don't be mistaken, your vibrato is very good! I don't want you to think that I didn't care....

[@Jettblack_]

Uncle Ben where were you in 1992 when I first began to suck at guitar?Now I suck less Thanks to you

[@anthonyfinch550]

Vibrato bends are this nation’s backbone

[@bestboy897]

thank u uncle ben i still have difficulty with pre bend vibrato from time to time

[@pikkadollen]

Great and so important lesson. The kings of bending/vibrato deserves to be mentioned: Wolf Hoffmann and John Sykes.

[@randomguitarnote8887]

12:25 thank you, that little detail is very helpful.

[@Stef140]

One technique that helped me with this and vibratos in general is to to take my index and put it across the strings at an angle. It puts my wrist in the right position to do the swing movement.

[@chucksaeger7500]

All of your videos are mega inspiring! Thanks man!

[@BenEller]

Glad you like them!

[@anthonydavella8350]

5 years I have been trying. Started as an old man and I am almost to the point of quitting. Thanks Ben and BTW, as a terrible player I can assure you, half step bends are harder

[@jamesthe-doctor8981]

60 years (this December), I’ve been “trying”. Just my opinion, but I believe the moment I’m satisfied with any aspect of my playing will be the moment I stop progressing. Take whatever meaning that may have to you.

[@anthonydavella8350]

@@jamesthe-doctor8981 60 years playing or alive?

[@Imfreehowaboutu]

The juxtaposition of skilled alternate picking with terrible sounding bend vibrato in the examples at the beginning of the video had me dying. I see a lot of really proficient players online that can melt your face but can’t play a single note and make it sound good because their vibrato is so under developed. Great video Ben.

[@twobarsfourstars]

So helpful and funny, thank you so much for sharing these tips. Never had bending make so much sense before. Much appreciated!!

[@BenEller]

Happy to help!

[@donald-parker]

Good as always. I was kind of hoping you would get into the double stop bends with vibrato. Extra fun with a floating trem.

[@Redcattledog]

Some great tips Ben, thank you, I think this really covered it perfectly. Personally I learned the Yngwie wide sweeping vibrato, something I learned from EVH as well, your wife got you a beautiful present there that's a beautiful guitar, and your Aunty sounds like she needs my number.

[@gabrielfrison]

You introduced me to the concept of mosquito vibrato and that has forever changed my vibrato. Thank you sir!

[@brk5]

Thanks I was doing the shaking method, now practicing doing the right way. Great video

[@nickgertsson]

Thank You @Beneller. Great topic and show. I been playing guitar for 42 years and teaching for over 20 years. I tell my students all the time work on your vibrato and tone,not your gear.There is more important to have a Great vibrato then play fast.Listen to Gary Moore and John Sykes vibrato.Thanx again Ben

[@larsinthewoods]

I actually remember Summer Slam '92. I was 15 years old and thought Ultimate Warrior was the coolest ever! :D

[@lowcountrythrash2874]

Not was……..still is!

[@scorpionleader1967]

I'm fixed. Thanks.🥰

[@DukeDonnerson420]

LOL Shaking the ropes like ultimate warrior at summer slam 92

[@dannyspitzer1267]

That was a good one 😆

[@azbluesdog]

Use the weight of your guitar neck to give your vibrato a gravity boost. Loosen your grip on the back of the neck so it can “fall” towards the ground while you grip the bend with adequately callused fingertips.

[@gitplayer55]

What helps with this is a guitar with a hardtail bridge and a shorter scale. A vibrato system usually counteracts the string tension with springs. When you bend, you put more tension on the string which leads to the springs expanding, what you have to counteract by bending more etc. So the bend is usually wider on a guitar with a vibrato system for the same desired pitch. And a shorter scale equals less string tension in general, what makes bends easier. And now you know why Zakk Wylde plays Les Paul. :D

[@dannyspitzer1267]

Good video Uncle Bren! Don't be a dingus! ---Dr. Steve Brule

[@DanLeeRoth]

So much of this seems so obvious but most of us needed this spelled out for us. Thanks Uncle Ben!

[@TemsNokdir97]

Thank you uncle Ben for the amazing lesson. Whenever I bend and try to vibrate, the last note dies off within a second as it doesn't have sustain. It shows that I need to upgrade my gadgets 😊.

[@jeremymarlow1802]

Dude, this is by far the hardest technique I've encountered

[@sholomkaplan8053]

I love how this video goes back to the theme of the OG videos of this channel also thank for feeding on my insecurities yes I do suck.

[@BenEller]

Haha keeping it REAL

[@MrPaulgilbertisgod]

Great lesson and my favourite Ibanez guitar ever !!!

[@Drtydeeds]

Dude thank you so much for this. Something about this explanation made it click for me after years of being touch and go with this. Thanks Uncle Ben.

[@iduncanw]

Congrats on the awesome new axe and for having an awesome wife to buy it for you. An early Happy Birthday as well 🎁🎂🎉🎈 Great video and great timing for me personally as I'm starting to get more comfortable with bends and vibrato in isolation. Now I can turbocharge my playing with both at once without scaring the neighbourhood cats away 🤘🤘

[@Taylan5561]

What I realised too late was that vibrato sounds a lot better if you do it to the actual tempo of the song and not just randomly

[@belsaabub]

Uncle Ben speaks 100% truth

[@dannyspitzer1267]

Seriously, good topic Uncle Ben!

[@cristianlopez_8486]

Ah yes... good ole' wrist vibrato. Definitely THE technique that will define every guitarist's overall sound (imo). Also, definitely one of the hardest to nail consistently. 😵 Still refining it even after watching Uncle Ben's original TIWYSAG seven years later, but I've gotten better since then. 👌🏼👌🏼

[@jeffskyberg5615]

That was great information! So obvious but I never thought of it and can admit that I’m guilty of the wrong way! Thanks uncle Ben!

[@kenny3485]

You're rolling me, Ben! 😂 love your lessons & humor.

[@BenEller]

Thanks! 😃

[@reckless-575]

I need to work on my vibrato. Thanks uncle Ben! 👍

[@playswithpixels]

Nice gift! I love those floral Jems. But, good luck not wanting to swap out that bridge pickup lol

[@BenEller]

Man I love the PAF Pro!!

[@mattbeels]

Great lesson Uncle Bend! Love Kirk but his vibrato sux! Not only is it always the same but it’s the nervous man’s vibrato! Arghh!

[@wackojacko3962]

Beautiful guitar you have there! 🙂

[@BenEller]

Hey, thanks!

[@horrorshowbass]

😂flaps engorged 😂

[@braxal6983]

Excellent. I been waiting for you to do a video on this for a long time now. Thank you so much Ben!!!!!

[@BenEller]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@JimmyGallowayGuitar]

Love the dead pan humor. Congrats on the new whip, you got a keeper

[@warrenwalker2665]

Actually my vibrato is pretty sound, it's everything else i completely suck ....at....and on top of that, i'm old which is my only consolation knowing i'll probably die of grief considering i've been playing forever......crushing horrible depression....oh well, great video...!!!

[@Aristotelezz]

I can't remember someone bringing up vibrato on bends. Also I never hadn't any questions about it. I thought it's matter of practicing. Meanwhile, most of the time I avoided the vibrato on a bend because it sucks when I try. But this is a great lesson and I hope I can implement what is told here! Thanx!

[@AlternateKek]

Ok, exactly what I needed! Lets go new video!!!

[@lincolncarvalho6937]

Step dad please make a video on how to achieve pinky finger supremacy please 😭

[@joe32192]

😂🎉

[@BenEller]

Have you tried this one??? kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJLEXqutZtqDo8Usi=a0WSwLAdQor5554f

[@lincolncarvalho6937]

@@BenEller thanks dad, imma get to stirring the sauce now

[@bradleystroup1457]

​@lincolncarvalho6937 one of the ones that always killed me was the old Yngwie pattern "pinky-index-pinky-middle-pinky-index" as well as doing trills. Like doing an unnecessary amount of trills. Try going for 2 at first but work up to 5 trills and being able to move through a scale. Your pinky will be sloppy at first but you will build up to some ridiculous strength and eventually some good control

[@Patrick-857]

Lighter strings my dude.

[@ianguest2011]

I'm so glad you mentioned Whitney, singers should inspire vibrato just as much as fellow guitarists.

[@non_brewed_condiment]

HOT DAMN THAT JEM IS A GEM

[@flybynight1929]

Now that's a nice guitar!

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

I've been trying to learn vibrato with the thumb over and from the forearm for a couple of years now. I want to sound like the first note of the solos from You Shook Me All Night Long or Stairway to Heaven - whole step bend on the G string. I watched some videos (some Clapton interview clip, Pebber Brown, Justin's guitar channel, yours). I understand that it comes from the forearm, and I've seen people do it, but I'm just slightly better than I used to be at it. Before that, I was rocking my hand back and forth along the direction of the string, violin style. I saw you do that in an earlier video you made about different kinds of vibrato. It's still what comes most naturally to me. My watch shakes like a tambourine when I do it though.

[@ronsadikov1453]

flat, vibrato-less weak bends are a risk to national security

[@jamesnorton7601]

I was struggling with some bending accuracy on the song Cry For You last night. If one could only choose one Vai Sig. the Floral is the way to go.

[@NotBenCoultry]

Wow I remember those Jems hung on the rack in a couple shops in the 90s, very cool - checking in with a 93 rg470 here ...I'm not even messing with that Motley-Julie factoid.

[@mikebaker7964]

Poor Aunt Julie got a roasting on this video, but loved the exercise. Lots of excellent take away tips!

[@oscarcastillo6779]

Thanks bro

[@Slashscs8209]

i've said this before, best teacher on YT. and hes freakin hilarious

[@GeneralTHC]

SWEET AXE!!!

[@RoofAndAMeal4UsAll]

You're pretty fun Uncle Ben

[@deltalegendsguitaramplific5450]

Thanks Uncle Ben !

[@paulbaglio6295]

Yup... quality guitars appreciate quite well. I stocked up on used USA Jackson's between early 2000's and 2015 or so for great prices. I could sell any one of them on Reverb and double my purchase cost. But that would be blasphemy.

[@feno8983]

Been learning Peace of mind by Boston solo and i mostly just did bends without vibrato but pretty sure there is some vibrato with the bends so very useful lesson! Any Mastodon lessons anytime soon? Are you cooking something?

[@BenEller]

I will if you want!!!!

[@feno8983]

@@BenEller well would be great! I already commented a couple times asking about some Mastodon solo lesson. I think Brents unique style of riffing can be difficult to replicate ot tab correctly! I think it would be an interesting idea for a video :)

[@SamBarvels]

When you mentioned vibrato, I was looking for the old school moms favorite motion jokes haha

[@SatyamKumar-jq6iz]

Great lesson as always man, but that guitar though 😍😍

[@sadicus]

~ FINALLY Ye Olde School Uncle Ben Bends chastisement with Tough Love level of String Shaming necessary to improve 'tha Bendz'

[@bewareofillusion8832]

Thnk u uncle ben for dis nice lesson..can u pliz make a video on how to use extended chords..

[@BenEller]

Noted!!!

[@bewareofillusion8832]

Thank u so much..looking forward n eagerly waiting..

[@djabthrash]

13:48 LMFAO haha You should do stand-up comedy

[@EricArmstrong-vo6dp]

Nice Vaitar!

[@williamkohrman1033]

I would say you could use the same process when you're doing a vibrato on an unbent note. Basically go from the note being in tune to under or flat, and then back to being in tune again. You don't need to go above the pitch of this note. At least that's how I do it on my saxophone.

[@chucksaeger7500]

Already watched this but wanted to wish you happy birthday!

[@70topbananaman]

Love the Jem!

[@marLamaDeo]

Hey uncle Ben do you have a video on how to rake? I feel like it’s such an important technique for more emotional and impactful lead playing but I’m struggling with it and not many KZbin vids for it compared to other techniques

[@BenEller]

Hmm no, I reckon I should

[@marLamaDeo]

@@BenEller 🙏

[@BearSharkDude]

Wtf I’ve been playing guitar for 20 years and nobody ever taught me this. My vibrato on bends just got instantly easier and sound 10x better. Fuckin uncle Ben, thank you brother

[@synhet84]

My 2 personnal favourites : Brandon Ellis Yngwie Milkshake

[@hexn00b52]

Dude. When you get that FP?!?? Epic. I have a 99. Jems are my favorite guitars. I collect them. 😊

[@hexn00b52]

You answered the question 10 seconds in. lol

[@nicost72]

Thank you, Uncle Ben-ds…

[@rich4150]

Thank you.

[@KSAFrenchie]

This helps me so much! Thanks! Also, poor Aunt Julie, I'm sure she doesn't deserve this :(

[@marLamaDeo]

That Ibanez is fking awesome

[@recordman555]

Hey, Ben - - - is there any credence for the technique used on nylon string guitars that can be translated to electric? I was brought up on classical guitar, where the vibrato is achieved by playing the noted and "bending" the pitch by manipulating the string along its length by stretching or loosening the string by hand. Does this make any sense? I'm sure - to you - it does. This technique assures a vibrato that takes a chosen note, and then moves it sharp- to flat/sharp-to flat every time. The same way a violin is played; the same way a wind instrument is played. Do the strings of an electric guitar make that outcome impossible?

[@BenEller]

It’s totally doable and useful on electric! Check out my “your vibrato sucks” video, I cover it there.

[@petemorrisrocks4922]

There were a good few belly laughs from this one 😂 great work as always brother 🙌🏽

[@earthpart3]

I love it when amateur bands have weak vibrato-less bends and bend the notes 1/4 step flat

[@chandlerclement1365]

The intro to this video hurt my feelings, too close to home 😭😭😭

[@Superjet113]

I cant stand people who's super spastic vibrato is like my epileptic step Dad when he's taking(or shaking) a piss. Seriously, great video for the bending vibrato technique. I'm glad I've been doing everything correct, but being left handed I've never had a problem with control or fretting. I always have to work on my picking technique and speed. Thanks again Uncle Ben, even though I'm old enough to be your Uncle.. lol

[@seanlheeger]

That was excellent.

[@eoinjennings519]

I need this one