How to Read a Pre-Bend on Guitar Tabs

The purpose of bending a note on the guitar is to achieve a higher pitch. In a pre-bend, you bend the string before you pluck it. Each fret on the guitar is ½ step. If the tab shows a 1 ½-step bend, that means the note will sound three frets higher if you bend it. If the tab shows a 2-step bend, it will sound 4 frets higher. You can perform a bend with any string.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Identify a pre-bend on a tab by finding a straight, upward-pointing arrow. If the number at the end of the arrow is "1 ½," then it's a 1 ½-step bend.

2. Place your finger on the string and fret noted on the tab. If the number "12" is on the second line from the top, then press the D string down in the 12th fret.

3. Maintain pressure on the string and push it up along the fret so it will make a higher pitch. The higher you push the string, the higher the note will be.

4. Pluck the string to hear the desired sound. This note should be 1 ½ steps higher than the note the string would produce at this fret without the bend.

Tips & Warnings

• A pre-bend is usually followed by a release. To release the string, maintain pressure on the string and slide it back down to its normal position.