Slightly stupid technique question

[Zach Trowbridge]

Ok, so I realize that this is pretty simple lead stuff, but I'm having some problems with this little part of a solo. Whenever I play it, everything seems to run together, and it sounds absolutely horrible. I know that my bends are in tune, because I checked them against unison bends on the B and G strings to make sure that I'm not sharp or flat. But something about it just sounds really, really... bad.

E-------------------------------------------------------------
B-----18------18------18-----18------------------------------
G--------17b-----17b----17b-----17br--15--15----------------
D-------------------------------------------------------------

[Doug Lewis]

What song is it from Zach? Just to hear the rythmn and speed.

[Zach Trowbridge]

It's from American Hi-Fi's "Flavor of the Weak." Pretty rudimentary solo, but I can't make this part sound right for the life of me. I wonder if I should prevent the 18th fret B from ringing when I pick the 17th fret G. Any suggestions?

[FrankiePRS]

Zach -

Assuming this is supposed to be the opening riff on the solo, it's written in the wrong position... instead of playing it there, play it like this


e-----13-----13-----13-----13----
b--------14b----14b----14b----14b----


p.s. i don't really "do" tabs, so I hope that looks right :)

[FrankiePRS]

Sorry -- also, if you really WANT to stay on the 18th fret, change the bend to



E-------------------------------------------------------------
B-----18------18------18-----18------------------------------
G---------18b-----18b----18b-----18b-----------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------------


It's a half-step bend, but it's pretty awkward like this - easier the other IMHO...

[Zach Trowbridge]

Sorry -- also, if you really WANT to stay on the 18th fret, change the bend to



E-------------------------------------------------------------
B-----18------18------18-----18------------------------------
G---------18b-----18b----18b-----18b-----------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------------


It's a half-step bend, but it's pretty awkward like this - easier the other IMHO...
Ok, playing it on the highes two strings is definitely more comfortable for me. But I'm still curious as to why the way I was playing it before sounds so bad, especially when I see those sort of note combinations pop up in a lot of other solos. Is it because I don't stop the highest note from ringing when I hit the bend? Or is it something else that I'm not catching?

[Tom Gross]

I dunno about this riff, but I have found that a lot of things sound "wrong" in a different position, even tho they are the same notes. Stuff with bends and vibrato especially.

[FrankiePRS]

you were bending from a full step, so at the lowest point of the bend, the bent string was dropping below a half step, and probably inconsistently... if u listen to the original, his bend nevers flats below the half-step point

hope this helps :)

[Zach Trowbridge]

you were bending from a full step, so at the lowest point of the bend, the bent string was dropping below a half step, and probably inconsistently... if u listen to the original, his bend nevers flats below the half-step point

hope this helps :)
So what you're saying is that to do it the first way, you'd want to prebend the 17th fret up half a step and then bend it the extra half step after you pick it?

[FrankiePRS]

<<So what you're saying is that to do it the first way, you'd want to prebend the 17th fret up half a step and then bend it the extra half step after you pick it?>>

that would be the only way to make it work, but it's pretty hard to start a bend consistently at the half-step point, especially given the tempo of this riff