A unison bend is two strings meeting on one pitch. You fret E on the B string and bend D on the G string up a whole step until it is also an E. It is a fat, howling sound that works over any A blues or boogie.
Position: A minor pentatonic box 1. Hold the 5th fret on the B string with your index finger. Bend the 7th fret on the G string with your ring finger, with the middle finger behind it on the same string for support. Push the G string up toward the ceiling; the B string stays still under your index.
Pick both strings together with one downstroke. As the bend rises you'll hear the two notes beat against each other, faster then slower, until they lock into a single note. That lock is the target.
The most common mistake is stopping short: the bend sits a little flat and the two strings keep wobbling. The second is pushing the B string out of tune with the index finger. Keep the index flat and relaxed.
How to practice
- Play the B string's 5th fret alone, then the bend alone, and match them by ear.
- Play both together and hold until the beating stops.
- Once it locks every time, play the pattern in time.