Pre-Bend
PRE-BEND: Bend the note up first then strike it. A pre-bend usually works in conjunction with a release after it. If you play a pre-bend without a release it just sounds like a normal note. When you pre-bend a note you must be good at bending, to the point of knowing how far to push the string up to sound the correct pitch without striking the note.
Listen to a pre-bend example
Pre-Bend & Release
PRE-BEND & RELEASE: Bend the note up to the correct pitch then strike it, after sounding release the tension back to the normal position. This will make the pitch of the note drop.
Listen to a pre-bend & release example
Example Riff
Riff using the Pre-Bend & Release
This riff is using the 1st A Minor Pentatonic Scale with an added note on the 3rd string 6th fret. The When playing the 1st note, place your 4th finger on the 1st string, 8th fret. have the note on the 2nd string 8th fret already bent up into position with your 3rd finger (this would be pre-bent to the value of two frets). Use common sense for the fingering used for the rest of the solo. Except for the first two notes the finger numbers go:
- 1st finger 5th fret
- 2nd finger 6th fret
- 3rd finger 7th fret
- 4th finger 8th fret
Listen to the riff example

Listen how to play the above riff using full pre-bends & release.