Nudgy bends are one of those small touches that separate blues phrasing that feels expressive from phrasing that just feels correct. This is a quick review of the concept applied to the A minor pentatonic extended scale, which is probably the thing I've spent the most time teaching when it comes to lead guitar.
The nudgey bend is a slight upward push, not a full half step, and the key is you only hear it going up. The moment it comes back down it loses the effect entirely. I'm applying it on three specific notes in the scale, the 8th fret high E, the 5th fret G, and the 3rd fret A, and the difference between playing the scale without it and with it is immediate.
It's a small detail with a big payoff.
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