bent notes
Warped musical tones
Bent notes are musical tones that slide smoothly from one pitch to another, created by manipulating the instrument or voice rather than playing discrete notes.
The technique is fundamental to blues, jazz, and rock, giving the music its expressive, vocal quality.
Guitarists bend strings by pushing them across the fretboard; harmonica players adjust their breath and tongue position; singers slide between pitches.
The "bent" quality often lands between standard Western notes, producing the characteristic blue notes of American roots music.
- slidesMoves smoothly across surface
- vibratoOscillating pitch effect
- glissandoRapid pitch sweep
- wailProlonged mournful cry
- expressionConveyed thought or feeling
guitar · guitar solo · harmonica · jazz · blues · soul music · soulful · microtones · portamento · slide guitar · twang · slur · scoop · cry · crying tone · moan · whammy bar · wah pedal