Deep River Blues, The bended g

[Vacaloca]

Hi all,

I am just learning to fingerpick my way thru Deep River Blues.
Those of you that are familiar with it know that you are supposed to hold an e chord and simultaneously bend the g note on the first string.

That note sounds really nice. But it is hell on my pinky.

So, what should be my way forward?

- Toughen up and stick with it
- cheat by not holding the chord and focussing on just performing the bended note
- develop a better technique?

What do you say?

[rick-slo]

I don't bend that first string G note. I do a double stop slide on the second and fourth strings. Also on the E chord you
do not need to fret both the fifth and fourth strings. I would just fret the fourth string second fret.

[Vacaloca]

So you do not bother holding the whole e chord then. I´ll think about doing the same. Thanks for your input.