Great article, Wildwoman.

I like how you suggest trying slow bends instead of bending the strings quickly. Too many guitarists I've heard just bend the note in less than a 16th-note's time, so you can't really hear that the string is being bent. They might as well just use hammer-ons and pull-offs instead. I normally only bend strings slowly, though, except when trying to learn other peoples' songs. Why? Because I like to hear that smooth transition from, say, a C# to a D, or even better, the other way around (pre-bend the string, pick it, then slowly release the string). Gives a very nice sound, in my opinion.

Overall, though, this article is a must-read for anyone trying to take the step from being a good guitarist to becoming a great guitarist.