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I tried learning a Paul Gilbert riff that had a couple of full step bends on the lower (4th and 7th) frets. Boy did I make hard work of them! Flat, flat, sharp, flat etc.

My bends are generally ok at the higher frets, but I struggled here. Are there any tricks to better bends at the lower end of the fret board? Or is it just a case of practice practice practice?

It helps to use the strength of your other fingers as well as your ring finger (not sure if you are doing that already). See below.
You could also try bending by pulling the string down rather than pushing up.

Practice practice I think. It's REALLY hard down there - Take it Easy by Eagles has a full note bend on the 2nd fret of the G-string and I'm just so far from getting it, even after years of playing the thing.

1. bend some like usual
2. push down behind the nut or bridge to bend some more

Yeah using the third finger, backed up by the first two is a good technique. More pushing power and more control for bigger bends.

Yep, you can use more than one finger, until you get to full strength....ib;jb

I am using the third finger plus method on the fourth fret bend, so I guess that's a strength/ technique thing. When it moves up to a seventh fret bend I need to be faster to get the other fingers in behind, as it's a 4th to 7th fret hammer on the high E then bend the 7th on the B straight away.

Run 9s until you get stronger

jeremyb wrote: ↑Thu May 06, 2021 7:39 am Run 9s until you get stronger

Dis! Surely PG uses teensy strings like all dem shreddas

jeremyb wrote: ↑Thu May 06, 2021 7:39 am Run 9s until you get stronger

The thought crossed my mind! Not sure if I'll even get stronger from here. Last few practices my hands have been unusually weak. Also having a flare up of what I believe is undiagnosed arthritis, making things difficult too.

Don't forget fret height. Penis fingers pushing 11's on small frets isn't going to get you laid. Bigger frets will make bends easier, but needs to be balanced against string gauge.

The other option is to run heavier strings to build strength. I ran 12-60 for a couple of years to improve hand strength. Going back to 10-52's made bending effortless.....

Disclaimer: I have penis fingers.

These things were all the rage in the 80's for those shred weenie types who wanted muscly fingers.

Danger Mouse wrote: ↑Thu May 06, 2021 9:40 am These things were all the rage in the 80's for those shred weenie types who wanted muscly fingers.

Did they work? I mean, no substitute for actual practice, but could be a useful way to spend a train ride.

Its not the 80's anymore ... there's an app for that now https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fret-trai ... 1279576225

Makes me think how resilient the human body can be. My fretting hand middle & index finger were crushed in tractor rear hydraulics when I was about 15 yrs old. Bounced back okay still bear scars on the first inner joints. But yeah speed or worse accuracy, not so much. Ah but the character.
Life time of mechanic'ing helps with the bends though.