Nails

artiebear · April 2017

right lets talk nails. Anyone trying to make an acoustic guitar do its thing knows what we are talking about . Playing ac gtr for a living I have previously used a salon to get what are effectively plecs on the end of each finger , now I do the job myself. Anyone else using false nails ?

Lewy · April 2017

Although I've spent some time playing music full time, a lot of my playing over the years has been semi pro, working day jobs where fake nails on one hand would have been only slightly less eyebrow raising than a full spider web face tattoo.

So instead I persevered with fingerpicks. It took about 3 months of focused practice to get comfortable with them but haven't looked back since. It's either those, or no picks and flesh if I want a softer sound....

CHRISB50 · April 2017

When I was fingerpicking I just couldn't get used to having anything attached to my fingers, be it picks or anything artificial. I used to spend a fair bit of time with a file shaping my nails with a taper, so you get both the nail and the flesh for a more rounded tone. I could just stop if I noticed my nails taking a hammering, and then reshape them (while I had enough growth to do that). I guess you're in a different situation as it's your job.

AliGorie · April 2017

Artie, tried false nails years ago on 3 fingers - nah - not for me, sure the 'accuracy' you get from the few mm's protruding from your f/tip is welcome but they were 'cumbersome' for normal every day things.
I only need a mil or so protruding to give the f/tip enough rigidity so I buff the nails with very fine wet / dry paper.
I suspect this is partly why I get a smooth round tone - I'm using mostly skin, and as you say false nails can be it's like having (thin) plectrums stuck on the ends of your fingers, You can actually pick out players who use false nails on good recordings - something about the sound, it can be TO accurate / precise and kinda 'brittle' = 'n not musical

VimFuego · April 2017

I'm another one with only a fraction of nail showing, generally less than a mm. I often see players with huge great long nails, and while it clearly works for them I just can't get on like that.

Sassafras · April 2017

They don't have to be very long. I've managed for years with these:
Image result for false nails

VimFuego · April 2017

Sassafras said:

They don't have to be very long. I've managed for years with these:

you see, it's this kind of nonsense that really irks me, you don't need a long nail on your pinky.

Jimbro66 · April 2017

I have never liked the idea of false nails. I tried the ProPik Finger-Tone picks thinking they might be a little less clumsy than regular finger picks but still could not get on with them.

https://www.guptillmusic.com/propik-finger-tone-finger-picks

The strange thing is that I spent over ten years using regular ProPiks to play lap-style Dobro without any problem but they just feel and sound wrong for acoustic guitar.

I'm perhaps lucky to have fairly strong nails that I leave slightly long on my picking hand - maybe 2mm which is enough.

Some of the Nashville hybrid pickers strengthen their nails with super glue.

artiebear · April 2017

Interesting comments. I would love to get away without and did try for around a year but ended up going back to applying an acrylic over my nails. Totally agree about not keeping them long, just enough to give a solid tone while being able to use the pad of the finger as required. Too long and they can produce a harsh tone. I also spend a lot of time playing keys, bass and electric in the studio , all of which suffer if there's too much nail.

My own nails are quite brittle, fine for playing at home or a gig or two, but after a few days constant playing there were too many issues to avoid the pain in the ass of having to do something about it. I like the fact that I can reapply the acrylic myself whenever I need it., plus a salon will try to do a neat job where as mine is certainly less obvious. It takes about 20/30 mins to do the job and it sets rock solid. Apart from that I keep them fairly naturally square shaped rather than the typically classic pointy look.

Back in the days before using acrylic I still wince to remember playing a couple of weeks of gigs, the second last of which left my index finger nail almost non existent. It was a bit sore during the second set and afterwards. The real pain started during the night , by the next morning I could'nt bear to touch anything with it, it was red raw. I had a 150 mile drive then the last gig to play, I igot through it but it was bloody excruciating and I decided , never again

BigLicks67 · April 2017

Lewy said:

So instead I persevered with fingerpicks. It took about 3 months of focused practice to get comfortable with them but haven't looked back since. It's either those, or no picks and flesh if I want a softer sound....

I tried these and a thumbpick but whilst I got used to the thumbpick I've never really got to grips with the fingerpicks. Do you find that the fingerpicks provide more attack/volume than nails?

Lewy · April 2017

BigLicks67 said:

Lewy said:

So instead I persevered with fingerpicks. It took about 3 months of focused practice to get comfortable with them but haven't looked back since. It's either those, or no picks and flesh if I want a softer sound....

I tried these and a thumbpick but whilst I got used to the thumbpick I've never really got to grips with the fingerpicks. Do you find that the fingerpicks provide more attack/volume than nails?

Well they provide more volume and attack than my nails which seem to be made of very thin marzipan.....

I started using them when I was playing almost exclusively resonators and it's just the most effective way to access a reso's dynamic range.

Bridgehouse · April 2017

I find screws hold better, and less chance of the hammer damaging the nice spruce top...

VimFuego · April 2017

Bridgehouse said:

I find screws hold better, and less chance of the hammer damaging the nice spruce top...

aren't you s'posed to be a forum break?

octatonic · April 2017

I strengthened my nails for a few years with a clear, matt coating.
Ultimately I concluded that I preferred the nail and flesh tone so I don't bother with that now.
Building guitars ruins your nails anyway so you have to work around it.

Bridgehouse · April 2017

VimFuego said:

Bridgehouse said:

I find screws hold better, and less chance of the hammer damaging the nice spruce top...

aren't you s'posed to be a forum break?

Yeah, I am.

But work is so bloody dull at the moment I decided to post here when I should be working and use my free time to work on my projects

artiebear · April 2017

Sassafras said:

They don't have to be very long. I've managed for years with these:

Not enough sparkle for me.

usedtobe · April 2017

VimFuego said:

Sassafras said:

They don't have to be very long. I've managed for years with these:

you see, it's this kind of nonsense that really irks me, you don't need a long nail on your pinky.

Yeah, but one short nail would just look odd!

guitarplucker · May 2017

Nooooooooo real nails i find the best not too long and filed at an angle which makes like a ramp for the string to move along and release
(thats classic playing )

brojangles · May 2017

Is it strictly necessary to use fingernails in finger picking? I ask because I've been trying to learn, but my nails are bitten to the quick (because I am goddamn intense / a nervous wreck / in thrall to bad childhood habits - take your pick) so I've only been using the pads of my fingers, reasoning that if I wanted clarity and volume I'd either plug in or pick up a pick. Am I doing it all wrong?

VimFuego · May 2017

some people play acoustic without nails (I assume you're talking acoustic here, no nails is a lot more common for electrc players), I believe Justin Sandercoe is trying it, so may be worth looking at his site for that. It's something I've never managed to get on with, which is a shame as I would like to lose my nailsfor bass playing.

BigLicks67 · May 2017

brojangles said:

Is it strictly necessary to use fingernails in finger picking? I ask because I've been trying to learn, but my nails are bitten to the quick (because I am goddamn intense / a nervous wreck / in thrall to bad childhood habits - take your pick) so I've only been using the pads of my fingers, reasoning that if I wanted clarity and volume I'd either plug in or pick up a pick. Am I doing it all wrong?

Tommy Emmanuel plays without nails as seen below. I think the idea is to get callouses on your right hand in order play this way for extended periods.

CHRISB50 · May 2017

brojangles said:

Is it strictly necessary to use fingernails in finger picking? I ask because I've been trying to learn, but my nails are bitten to the quick (because I am goddamn intense / a nervous wreck / in thrall to bad childhood habits - take your pick) so I've only been using the pads of my fingers, reasoning that if I wanted clarity and volume I'd either plug in or pick up a pick. Am I doing it all wrong?

Do what ever suits. For me it's about tone.

Nails produce a different tone to skin, that's it really. There is no right or wrong. I preferred a bit of nail and some skin for playing as it sounded best with the guitar I was playing.

Classical players tend to have nails, as it helps to attain a more traditional tone and provides more options for producing different timbres.

If you don't have nails, it doesn't matter. As long as you're having fun!

brojangles · May 2017

Yeah, acoustic. The notes don't exactly ring out like bells (but then I'm playing a dreadnought with 13s on - I might experiment with 12s). On the other hand, getting 'Don't Think Twice It's Alright' down has put a great big grin on my face.

Jimbro66 · May 2017

BigLicks67 said:

brojangles said:

Is it strictly necessary to use fingernails in finger picking? I ask because I've been trying to learn, but my nails are bitten to the quick (because I am goddamn intense / a nervous wreck / in thrall to bad childhood habits - take your pick) so I've only been using the pads of my fingers, reasoning that if I wanted clarity and volume I'd either plug in or pick up a pick. Am I doing it all wrong?

Tommy Emmanuel plays without nails as seen below. I think the idea is to get callouses on your right hand in order play this way for extended periods.

A lot of the old blues men took that approach too. I have guitarist friends who rely on calouses rather than nails. It produces a different tone, not better or worse just different.

I like to feel the strings with my finger tips but rely on nails for clarity. The combination means that nails don't have to be inconveniently long and the picking fingertips do get slightly calloused, although nothing like the fretting fingers.

Last night I broke a picking nail immediately before a gig but had to carry on anyway. It felt slightly strange but I doubt it was anything the audience picked up on.

Stuckfast · May 2017

Nic Jones bit his nails to the quick, and he was a hell of a guitarist. Mind you his guitar was usually tuned a couple of tones down.

VimFuego · May 2017

Stuckfast said:

Nic Jones bit his nails to the quick, and he was a hell of a guitarist. Mind you his guitar was usually tuned a couple of tones down.

heh, did not know that (about the fingernails, I know about the freaky tunings). Was just listening to some of hs stuff this morning, fantastic guitarist, with a fantastic tone.

Rocker · May 2017

Plectrum. Why make it difficult for yourself?

VimFuego · May 2017

[insert facepalm gif here]

bermudianbrit · May 2017

Since I play Nashville style, I really would like to have the fake ones. but I also work a professional, client-facing job...so that's a nope. Also I'd have to get them professionally done since I cannot see, so messing with my hands is not an easy thing to do on my own. I just play the hell out of my right hand, until the pads get calloused. Its not the otne I want, but its not bad.

artiebear · May 2017

lovely stuff chaps / chapesesses , been a bit busy for a while so missed the forum and threads that I was guilty of starting. There is no one way to play guitar, a few exhibited in this thread, but there is something about beefing up each picking hand finger. To @bermudianbrit , with your style, get them done. once every three weeks having your hand caressed by a pleasant lady ( or guy if that floats your boat ) and the inevitable conversation about guitar playing ( once had the whole salon at a gig ) having beefed up nails certainly draws out everything a guitar has. oh and they are not like |*|thin plectrums " if they are you're doing it wrong or have no real experience of using acrylics / wraps.

Matter of interest @bermudianbrit , who are listening to in terms of your Nashville sound ?

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