Strumming with nail tips

Jetfire · December 2019

Is there anyone else strumming with the right hand finger/nail tip? I was learning a song this morning and found it sounded much nicer for softer songs and great for switching to the occasional finger style thing

Funkfingers · December 2019

Think of it as part of hybrid picking. (Thumb and index finger grip plectrum. Other fingers pick or strum as and when required.) This is the first step on the way to adopting a thumb pick and going the full Tommy Emmanuel.

Kittyfrisk · December 2019

Always use the index fingernail, unless I occasionally want a big, bright power chordy strumming thing.
Don't use plec's on electrics either.

DulcetJones · December 2019

I do a variation of this a lot that involves "brushing" the strings with 2 or 3 fingers for down strums and angling the index finger for up strums. I started developing the technique when I played electric guitar in bands, whenever I dropped my pick mid-song and had to keep playing. I've since been using it on acoustic when I'm not flat-picking or needing more volume.

ToneControl · December 2019

yes, more control over dynamics and timbre

McSwaggerty · December 2019

I switch between fingerstyle and strumming and I very seldom used a plectrum.
I sometimes use a thumb pick if i need more bass power, but normally just my bare thumb and fingernails...

Funkfingers · December 2019

Jetfire said:

Is there anyone else strumming with the right hand finger/nail tip?

sev112 · December 2019

I use a rasgueado style , which is described as “Down-strum with your hand, opening your fingers all at once so the nails of one or more fingers strike the strings. ... “
can do that gently or as aggressively as you wish.

ICBM · December 2019

I very rarely use a pick on guitar. For chord strumming I use the nails of all three fingers (pinky doesn’t usually make contact) together - it gives a softer but tighter chord sound because all the strings are struck at much closer to the same time than with a pick.

Skipped · December 2019

I think it is better (strumming with index finger nail tip) when you finally work out how much growth is optimum for feel, sound and no interference with your pick grip if you play electric.

Yes. Sound.

I was shocked but should not have been.

We are all capable of hearing and feeling incredibly small differences.

If I pick up a Clayton Ultem instead of a Dunlop Tortex (same shape, same gauge) it feels like the world has ended.

Roland · December 2019

And another thing - I’ve just remembered that strumming with several fingers (not rasgeuado, just strumming) can sound like multi-tracking. You get a fatter sound. My electric sound I can fatten with EQ and other tricks, but I use multi-finger strumming a lot with acoustic simulation.

artiebear · December 2019

Using down strokes as part of other finger style techniques is very liberating. I have been playing that way so long, I would have to stop and try very hard to pin down the different elements which just seem so natural these days. It's also worth looking at more percussive frailing techniques where you are actually flicking a finger down hard onto an individual string using your palm as a launch point for the stroke. This can give you a nice percussive "slap" which when incorporated into other techniques will give to a nice rhythmic counterpoint. To get the best out of this technique, I find that I need some kind of artificial nail strengthening (in my case I just apply a bit of acrylic to the nails every couple of weeks ). without it, I used to end up with bloody painful bruising under the nails. Again with this technique, build up slowly and accurately, making sure that the slap in right on the nail, as missing and hitting the string with the back of your finger is eye watering

I also use a thumb pick and could never go back now. Again, it's brilliant for creating more dynamics and options ( basically finger style and a pick all at the same time ) I have to admit, it takes a lot of perseverance to become comfortable, but in time, it's easy to control it just like any other pick in conjunction with the fingers.
The only times I need a plectrum are when I get a part to play which needs a real thump and snap to lock in with, particularly the kit, or live in bigger venues, when you really need to create a definite sense or where the beat is early on in an upbeat tune. In the case of the latter anything else just bounces round the walls and gets mushy.

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Strumming with nail tips

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