Fingernails on your picking hand

DW,

From my learning, I found that it's not a good idea to use your fingernails for fingerpicking.  You should always use the fleshy part of your fingertips instead. 

However, if you like a louder sound, get yourself some slip-on thumb and finger picks! Personally, I like using my fingertips and can't stand using my nails for picking. 

Just my $.02 worth.

Kahuna

Sure have. I am a banjo player and used to use them on the guitar on occasion. They are really hard to get used to but after a few weeks they start to feel ok. But it will take a few weeks to adjust properly. I have since mastered the nail thingo and now have good nails on my right hand which seem to be better on the guitar than the banjo. guitars need the dynamics that only nails can give you. also with nals...the main one you will break is the index finger. when you do, grab a pick and go chicken pickin' till it grows back or just use the others and build up dexterity in the lesser used fingers until you don't mind missing a nail because you can just fill in with your pinky.

Jeez I yabba on...

oh..one more thing....sorry guys..nails are the only way to go. The only people who claim the fleshy pads are better have seriously never had nails of suitable length or strength to play with well. Dont listen to them..and from what u posted it seems you know how important they are. just wear some soft leather gloves when you are working and it will save you a few breakages. pain in the arse i know but picking guitar is more important than work anyway.

Gaz. Not wanting to piss of pad players. Just that bad advice is bad advice and that is some.

one sweet solution is to find a nice nail girl and pay her to put a sort of 2 pack coating on them that is super hard. once you start you have to keep going back to get the grow out filled in but they are pretty good and she can really shape your nails just how you like them. I gotta say that getting a nice young hottie to do it makes the pain of paying a lot eaesier to bear as well. and if u can wangle it u can claim it as a deduction on your tax. But also beware that they dont break anymore..they just tear out if they are caught up on something. the first time you catch it and feel the nail start to rip away  when it would normally just break is pretty frightening. Best of all when you bump into the nail girl out at the pub she can introduce you to all her friends (who are all impressed by good nails I might add) who think u r some great muso. Works well.

Gary

They look good those picks. They're the type I was talking about but the ones I've seen are rubbery plastic.

When i was rtying to repair my nail I used a stick on acrylic nail. It worked OK but made the nail underneath worse every time it fell off as it took a bit of nail with it.

I've thought about the nail job route too. Gary, do you know the proprietary name of the treatment used on your nails?

Cheers,

D.

Hi,

Learned and played for years using nails for finger picking and even strumming. Never could get on with a pick or other devises for picking. The thing is I lost my thumbnail in a accident at work and it was like almost being a novice again. I use some false harmonics in some pieces and these I found impossible to play without my nail  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cry.gif" border=0 alt="Crying or Very Sad"> It's taken six months for a new nail to grow back and I can't wait till it's good enough to use again. I suppose It's the old adage that you don't know what you got to it's gone.

Ark

Years ago I started going to a Nail Salon and have acrylic nails done on the first three fingers of my right hand...then I keep them dressed pretty short so that I can pick with the nail or the finger pad depending on desired sound. Then I usually use a thumb pick for my thumb...

Interesting thread!

Actual History: I have in one of my Classical Guitar books a picture of a fight that took place between Nailers and Pads, each saying their way was the best - the fight took place in the 18th or 19th Century!

As far as Classical Guitar (being the route that takes you through exams and grades) is concerned, both ways are acceptable and is a case of personal preferance.

My Tuppence Worth: If you're not going to use fingernails or aids - carry on and enjoy!

....if you are: I found fingernails far superior to any aid that emulates what a fingernail does. If these aids work for you great, but I don't like how they feel nor how they make the strings sound.

NAILCARE: Eat a cube of raw jelly morning and night - your choice of flavour. The gelatine provides the nutrients that nails and hair need to grow strong/long.

Buff your nails against each other - this tells your body to produce more kerratin. Also scrubbing/nail brushes do a good job. This makes your nails grow quicker and stronger.

False, Glued-On nails work. They are a good substitute for broken nails and for those whose jobs make keeping long fingernails hard/impossible.

Unless you are femle or the type of person whose appearance says "Mess with me at your peril," you will probably get stick about long fingernails. Gets the brain in gear for some witty responses AND you will remain safe in the knowledge that these P***-takers would never try to play guitar and are jealous at what you're able to do.

With nails - without nails -

It's your choice

The "old" standard used to be to play with nails on classical (nylon strung) guitars and pads on steel.  The thinking being that steel would cut into and shred your nails.  I do both on both, but am blessed (?) with tough fast growing claws.  My other half gives me grief when I'm grinding away on mine and she's whimpering about always having to trim off her torn and chipped edges.

Tried the Alaska picks for awhile, but didn't feel the strings as well, better than metal for sure!  Acrylics are good for repairs and getting by until a damaged nail grows out, but prolonged use will do serious damage to the nail and the nail bed by depriving it of moisture and air. If you've seen a horse with hoof rot.... something like that.

Take Care;
Doug

Thats great that you found the John Pearse book.  Do a google search for him.  I own several of his products and love his guitar arm rests.  I have three.  Sorry that this is a shade off topic but this guy deserves more attention than he gets.

Normtheguitar,   I'm still off topic but the guitar armrest really does make a sonic difference to me.  Elderly Musical Instruments and probably some other sites,  offer printable full sized templates for these arm rests that you can print, cut out and then match to the curves of your guitars.   I have an original plastic one on my 1988 Yairi, and two ebony ones on my Rogue resonator and Godin 5th ave Kingpin.  I like the feel, the look and the improvement of sound after installation.  These are a great addition to almost any guitar and the expense is really not that much.  They are easily attached and cause no damage to your finish.