Fingernails and Stringed Instruments

Yeah, not your usual fingenail related post. Or maybe it is and I just didn't search. Anyway, after months and months of not touching my guitar I picked it up and cuddled it and talked to it...you know what I mean, those of you who play any kind of instrument. There's a relationship, even if you don't see each other for awhile, for whatever reason.

Anyway, I had let my nails grow out and I loved them long and girly. But tonight I filed them down to little nubs and feel so bad. But it's nice to pick a few tunes out. Why do things have to be so hard. Why do we have to make such difficult choices. Okay, yeah, I know it's silly. Filing my nails down is really no big deal. Just being stupid.

Hugs...Joni Mari

I play guitar myself, and have been growing my nails out. I found it difficult at first to play, and found myself screwing up basic runs and positions . I did not give up though. My mother plays a good guitar, and she always had long nails, so I knew it was possible to play even with the extra length. Took a few months, and some retraining on how to hold my wrist and fingers, but it was well worth it. I can now play as well as before, and have managed to keep my nails long.
All it took was teaching an old dog, some new tricks.

Best of luck, and do not be to hard on yourself.

Happy playing.

hugs;

Lacey May :)

I play banjo - not bluegrass style but the older clawhammer style. In the clawhammer style you pick down on the string with the back of your fingernail. The fingernails on my right hand are always long and sometimes I wear a fake nail on my main picking finger if the nail is worn or broken. The nails on my left hand are always short. It looks funny so I tell people I pick my nose righthanded if they ask.:heehee: When I'm doing stuff on the computer, I always have a banjo, uke or guitar in my hands so I'm not just wasteing time. When I dress, I use press on nails.

It takes soe getting used to, but it can be done.
I can play anything with 1/4 in nails, but I can't do cords much beyond that.
I've done runs, licks, what have you with my nails 3/4 in.
(3/4 sees to be were mine break)

Oh I gave up and now have three shiny ornaments in the living room... I'm sure I heard the world breathe a sigh of relief... Well least the neighbours ;)

Don't forget, one of the best guitarist in the world has long fingernails. Charo!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BupUq...eature=related

:daydreaming:

I played guitar fro years and sang in bars. My nails were always long, especially on my right hand and at that point I was not a cross dresser. Now I am, but no longer play the guitar. Why cut your nails?

I play Banjo and fiddle. and yes it is a drag when the nails get long. I just keep them trimmed just to a length that is tolerable. If I got an event comeing up I let them grow. I try to keep mine short and shaped nice. they look just as pretty as lone nails, if you shape them right.

It's just a sacrifice we have to make for our art ;) I can get away with longer nails on my left hand if I'm playing acoustic but if I'm playing electric they create far too much string noise especially when bending notes.

Bass players can forget about long nails unless you are playing slap style with the side of your thumb. Bass players can also forget about having readable fingerprints.

Don't forget Dolly Parton ! I'm sure her nails are LONG, and she plays !

Diane

Hi Girls-

Thanks for all the nice replies, you're all so sweet. May be time to experiment with some open tunings, I guess, cause I'm gonna let 'em grow out again. Right now they (my nails) are the shortest they've ever been in a couple of years. My left hand ones are filed down to where there's only a thin line of white, my right hand is a little longer. I should file them down, too, so they'll all be the same length as they grow.

Thank you all, once again. I hope everyone has a great weekend. Have fun on the 4th.

Hugs...Joni Mari

Ok, First off, Eddie VanHalen is the king! (not Charo) IF we need a fem idol, let's look to Lita Ford.

As for Doly, I saw and interview with her and she said when she's really sitting down to play, and song write, she cuts them. She also added, when you see her on stage with the dagger lenth nails she's faking it.

Actually I personaly find it easyer to pay the base over the 6 string when my nails are long. The fatter strings keep them up off the fretboard.

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Originally Posted by Joni Marie Cruz

May be time to experiment with some open tunings...Joni Mari

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You could always take up playing dobro or pedal steel.:love:

While i don't play i was in the DR office with my Dad having a check up .. when the nurse ask if i played an instrument.. she said a lot of pickers have long nails and she thought i might play..

Jolan Tru,

As a professional musician I do not have any alternative except keeping my nails short. I tried to grow them a little bit longer, but that didn't work because I simply cannot play properly. It looks I will have to try fake nails...

If you are only playing a blip here and there, just giver. I play all the time, so a tiny bit of nail makes a big difference. It's your choice. I keep mine in guitar mode 24/7.

[SIZE=4]When I started teaching guitar I cut my nails and have kept them short ever since. Hey I keep them painted, blue or pale blue with diamond dust on top, looks like opal fire.

I also play keyboard and even there if you don't want to hear clickety clickety you have to keep them short.

I had a female student once, about 27 who had long fake fingernails and she wouldn't go to short ones. She didn't do too bad, but you could always hear them and sometimes she broke one.

I always told my girl students you have a choice, play guitar or have long nails. I haven't had one yet that kept them long after seeing the difference for the ones that really wanted to play.

The boys always had short ones anyway so they never had a problem.

I actually started painting my nails a year before my transition. I saw a color I just had to have when looking at fingernail polish in Walgreen's. When I started going to the nearby salon, as my wrong birth gender, I asked the girls there if they had many men customers, and they surprised me by saying yes. The place was sold and the new owners don't know I am not a gg.[/SIZE]

Play Flamenco style ala Esteban
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR-J1ZuH--g

Or take up Nylon classical guitar (insert your joke here)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ9PRzIyzFA

No decision need be made. I play Guitar and Bass....

Ooo You could play bass too
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWANfBtELlc

And Eddie aint nothing, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN IS THE GUITAR GOD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCwEk6_-vAw

O please........ I;ll give yo te boy as tallent, bt MALMSTEEN isn't fit to sine Eddie boots!
Eddie is a better mvsican
Eddie was doing is tking way first,
Eddie kolds a lot of pattons for gvitar related inventions
Eddie is way nnore fanneos in te nnain steann


PS. dve to a broken keyboard, sonne svbstitvtions kad to be nnade

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 5150 Girl

O please........ I;ll give yo te boy as tallent, bt MALMSTEEN isn't fit to sine Eddie boots!
Eddie is a better mvsican
Eddie was doing is tking way first,
Eddie kolds a lot of pattons for gvitar related inventions
Eddie is way nnore fanneos in te nnain steann


PS. dve to a broken keyboard, sonne svbstitvtions kad to be nnade

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<rotlmao> Hi 51, omg, that is so funny. Our "main" computer was down for awhile so we were using the laptop which is missing the "Y" and "I" keys. So my spelling was quite inventive for a period of time also.

And thanks to all of you for all the ideas and support. You girls rock.

And, OMG! do my fingers hurt! I lost my callouses, jeeze louise, I had forgotten what it feels like.

Hugs...Joni Mari

Drums??????Anyone???? Hellooooooooo????? Can we branch this thread to include other instruments? Besides I havn't heard a pep out of anyone who plays piano, violin or cello. Guitar players...:brolleyes:

The only thing I can do with long nails on my left hand are some power chords. I keep the nails on my left hand very short. I keep longer nails on the first 3 fingers on my right hand so I can finger pick. It does look kind of odd. Sometimes I notice people looking at my nails. No one ever says anything though. Maybe they just assume I play guitar.

I LOVE long nails though, look at my pictures. Occasionally I will take a long weekend and apply acrylic nails, then remove them to go back to work on Monday. I have very strong nails and can remove the acrylics without any damage.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 5150 Girl

O please........ I;ll give yo te boy as tallent, bt MALMSTEEN isn't fit to sine Eddie boots!
Eddie is a better mvsican
Eddie was doing is tking way first,
Eddie kolds a lot of pattons for gvitar related inventions
Eddie is way nnore fanneos in te nnain steann

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Eddie VanHalen is great, but Malmsteen never really did much for me....all flash and no substance. David Gilmour is my personal favorite. He has such a sense of melody. His playing touches me in a way that I can't describe. There's more to playing guitar than shear speed.

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Originally Posted by Rachel_the_Rocker

Drums??????Anyone???? Hellooooooooo????? Can we branch this thread to include other instruments? Besides I havn't heard a pep out of anyone who plays piano, violin or cello. Guitar players...:brolleyes:

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How can you tell if there's a drummer at your front door?


The knocking gets faster and slower.

Oh gawd, Rachel, honey, please forgive me sweetheart. I never get to tell drummer jokes. Thank you, dear. <kiss>

Hugs...Joni Mari

You can PM me some if you want. I just wanted to throw my two cents in because around where I live, it seems like one out of three people play guitar.

I have to shape and file down every 3 days,its critical to tone and attacking the string correctly.My trim warning signs are ..1.speed slows down 2.clanking sound of the string sliding off the skin to the nail.

If you'd like to see some prep work put into nails check out Pierre Bensusan,he actually builds his up with false nails and acrylics,he achieves such a wonderful and unique style through doing it.

I play acoustic so i am compulsive about keeping my nails short. Actually I think it would be tuffer to give up guitar than dressing. I am a big fan of Kiss stick on nails. They go easy on and off. And really the greatest guitarist on electric is Eric Johnson. On acoustic I would say Monte Montgomery. Case closed

Hi Joni and everybody, I play electric guitar mostly. I own an old Sears Acoustic Guitar, a "Ray and Dave Davies" Fender Avalon Acoustic and my 1952 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop. My music has been played several times on an internet radio station. I like Blues,Rockabilly,British Invasion,Garage Rock and Heavy Rock. I use a flat pick for straight lead and my fingers for slide guitar. But I do know that a certain Eric Clapton had long fingernails when he was in The Yardbirds from 1963 when he replaced Anthony Topham up until March 1965 when he left to join John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Girls,order a copy of "Five Live Yardbirds" on Amazon. It's a 1964 set and Clapton is "nailpicking" his guitar. It sounds tremendous.

I play the violin (the devil's instrument!), and I do it seriously. I'm what's called an "accomplished amateur" because I don't have a degree in violin. However, I've been playing for 50 years so I know my way around my instrument! In a couple of weeks when the string quartet of which I've been a member for 20 years steps out on stage and hauls into the a couple of the quartets from the literature, there had better not be any fingernails in the way, whether it's Dvorak or Beethoven, facility is key.

So, the left hand nails are a bit shorter than the right, the right thumb nail is a bit shorter than the left, but they are as long as the instrument will allow.

To make up for it, I take a lot of care in how they are shaped. Interestingly enough, having the nails down to the nubs does not help the playing, as the nails do give some support for the finger pads. It's those issues that have been requiring me, and all violinists (and violists and cellists) to make sure those nails are not an afterthought.

Yet again, being in both genders is a plus!!!

tina

That's precisely why I play wind instruments. It matters not how long/short the nails are.

Aww, sorry to hear about your tough decision, at least you have a new goal to set though :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Joni Marie Cruz

How can you tell if there's a drummer at your front door?


The knocking gets faster and slower.

Oh gawd, Rachel, honey, please forgive me sweetheart. I never get to tell drummer jokes. Thank you, dear. <kiss>

Hugs...Joni Mari

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How do you tell if there's a guitarist at yer door
...they don't know when to come in

people only take up the guitar because they can't play the drums lol


.

Hi pickers and dressers

Can't pick with the long fingernail either but they never get long because I do a lot of outdoor work.They always seem to break sooner than later.

Malmsteen is OK but for pure talent- Tommy Emmanuel is the man. MSGina - the case is never closed- we could compare these guys all day. That might be fun at a pajama party. ( He is all over You Tube.):2c:

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Originally Posted by Deb The Brunette

How do you tell if there's a guitarist at yer door
...they don't know when to come in

people only take up the guitar because they can't play the drums lol


.

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<ROTFLMAO> Love it. No wonder I'm alway a half beat behind. Big hug, Deb.

Hugs...Joni Mari

Gotta keep the left ones short for guitar, the right nails can be long for fingerpicking. Saw Dolly play with long nails but she was in an open tuning and just barred with her index finger. Oh, and Joe Bonamassa and Johnny A are the kings!

It's not stupid at all! I have the very same problem! First time in months, I just had to cut them a week ago so that I could play guitar again. They are having a talent show at the Southern Comfort Conference this year and I actually thought about staying out of it because I didn't want to have short nails at the SCC. lol

Wow, really, so many responses, so many really cool artists mentioned and feelings about playing music. I am so amazed, you girls just truly rock.

Hugs...Joni Mari

Still, surprised no one has mentioned Leo Kottke.

I have to keep my nails short as I love to play my acoustic, sits an arms length from my chair at all times. It is a good stress reliever for me, and my wife likes to hear me play.

So, I see lots of "nny fave ax nnan is best" posts, bvt only ennotion to back it vp as to wky... So nny case for Eddie stands alone, Eddie is tke king!

As for nny key nnalfvntions....
Backspace is done,
Retvn is going
letters nnising
A B C D E F G _ I _ K L _ N O P Q R S T _ V W X Y Z

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Originally Posted by Kate17

but for pure talent- Tommy Emmanuel is the man. :

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I'm with you Kate,Tommy is a fantastic artist to see live.(the fact he's an Aussie has nothing to do with it, honest)
I keep my nails short for two reasons, one, the guitar, i play a lot of slide so i can get away with longer nails on my left hand but it just doesn't feel balanced having long and short on different hands . and two, long nails really do nasty things to fresh paint jobs (so i found out when i started my current job)

Angelis

I have seen and met Tommy several times and live he is really great. His concert at sheldon Hall in St Louis ( on DVD) is probably the best he has ever done. He did Austrailia Proud.
I just booked tickets to see him in Austin Tx - He will also be in Colorado soon!!

Hey 5150 - did i just enter the twilight zone ? Some new language i am not hip to yet? Just kidding - Eddie is OK.

Chet Atkins grew his right hand nails long and wore clear nail polish to pretect and streghnthen them. He played nylon strings later in his life ,instead of steel strings....such is the life of the 'country gentleman' as he was known. Kate17 mentioned Tommy Emanuel,and he is a disciple of Atkins.
Look at most flamenco style guitar players and you will notice the long nails on their picking hand.

I can't wear long nails buit that's OK....most of the women I know don't growm long nails either despite wearing nail polish in virtually every color.