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  Fingerpicking Problem

  Posted by Daniel M on February 18, 2025 at 12:24 pm

  Hi Members!

  Tony’s lessons are moving toward fingerpicking. Great. The classic way guitars are played. Unfortunately, my fingernails are so soft that they tear and crack immediately. I find slip on picks clumsy and hard to control. Can anyone suggest a better approach? Better slip on picks? I hate to miss out on basic guitar craft concepts, but am hitting the wall here. I have also tried stick on artificial nails for fingerpicking. The product is called Tiptonic. It has not been helpful unfortunately. Thoughts? (and many thanks!)

  Daniel M replied 1 year, 1 month ago 2 Members · 2 Replies
• 2 Replies

• 

  Skyman911

  Member

  February 18, 2025 at 1:29 pm

  I don’t use any fingernails when fingerpicking. As a matter of fact, many famous players don’t use their fingernails either and mostly just use the fleshy part of the fingers. Some players like Tommy Emmanuel use a thumb pick. I’ve tried them, and don’t care for them at this stage of my journey. Some players just grow out their thumbnail.

  • 

    Daniel M

    Member

    February 18, 2025 at 4:14 pm

    Thanks! I guess the process just requires a lot of repetition until callouses develop? My fingers produce a fairly muted sound currently, but if they were “hard”, it might ring out?

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