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Finger picking and nail care
Yesterday in the daily comments nealjppm.me posted about nail care for fingerstyle pickers and replied the following comments.
I have not found a system that perfectly for your finger picking hand nail care and would appreciate any construction comments for everyone who has experience with trying to keep your nails healthy enough to finger picker every day. My routine does work but it is constant maintenance to keep the nails in playable condition. Here is my post from yesterday.
James Taylor has a you tube video that shows his nail prep routine and I do use it sometimes.
Since I like to hybrid and finger pick and us my ring, middle and index finger for down strokes on chord strumms and the back of my thumb nail for upstrokes when finger picking, my nails can suffer damage that takes you out of the finger picking approach for a long time.
I also shape and cut fake nails to fit each of the 3 fingers. glue them down using CALA Super Nail Glue.
Then at least 2 thin coats of Sally Hanson Hard as Nails Polish and up to 3 coats of Seche Vice Top nail coat, also very thin. I have heard and read story’s about guitar pickers finger nail damage it you don’t leave some part of your nails uncovered .You have to be careful with how much of your finger nail you actually cover or it can be damaged under any full finger nail covering treatment. Only cover about 2/3 of the nail leaving the cuticle area free to breath.
I can get about 3 weeks of fairly vigorous strumming from this system. If the foundation coats are good it does last but if the foundation is a sloppy application it will not hold up and the nail will loosen.
I had to learn to use my left hand to do these application as I don’t have a significant other to help me with this. -
5 Replies
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That’s pretty amazing! I love hearing stories about our great song writer musicians. I believe it was James Taylor who really encouraged Carol King to expand her song writing role into a performer and recording artist.
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I only pick with the flesh part of my fingers. I’m never going to grow my nails out to pick. I know it’s popular for some. I guess if I need the extra tone, I’ll go to finger picks. I personally think it looks a little cringe when some men have long shaped thumb and fingernails on just one hand. However, I paint my toenails, and some find that a little cringe as well.
I do play around with a thumb pick on occasion.
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Hey Sky, I keep my finger nail short, a 1/16th or a little more. and with the fibre glass tape and super glue nail polish or fake nails and and all the other steps I put myself through. I don’t have many problems using my finger nails. As i said it does take maintenance though to keep them trimmed and … burning.
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I’m sure this gives you a better connection with your guitar than using finger pics. This is what makes guitar so great. One can personalize their playing style to fit their current needs.
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Too true, I used to use mostly the pads and very little finger nail but wsn’t happy with the chord tones i was producing. for my style the finger nails just nail it down better pun intended…
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