Long Fingernails for Fingerpicking

[idealassets]

I met a really great classical guitarist at his open house just recently. He had the nicest long fingernails that I have seen. His lessons are quite costly so I have refrained to go. Also he is playing 6 string nylon, so that must be easier on the hands.

So I began to let mine grow, and noticed mainly when playing mostly the 12 string with PB strings the nails can sometimes loose about 1/32" in a few hours of playing. So I am wondering among other things, how does Leo Kottke maintain those nails with the fast picking he does?

Are there any helpful hints in the house?

Thank you,
Craig

 

[walrus]

Several years ago in an article Paul McCartney said he puts an acrylic fingernail on one of his fingers. Perhaps pickers like Kottke put them on several fingers.

walrus

 

[killdeer43]

I've been blessed with healthy nails and try to keep them at just the right length for fingerpicking; the index and middle fingernails of my right hand, that is. It's worked for 43 years so I plan to maintain the same regimen as always. I'm sure I don't pick as much (certainly not as well) as Leo, but who does? :rugby:

Joe

 

[adorshki]

Also he is playing 6 string nylon, so that must be easier on the hands.

Yep that's a major factor.

So I began to let mine grow, and noticed mainly when playing mostly the 12 string with PB strings the nails can sometimes loose about 1/32" in a few hours of playing. So I am wondering among other things, how does Leo Kottke maintain those nails with the fast picking he does? Are there any helpful hints in the house?

Yep when I'd play about 4 hours every Saturday it'd take mine a week to get back to where they were.
I have very soft nails and over the years tried the Knox gelatin supplement (didn't seem to do me any good), and Sally Hansen's "Hard as Nails" (you find it in the fingernail polish section). Now that stuff says it has calcium in it to help strengthen nails, and I did use it to put some protection on my nails to get worn off before the "bare nails" started gettin' worn down, but I don't think the calcium in the polish really did me any good, I think it works better if taken internally as calcium supplement. ***
Also I think the solvents in the polish actually dry out the nails and make 'em brittle and more prone to chipping, so I don't use it anymore.
For a pro like Leo who makes a living at playing a LOT, I suspect that acrylic nails may well be their "secret" or even more like a "neccessary evil", because I'm sure the stuff they use to attach 'em ain't all that good for the nails either.
Here's another small hint: the more your fingertips get banged around during the day, like say for instance, using a keyboard and posting here (LOL!!), the faster your nails grow. I think it's like a self-protection mechanism for the body, the wear on the fingers stimulates nail growth. It's true! :wink:
It occurs to me that maybe that's also part of Leo's secret, he plays 'em enough to make the nails grow just fast enough?

****the calcium , not the polish! YEAH, I knew somebody'd jump on that! LOL!

 

[griehund]

http://letstalkguild.com/ltg/showth...nails-for-Fingerpicking&highlight=fingernails

 

[Jeff]

I was fortunate enough to attend a Doyle Dykes road show a while back, when he represented Taylor. During the Q&A session he was asked how he keeps his nails in playing shape, answer: "artificial acrylic nails".

 

[idealassets]

http://letstalkguild.com/ltg/showth...nails-for-Fingerpicking&highlight=fingernails

That was also my post, but at the time I kept picking with bare fingers and short nails. It sounds OK, but you get a new dimension with longer nails.

In other words if I am looking at this right, do you want the nail length just right so that you can still get a bare finger for that sound, and then angle it just a little and get a total nail on the string?

I tried the picks with the opening in the end (like Doyle Dykes uses) and it didn't work for me. For the most part it was just as loud as with full metal picks. I do play some songs with the metal picks, but also want a softer clear sound as you get with the fingernail sound.

CG

 

[griehund]

That was also my post, but at the time I kept picking with bare fingers and short nails. It sounds OK, but you get a new dimension with longer nails.

In other words if I am looking at this right, do you want the nail length just right so that you can still get a bare finger for that sound, and then angle it just a little and get a total nail on the string?

I tried the picks with the opening in the end (like Doyle Dykes uses) and it didn't work for me. For the most part it was just as loud as with full metal picks. I do play some songs with the metal picks, but also want a softer clear sound as you get with the fingernail sound.

CG

I use a flat pick plus my two middle fingers. I have to use thickener on my ring finger. My second finger nail is thick and healthy. I try to pick with my nails only and not any part of my finger tips. Other players use their finger tips without using their nails. The advantage there is that the string can actually be lifted up and released. I tend to let those two nails grow a little long and then trim them back to my desired length. I don't know if it would be possible to do both finger tips and nails. I think it's kind of an either/or situation. But, I've been wrong so many times I've lost count. :biggrin-new:

 

[idealassets]

Yes, but after meeting up at last years LMG, I am convinced you know plenty that's right.

Craig