Lost my nails - need a guitar change!

[Dave68]

Hi - I'm new to this forum and have just joined in the hope that someone can help with a problem I have.
I've played classical guitar for 30 years and have always taken reasonable care of my nails as I feel they're crucial to the sound I want. However, a couple of years ago another hobby began to encroach on my playing. I took up pottery! Over the past couple of years I've really taken to it and I'm at the point where It's becoming a viable small business - so I make lots of pots. Long nails and throwing pottery just aren't conducive to each other and for about a year I've not touched my guitar - and I'm really missing playing. I've tried to play without nails, but really don't like the sound or lack of volume. So, I reckon it's time for a different guitar. Does anyone have any advice on a guitar that has a great sound when played without nails? I'm quite happy to move over to steel strings, but I'm a bit concerned about the narrow neck. I've looked on line, but tend to be overwhelmed by the choice of guitars out there. When you've always played nylon it's a bit of a steep learning curve learning about what's available. Can anyone help?

[Vito Simplicio]

Hi Dave,

Welcome to Delcamp!

One easy solution is not to grow them long. Others will come along with some good ideas.

In the meantime now that you’ve joined us, please take the time to introduce yourself here.   

 :merci: Vito

[James Lister]

Hi Dave,

As Vito says, some players seem to manage to play with very short nails. If that's not an option for you, then you might be able to find a guitar/string combination that works better with just flesh. In general terms, you probably want to look for a lightly built, responsive guitar, and perhaps try gut or nylgut strings. These are a bit pricey, but give you a brighter tone which helps when playing with flesh. A lot will depend on what sort of budget you have. Unfortunately, it's pretty hard to find mass produced guitars that are not over-built.

James

[Praeludium]

Have a look at Rob McKillop's and Luthval's' videos, on YouTube. They play historical instruments - but also guitar (and many others things and curiosity for Rob McKillop) with flesh.
Using either a romantic guitar or small-sized guitars (620mm scale length or less).

I haven't seek but you should be able to find a correct Yamaha or Alhambra - or any major classical guitar brand known for its quality) guitar at a 3/4 size or whatever for a reasonable price (:
You can play either with nylon strings or with gut strings (aquila's Nylgut are very nice, and they'd fit a small guitar perfectly).

I'd recommend you to watch McKillop's video about his technique. If you don't need virtuoso technique (HVL etudes, many pieces full of high-speed arpeggios using the "a" finger, tremolos (if you want to bring it up to "concert speed"), which is probably the case if you're playing as an amateur, it'd probably fit quite well your needs.


edit : Of course there's also the short nails approach (:
If you go through a no-nails/flesh phase, you'll probably find that you need much more shorter nails than before.

[AsturiasFan]

If you played for 30 years, you can certainly learn how to play without nails. Someone that isn't getting good volume without nails simply hasn't found a correct technique. IMO the main difficulty is getting consistent points of contact since the strong sensations for correct contact with the nail are no longer available. Most nail-less players seem to be pluckers -- they pull up on the string by coming from behind and underneath. Roland Schlieder, as far as I know, has the only readily available information on the mechanics of plucking. His technique is pretty basic but what but what might distinguish it is that at least pedagogically deep contact is the basic form -- of course shallow contact must also be learned. My CG teacher plays without nails and he like Schlieder can play with deep or shallow contact as the situation calls for. One advantage of plucking is that it works whether you have no nails, short nails, or long nails. You might learn much faster but it took me months to get used to plucking with deep contact points and then more months to get shallow contact points down. Its difficult at at first but gradually becomes easier.

[clsgtr]

Because you are working with clay, there is a possibility that your hands become very dry and therefore your nails are brittle. Perhaps making a habit of using lots of hand moisturizer shortly after working with in clay would be helpful, as well as shortening your nails so that they do not tear. Obviously, you enjoy the classical guitar and it would be nice to continue with it if possible. Good luck!

[simonm]

Fingerpicks.
One guy I know developed very soft nails (bend like paper) as a side effect to an accident. His solution is to use finger picks. He makes his own by cutting up plastic duct for wiring and shaping it to suit his fingers. The metal ones were too hard on the strings and the bought plastic ones don't last that long so it costs a lot, hence his d.i.y. solution. He makes really nice guitars too.

He said that it took about 6 weeks of solid practice before he got used to it well enough to play to his satisfaction. He certainly sounded good to me.

[Dave68]

Thanks for the suggestions. i think I'm going to try to play with the nails much shorter. I think the moisturiser is a good idea as my skin does become very dry as do the nails. I'll let you know how I get on. i wish I'd discovered this forum before!

[Vito Simplicio]

i wish I'd discovered this forum before!

It's never too late, Dave. We are glad you are now with us.

[Tarbaby]

Hi Dave and welcome!

Our esteemed host, Professor Delcamp, plays without nails. But he's submitted a video of him trying out Alaska Piks here. They might be a possible alternative for you.

Good luck!

Alan

[simonm]

Hi Dave and welcome!

Our esteemed host, Professor Delcamp, plays without nails. But he's submitted a video of him trying out Alaska Piks here. They might be a possible alternative for you.

Good luck!

Alan

This is pretty much exactly what the picks look like that the guy I mentioned in the earlier post uses except he makes his own.

[nylonguitarplayer]

I'd recommend you to watch McKillop's video about his technique. If you don't need virtuoso technique (HVL etudes, many pieces full of high-speed arpeggios using the "a" finger, tremolos (if you want to bring it up to "concert speed"), which is probably the case if you're playing as an amateur, it'd probably fit quite well your needs.


edit : Of course there's also the short nails approach (:
If you go through a no-nails/flesh phase, you'll probably find that you need much more shorter nails than before.

Interesting how you brought Villa-lobos up as an example. I've recently stopped using nails and so far the only thing which I cannot execute is etude 11 where the 'a' finger is used. Doesn't sound right at all, so I'm trying to grow just a bit of my 'a' fingernail to try and execute that upstroke fingertip technique.

[Zixxer2Go]

I think I've resigned myself to playing without nails...I'm always doing something around the house and my job that tears 'em up; painting, cleaning, sheet rock, building...just name it! Plus the M is split...tsk.

[Praeludium]

I'd recommend you to watch McKillop's video about his technique. If you don't need virtuoso technique (HVL etudes, many pieces full of high-speed arpeggios using the "a" finger, tremolos (if you want to bring it up to "concert speed"), which is probably the case if you're playing as an amateur, it'd probably fit quite well your needs.


edit : Of course there's also the short nails approach (:
If you go through a no-nails/flesh phase, you'll probably find that you need much more shorter nails than before.

Interesting how you brought Villa-lobos up as an example. I've recently stopped using nails and so far the only thing which I cannot execute is etude 11 where the 'a' finger is used. Doesn't sound right at all, so I'm trying to grow just a bit of my 'a' fingernail to try and execute that upstroke fingertip technique.

Why not growing the pinky for this ?
If there's even a little bit of nails on one finger the sound will be uneven..

[rogerleec]

I am very new to playing the guitar. I especially wanted to learn classical guitar but was really worried about my nails. They
constantly split and break off even without playing a guitar. After searching the subject on the internet I decited to try acrylic nails.
I love them. They are very tough and take very much abuse. Every 2 weeks I go to my nail lady and have them back filled and it is not
real expensive. Of course I only have them on the right hand and they have worked well for me. If I did not do this I don't believe
I could fingerpick any kind of guitar using nails. I would need to go to using a pick or fingerpick without nails. But the acrylic nails give me the
volumn and performance I was looking for.