Nails or no nails?

[Ironwood]

I prefer to play with nails because it helps to give individual notes a certain clarity that playing without does not. My problem has been that my nails don't seem to ever be hard or tough enough not to crack or break easily. Encouraged by other acoustic guitarists, I started using silk, super glue and plastic filler, then filing them accordingly. That worked well once I became accustomed to the slightly bulkier nail. However, after a period of years, I had to stop building up my nails and immediately noticed that my natural nails appeared to have become more susceptible to breaking. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Flesh only still doesn't sound right to me (although it does work for others), so have to limp along with only a bit of nail.

[CuriousGuitar]

I have been playing with nails for about 8 months. Last week, I decided to file my nails all the way down to see how I liked playing without nails. I'm thinking of trying to learn viola and I wouldn't want nails when playing pizzicato. I was shocked to find how different playing the guitar was without my nails. I did not like it! I wasn't able to roll my chords smoothly, I produced a much more "thumpy" sound, and my fingers kept slipping off the strings. I'm sure if I spent months learning to play without nails I would get a better tone and not have problems with technique, but I don't see myself doing that in the near future. For me, playing with nails is the way to go.

[AsturiasFan]

Yes! This topic is a Delcamp favorite. Glise is one, but I don't know if there are others, that say one should develop some proficiency without nails before going to nails. My own personal opinion is that Glise is correct, and that playing without nails forces one into developing more control of their fingers. Why not alternate between the two to develop a well rounded technique? Perhaps if playing without nails is difficult for someone or if they think they have to not play because of a nail break perhaps they should practice without nails.

[jeric524]

For me, nails are for ima only (tremolo).

[jkircoff]

I use nails for i, m, and a. I have nail growth on p but sometimes I just use flesh depending on the sound I want. I also find shorter nails to be easier to control than longer nails -- I'm sure this is due to my relative inexperience with the classical guitar (I've only been playing it for 3 years).

[Praeludium]

A lot of guitarists, especially nowadays, play with relatively short nails, included some great concertists.

[jkircoff]

A lot of guitarists, especially nowadays, play with relatively short nails, included some great concertists.

It is thought by many (including myself) that longer nails are needed to get better and a wider variance of sounds. This may or may not be true -- my relative inexperience does not allow me to give a fully informed opinion! : )

[Praeludium]

As far as I know, famous guitarist who played/play with short nails include Aguado, Roland Dyens, I think the Romero family, Bream has short nails on some videos and very long nails on others, and so on.
It actually depends on what you call short nails.

[mverive]

Personally, I prefer playing with nails, since it gives me a wider range of tone and volume (I play with a harpist, and her volume totally drowns me out if I play without nails). However, my nails have deep longitudinal grooves and split easily, so periodically I have to file them down. Plus, I have twice injured my RH m finger, avulsing the nail both times, and now the nail not only has grooves, but has a "dip" in it that give the nail an "S" shape, so filing it - even with extremely fine nail files or emery cloth - thins the "dipped" area out excessively, making it prone to splitting at that point.

When I have to file them I find that I subconsciously change the angle of my RH fingers to get *some* nail on the strings, so I do what I can to keep my RH nails in great shape. It's an exercise in futility at times, but I love CG too much to call it quits.

Of course, my LH nails take all the abuse I can dish out, and they grow stronger than my RH nails!

Mike

[mverive]

I prefer to play with nails because it helps to give individual notes a certain clarity that playing without does not. My problem has been that my nails don't seem to ever be hard or tough enough not to crack or break easily. Encouraged by other acoustic guitarists, I started using silk, super glue and plastic filler, then filing them accordingly. That worked well once I became accustomed to the slightly bulkier nail. However, after a period of years, I had to stop building up my nails and immediately noticed that my natural nails appeared to have become more susceptible to breaking. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Flesh only still doesn't sound right to me (although it does work for others), so have to limp along with only a bit of nail.

Natural nails are composed of sheets of keratin. When you glue artificial nails on them, the glue has a tendency to pull up a layer of keratin, thinning out the nail in the process. Even acrylic and gel nails that don't use separate glue pull on the keratin layers the same way.

Mike

[jimmyz1972]

I think that long nails inhibit tone variences, with nail it is what it is with both flesh and nail you can balance or favor one or the other, just opinion of course

[jeff_hatcher]

Nails, but no longer than they need to be. The pads are nice for some purposes, but I don't think you can get the clarity, volume, and brightness you can achieve using nails.

[velcro]

Yes I"m In the nail camp. Even though they are week and tend to break. But the tone is so much better with the nails. Short nails is my preference though you need to be more accurate I find.

[damien]

I try to keep my nails as short as possible.
I know many great guitarists play with nails.But I have never been able to make the practical commitment to growing them.and besides I found them cumbersome for day to day life.
Reassuringly I have heard that Tarrega preferred to play without nails. So I guess it can't be all bad to go without nails ?

[George Crocket]

Hi Damien.

Welcome to the Delcamp classical guitar forum.

If you have not already done so, please have a look at our welcome page for more information about the forum and its rules, then please introduce yourself here for a proper welcome.