(ask) nail tip shape for fingerstyle playing

[dark_enstein]

This question still remain big question for me...
i'd like to ask you about the shape of right hand nail tip, which one is better, "V" shape nail tip so it will be a little bit sharp nail tip or "U" shape nail tip so it will be like flat end nail tip..
because when my nail get too long, it will affect my plucking speed and the sound, but how should i trim my nail?? which shape is better, flat or a lil' bit sharp nail will create consistent sound and comfortable for playing fingerstyle..
i know it's sound silly, but seriously, this matter really giving big impact
thanks in advance..

[mmmaak]

My preference is: short nails, U-shaped, slightly longer towards the thumb, buffed at the tips.

Looking from the palm-side, there is less than 1mm of nail "white" visible. I find that this gives me the best combination of nail and flesh.

[dekutree64]

I don't shape my nails specifically like a U or V. I basically only pay attention to the thumb-side edge, since that's all I actually touch the strings with. It's a smooth curve, more angled than a U but more rounded than a V, developed by experimentation. I just clip to approximate shape, try plucking a few patterns, and if any nails snag at all on the strings, file off the part that snagged. Eventually you'll either file the whole nail off, or get a nice curve that glides smoothly and effortlessly across the string :)

[ccasey]

This is ultimately a matter of personal preference, and there are lots of different opinions on what's best. I wouldn't make them too sharp a "v" though. Look at a introductory classical guitar method (like Parkening's) and it will have some pics of proper nail shaping for classical playing, which I would think will work generally. I think Scott Tenant has some in his Pumping Nylon book as well.
Chris

[JoeNewbie]

I keep mine in "U" shape but only because it makes my nails more resistent. Don't notice any difference in sound.

[mmmaak]

I keep mine in "U" shape but only because it makes my nails more resistent. Don't notice any difference in sound.
The shape of the nail at the point where it contacts/releases the string makes a very discernible difference to tone and fluidity. For me, anyway :)

[ljguitar]

I don't shape my nails specifically like a U or V. I basically only pay attention to the thumb-side edge...
Hi dekutree64...
You nearly snuck by unnoticed - so hello and welcome to the forum! We love to have players around who have some experience under the belt.

Hope you enjoy the forum...

[dark_enstein]

hmm..
seems everyone have their own opinion..
but at this time i trying "U" shaped, just clip my nail right after i wrote this thread..

i guess i have to wait for 2 weeks later to make another experiment with "V" shaped :D:D

but in general i preffer "V" shaped, well but if done so, in the morning i'll find my face, my neck got lotta scratch because its sharp tip :D:D

anyone have another opinion, i used to think like this "is every guitar player, especially classic guitar player, do some manicure?? their nail so shinny and so smooth also beautiful"

[mmmaak]

but at this time i trying "U" shaped, just clip my nail right after i wrote this thread..
Whatever you choose, make sure you *file* (buffing is optional).

A ragged edge is going to give you "brittle" and inconsistent tone.

[raptordigits]

I've used finger style for decades. I don't pay much attention to the shape of the nails. A nice U-shaped nail this month might be a lop-sided beast the next. My nails tend to all be a bit different month to month due to mis-swings with the hammer, a wrench slipping, catching a ball the wrong way, etc.

My only attention to nails is to give them a little trim once a week or so 'before' they break on their own. Less chance of ripping an edge lengthwise down the middle of the nail. I've never buffed or filed my nails but perhaps my classical playing is less precise than that of others. With Latin music nail shape or length is 'each to their own'. I tend to use every edge, the back, etc. of my nails without much thought to it. Five fingers used in different ways adds a lot of weapons in the arsenal.

[deltoid]

I never clip my nails, only file them. I hit them about every other day with a file and keep them relatively short with a rounded U shape. I can wear out a nail file after about 3 or 4 uses.

[random works]

I follow the curvature of the fingertip and keep them short. I just use medium grit sandpaper to knock them down a bit, then 400 grit to buff them.

[anton]

My nail shape varies with finger. My ring finger nail tends to follow the contour of the tip of the finger. My other two fingers are more ramped, shorter on the thumb side of the finger.

I suggest Pumping Nylon as well, great book.

[Doug Young]

I slightly ramp mine, similar to what's described in pumping nylon. Ideally, I want to hit the string right where the left edge of my nail joins with the skin, and glide the nail across. Works better with some fingers than others, and it's hard to keep it consistent. For me, buffing is not optional, it's critical to getting nails smooth enough. I use the Luthier Cloth Nail File, which goes up to something outrageous like 8000 grit. Everyone's different, tho. One of the most surprising things I've seen was Tony McManus using a file to deliberately rough up the edge of his nails. He likened it to rosening a bow. So whatever works for you.

[wcap]

On classical guitar I seem to get the best tone when my nails come to a sort of blunt rounded point. Not really pointy, but sort of (is this what you mean, Doug, by ramping them?) - I guess what I'm sort of doing (or striving for) is shaping the ends of my nails to about the same shape as the picking end of a typical rounded-tip flatpick (like an ordinary Dunlop pick). This works well for me on steel string guitars too.

I don't keep my nails as long as I see some classical players doing (some of these folks have REALLY long nails). I think I might have a bit better right hand control than average (?) and I get away with shorter nails, but also keeping my nails too long is counterproductive because once they get past a certain length they are really likely to break or crack, and then I'm worse off than if I kept them a little shorter.

I also need to buff the nails. What I have found works really well is the Revlon Shape-N-Buff (scroll down on this web page and you'll find it: http://beautytools.revlon.com/aspx/manicure/all_things_manicure.aspx ). This has basically 6 grades of "sandpaper" on a convenient cushioned backing, ranging from quite coarse for shaping to extremely fine for final polishing of the edge. I need to watch my nails carefully and keep a very smooth edge, both for good sound, and to prevent splitting and such. I keep several Shape-N-Buffs at home, one at work in my desk, and I even take one along when I travel in case my nails need attention. My daughter says I've turned into a girl!

I find that keeping nails in good shape for guitar playing is really a pain in the neck. And I sometimes resort to using superglue to do repairs. But it is worth it - I sound so much better on guitar with good nails.

[Doug Young]

Here's Scott Tennant describing how to shape nails, including ramping

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R32mmUHCJDk

Also check out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad3Vhs7IpNU

[benplaut]

I ramp mine l>r (pinkey r>l), keep them medium length (barely showing from palm side), file about once a week, and buff every day or two with 1500grit sandpaper or a receipt. Shape helps make the string slide off the finger more easily, but I've found that polish is most important to get full, fat tone.

[dark_enstein]

never thinking about using sandpaper before, just file my nail, to make it smooth and not keep making "clank" sound because of my nail stuck on the string..
but i guess i've found the comfortable shape, "U" shaped-file-smooth so it will make me more fluids to play the guitar, and able to pluck the string faster...

[darkwing]

The big thing with me was always the way my nails kept hanging on things and notching and/or breaking. I finally figured out that the weakest part is the sides. So now I file the sides right down to nothing, and round off the middles a bit, so they end up being sort of oval-shaped, but narrower, of course. They are much more stable, and accurate as well. I don't let them get too long, just protruding a little bit beyond the fingertip as I look at them palm up. Works for me.

[Foster]

I play nylon strings mostly. I've been cultivating my nails for, oh 40 years or so. I keep the index and middle fingers shaped to the contour of the finger, just visible over the finger as I look at my palm. I keep the ring finger a little longer, and the little finger longer still, to compensate for the finger length and the straighter angle of attack to the higher strings. The thumbnail I keep at a moderate length, I'd say.

And since 1990 or so, I've been seeing a manicurist on a regular basis for acrylic reinforcements on my picking nails. It goes on as a paste and quickly dries extremely hard, fairly thick and durable as all get out. I use a diamond file to trim them to length and shape them, and a standard 3-way buffer board to smooth and polish them.

The advantage is I have all the strength and picking power of fingerpicks without the hardware factor. I use quite a few flamenco techniques in my playing, which get pretty aggressive against the strings and are hard on your nails. Before I started using acrylics, I had a difficult time keeping enough nail length, as I'd have to file them so often to keep the edges smooth. But with the acrylics, I do my nails before I go to the gig, and I'm good to know for the duration. Plus, just like using a heavier flat pick improves tone, I get improved tone and volume in my playing, more than I could ever achieve with only my natural nails.

I went into this topic in greater detail some years ago over at my website, the article (http://www.stringdancer.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=36) is still there if you'd like to read it.