Finger picking

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by Fngrstyl

I would say more than 95% just use three fingers index, middle, ring, but no reason you can use four. There is a good book out on nails and care if your interested...http://www.ricoguitarnails.com/ This product isn't mention in the book, but Rico the author suggested it to me. He discovered this after the book was written. It is called Hoof Alive, and it is awesome stuff. I have been using it for over a year now and my nails as so strong. Also one misconception (although it works for some) is that nails have to be long for fingerstyle players. They do not at all!! You just did a little bit to catch the string after the fingertip. For me the shorter I can get away with the better. For one, a shorter nail means stronger (less likely to break for sure) and two, I want to be able to feel the string with my fingertips too. The bottom is also a common shape used, but like all this find what you like best. The bottom is a great shape for me.

Chad's post is great. I have Chad's CD recordings, so I know what his stuff sounds like. It sounds a lot like mine, and I have similar experience. I keep my left hand (fretting) fingernails very short, and my right hand fingernails are long enough for about 1/16" of white to show, maybe 3/32" max. Longer than that, to me, does not sound as good. I use a Fred Kelly Slick Pick (HEAVY) on my thumb and my fingernails on my index, middle and ring fingers for picking. I purposely keep my right hand pinkie fingernail very short so as not to gouge up the finish on guitars without a pick guard (my pinkie finger is sometimes touching the top of the guitar).

The nail shapes that Chad has shown are how I approach my nails, too. I don't want my nails to look strange to the rest of the world, so I keep them short. Shorter nails provide a less strident tone with what I think is a fuller sound. Even at age 66 I still drink a fair amount of milk daily, and that keeps my nails very strong. I don't do anything else for my nails except file them to shape with an emory board. I also have some very fine emory boards for polishing the nail ends. Polishing seems to make a big difference on the tone.

Best of luck to you on starting the guitar!!

- Glenn

[lestergibson]

Originally Posted by Acoustic_Stevo

I have my nails quite short, only about 1.5mm of white showing. Any longer and I think the sound is too scratchy.
The only time I use the pinky is for artificial harmonics.
Gordon Giltrap plays with a plectrum and his pinky only. Very unique style.

He also uses his thumbnail as well as the pick:

http://www.giltrap.co.uk/discussion/...ic.php?f=4&t=5

[BobbyBadd]

Oddly enough, I keep my index nail shorter, primarily using pad, but just enough nail for occasional emphasis. My middle, is a bit longer, not too much, as I use nail & pad, depending. My ring finger, I keep the longest; primarily use nail, mostly on the E string, getting a good ring. It's also my strongest nail.
Hard as nails clear coat, always keep em smooth. All pad for thumb, filing the nail back.

[saxonblue]

If you're a raw beginner (or not even that far into it) as I suspect there's a lot more basic fundamentals to get your head around before you need to pay too much attention to your nails, especially if, as you say, they grow super quick anyway.

That said I have no more than about 1mm of clear nail on fingers 1,2 & 3 of my right (picking) hand showing. I have to deal with construction work the rest of the time & have other hobbies/pursuits that would make the nails vulnerable, not that there's any need to grow them any further as there's enough of them out there to work just fine.

[Fngrstyl]

Pretty good picture!



Also Onymyrrhe is good stuff to use to help make nails strong.



and here is the Hard As Hoof

[Rmz76]

Originally Posted by DanPanther

Does anyone just use the tips of the fingers, rather than, long nails ?
Dan

I finger pick with no nails. You loose a little volume but on the right guitar you gain dynamics. Here's a short clip of an intro to a song I wrote. On the recording I played this on my Ibanez AC240 with well trimmed finger tips (no nails, no pick). It's gives me the sound I'm going after.

https://soundcloud.com/waynedeats76/...-original-demo

Your guitar of choice needs to be a good match your playing technique.

[ewalling]

I keep the nails quite short so that the string runs off the fingerpad and just catches the nail. I naturally use thumb and three fingers; however, some years back I read Stefan Grossman saying that to get a more rhythmic, punchy sound he recommended using thumb plus two fingers, and there are some pieces I now play with just the two. Apparently, many of the famous early fingerpickers used just thumb and one finger, including Merle Travis and Gary Davis.

[rogthefrog]

Originally Posted by DanPanther

Does anyone just use the tips of the fingers, rather than, long nails ?
Dan

I believe Laurence Juber is a no-nails player. I'd say the majority of fingerstyle players use nails (natural or enhanced), many use finger picks, and some use no nails.

[Fngrstyl]

Originally Posted by rogthefrog

I believe Laurence Juber is a no-nails player. I'd say the majority of fingerstyle players use nails (natural or enhanced), many use finger picks, and some use no nails.

Correct he is. Juber is one of my favorite players! The man is amazing and a great guy to boot. I do wish he used at least a bit of nail. His lows are too muddy for me. Here are two samples of Juber's "Pass the Buck

With nails and a thumbpick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43SnhSZ_SDM

Juber with all flesh

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

Personally, I like to hear the bass more clearly in songs. I wish I could play half as good as Laurence or Brooks!