Acoustic Guitar Central: Fingernails 101

All Articles
Guitar Lessons
Guitars and Gear
CD, DVD, Book Reviews
Summer Workshops

RESOURCES

Players' Choice Awards
For Beginners
For Professionals
For Teachers
Guitar Talk Discussion
Forums
Video Gallery
The Acoustic Café Online

ACOUSTIC GUITAR MAGAZINE

Current Issue
Back Issues

SHOP

The Store
Acoustic Guitar Method
Acoustic Guitar Books
Downloads and Albums

WIN

Win a guitar modeled after
   Elvis Presley’s Martin D-28!
Win a Box of Ernie Ball's New
   Coated Acoustic Strings
Win a Córdoba Guitar
Win $1,500 in Players'
   Choice Gear!

MUSIC DOWNLOADS

Go to iTunes to download music featured on acousticguitar.com.

Sponsor: D'Addario & Co.
<br><![if lt IE 4]> <br><script src='http://servedbyadbutler.com/adserve/;ID=147596;size=88x31;setID=102775;type=js' type='text/javascript'> <br></script> <br><noscript> <br><a href='http://servedbyadbutler.com/go2/;ID=147596;size=88x31;setID=102775'> <br><img src='http://servedbyadbutler.com/adserve.ibs/;ID=147596;size=88x31;setID=102775;type=img' border='0' height='31' width='88' alt=''></a> <br></noscript><![endif]> <br>

Printable Version E-mail this story

Fingernails 101
Whether you favor natural or synthetic nails, here are the key points to keep in mind about using and maintaining them.

By Doug Young

/Media_Files/Lessons/Common/HeresHowAG164-300-0606.jpg

Photo Credit: Doug Young

Guitarist gatherings are probably the only place you’re likely to encounter a group of guys comparing their fingernails. And with good reason: For both male and female fingerstylists, nails play a key role in the character and caliber of the instrument’s sound. Fingernails can help you generate more volume and a brighter, more consistent tone. Of course, it’s possible to play with bare fingers or with fingerpicks, but most guitarists who want to play in this style will use nails.

Some fingerstylists, including many professional guitarists, take the step of applying artificial nails, finding that they are stronger (and therefore last longer) and allow for more aggressive attack on the strings than even the best-kept natural nails do. Here we’ll examine the options for and care of both natural and artificial fingernails.

Natural Nails
If you play mostly nylon-stringed instruments, or have strong nails that don’t break or chip easily, your natural nails are the simplest choice. Steel strings are harder on nails, but unless you play aggressively, you should be able to use natural nails with some attention to nail care. To get the best tone, your nail tips need to be smooth and even, which is easier to achieve and maintain if your nails are naturally strong. Good nutrition is essential for healthy nails, so be sure to eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, and take proper vitamins.

Beyond good nutrition, you can strengthen your nails with brush-on products available in most drug stores. Some apply nutrients that improve nail health and prevent splitting. Others, like Nutra Nail Maximum Hardener or Sally Hansen’s Hard As Nails, create a thick coating that supports and strengthens the nail once it dries.

The contour of the nail plays a role in how smoothly it glides over the strings, so the shape of your fingers and nails will also determine whether natural nails will work for you. Nails that curl under are especially troublesome, because they tend to catch on the strings.

Artificial Nails
If you find that your natural nails break or wear down too easily, or if you want more volume, artificial nails may be the answer. Guitarists have discovered many novel ways to reinforce their own nails. John Renbourn superglued pieces of Ping-Pong balls to his nails for many years, and some players also use them for temporary repairs. Others combine superglue with baking powder or even layers of Kleenex to build up a strong coating on the nail. You can also find stick-on plastic nails in most drug stores; trying them out is probably the easiest way to determine how well artificial nails might work for you.

Another option is to have acrylic nails applied at a nail salon. Most nail salons offer several options, including gel and silk wraps, but regular acrylics are probably the most common choice among guitarists. Tell the manicurist that you play guitar and want only one hand done. Also indicate that you’ll need a thicker coating than the salon’s usual customers—and that you don’t need the polish. Skip your pinky, and if you use a thumbpick, you may want to skip your thumb, as well. Prices vary; expect to pay $15–$20 for an initial visit. The quality of nail salons varies quite a bit. Ask for recommendations from others who have their nails done regularly, and try to find a manicurist who has worked at the same location for a while and has a loyal clientele.

Acrylic nails typically last three to four weeks, at which point your own nails grow out—you’ll see them near the cuticles—and the artificial nails may start to separate from your own nails. You’ll then need to return to the salon for a “fill,” which is usually a little less expensive. It’s important to know that moving to acrylic nails is a big commitment. Not only do they require repeated visits to the nail salon, but if you decide to remove them, your nails will be weaker and thinner until they grow out. Just getting used to wearing acrylics 24/7 takes time and patience.

Hygiene is extremely important when using artificial nails. Don’t allow anything to work its way between the nail and the coating—wear gloves when gardening, for example. Dirt and other sources of germs can lead to nasty funguses and other health issues. Attention to cleanliness will pay big dividends over time.

Nail Maintenance
Whether you choose natural or synthetic nails, you’ll need to experiment to find the right length and shape—and use the proper tools to achieve them. A good diamond-embedded file provides more control than clippers when shaping (and is less likely to split your nails). Files that combine as many as four different grades of coarseness are also very useful. You can shape your nails with the coarse parts of the file, and then use the finer sections to smooth them. When your nail is perfectly smooth, you should be able to glide it over a guitar string and not feel any unevenness.

Nail length and shape are personal choices; it’s good to leave between 1/16 and 1/8 of an inch past the end of your finger, but you may find that a different length works best for your style of playing. Longer nails provide more attack, but may also create a harsher sound, or slow you down by creating more drag on the strings. The most important thing is to have a smooth, continuous edge with no sharp or jagged angles. When shaping the nail, observe how and where your nail touches the strings. Make sure the nail can move smoothly across the strings without catching. A nail that glides smoothly across the strings will feel more comfortable and create a richer sound.

Sooner or later, you are likely to break a nail. For many guitarists, activities away from the guitar create the biggest risk of nail damage. Working on your car, gardening, shooting the hoops with your kids—even just opening a car door—all have the potential to break or tear a nail. You can find several products for repairing nails at the drug store; usually these consist of a small patch that is superglued to the nail. You can also use superglue with Kleenex or other methods (as mentioned earlier) to repair a broken or chipped nail. Another option is to cut the nail short enough to eliminate the damage and just do without. If you do that, you may also want to trim the remaining nails to match, so you have a consistent touch.

Resources
For more information on the use and care of fingernails for guitarists, see Scott Tenant’s Pumping Nylon (Alfred Publishing, 1995), which has a brief but useful section on nails; and Charles Duncan’s The Art of Playing Classical Guitar (Summy-Burcher, 1980), which has an entire chapter on shaping nails, as well as a fascinating discussion about tone production and technique as they relate to nails.

PAGE:
1 2

This article also appears in Acoustic Guitar, Issue #164

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES

Give a Gift
Manage Your Account
See Table of Contents
Listen to This Issue

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Yes! Please send me my trial subscription issue of Acoustic Guitar, the player's #1 resource for reviews, technique tips, sheet music, and much more. I'll pay just $32.95, and receive a full one-year subscription (12 issues in all). That's a savings of $38.45 off the newsstand price! In addition, you will receive 24/7 access to our exclusive web content.

We are so sure you will be satisfied with your subscription, we are willing to offer a 100% money back guarantee!

FREE LESSONS! Pay now and get 15 free acoustic guitar lesson downloads! Click here.

First Name		Last Name

Address		Address 2

City

State or Province

Zip		Country

E-mail

Home Subscribe My Account Advertise Job Opportunities Help About Us Privacy Policy Contact Us
© 2007 String Letter Publishing, Inc., David A. Lusterman, Publisher.