Comments on: Classical Guitar and Fingernails

By: Edward

Edward — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 01:47:41 +0000

Check out guitarist Phil Keaggy. He’s missing half of his middle RH finger. He’s not a ‘Classical Guitarist’ but a ‘Finger-style’ player. He will knock your socks off. Ray Charles was blind. Stevie Wonder is blind. J.S. Bach was blind in later years. Beethoven was deaf in later years when he wrote what some call his greastest works. Thats right, deaf. Itshak Pearlman is wheelchair bound and is one of the worlds greatest violinists. Django Rienhardt had a severly burned left hand. I’ve seen people play the piano with their toes. There are thousands of handicapped musicians who are incredibly talanted in spite of (or maybe because of) their supposed handicaps. In fact, there are thousand of artists and athletes and people from all walks of life who have handicaps, some without use of their limbs, some who don’t even haven limbs, who excell in their chosen fields. Do some research on the internet or go to the library and to some research to find their stories.

By: Brian Smith

Brian Smith — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 01:38:30 +0000

I leave mine equal to the end of my finger tip. This allows me to use either flesh or nail so I can add color as a piece demands

By: John

John — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 05:10:46 +0000

Bill,

If you love classical guitar there is no reason why you should not try. You will have challenges, certainly the traditional right hand movements in certain cases will not be possible. However, by using non-traditional techniques (maybe you can use your pinky finger?) you should be able to play a lot of really good music. A lot of playing requires alternating the index and second finger – which you should have no trouble with.

Music is where the heart is – never let anyone discourage you because you are limited from the “traditional” style. Give it a go – and have fun. My experience is people are blessed not only by the music but by the heart of the performer – sounds like you’d be great. Just have to be a little creative.

By: Bill Strohm

Bill Strohm — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 23:52:45 +0000

I am considering classical guitar playing.
I HAVE A PROBLEM. I am missing about three quarters of an inch of my middle finger of my right hand.
I wonder if anyone out there has a similiar issue and if so what have they done for it.
I wonder if some form of pick might do the job or should I just stick to the acoustic and forget about the classical and flamenco which I really like.
I am a beginner so I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot.
I would appreciate any comments on my dilema.

Bill Strohm

By: Neil

Neil — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 12:45:47 +0000

A friend gave me a bottle of ECRINAL which has worked wonders on my fragile nails, but takes a couple of months to kick in if the blogged product is not available in your area. Absorbed into he nail, it is not cosmetic at all.

By: John Michaels

John Michaels — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:03:46 +0000

To increase the flexibility and health of my nails I’ve been using CND SolarOil. I put it’s description down below. It can be found at a fair price at most beauty supply stores. I got 15ml for like $8. I also have been using some Hard as Hoof here and there. But, from what I understand it’s good to get the nails flexible and healthy to prevent them from breaking. Next, according to a medical website the only thing you can eat to improve your nails, besides and overall well balanced diet, is biotin. They recommend 250mg per day. I am kind of tall and way 210 so I take two now and then. This is all in last ditch effort to get some guitar playing long lasting nails. Oh, one more thing…got some dish washing gloves, too. They say getting your nails wet often and washing them leads to breakage. I did a lot of searching and reading on the net for all this info. I’ll chime back in in about 6 months to say how it’s all going.

CND SolarOil:

A synergistic blend of naturally light oils and Vitamin E, designed to deeply penetrate and protect skin and nails.

WHAT IT DOES:
Jojoba Oil carries Vitamin E deeply into skin to help reduce visible signs of aging. Naturally light oils keep skin soft and supple. Keeps natural nails, nail color and nail enhancements tough and flexible. Repeated use drives oils deeper into natural nail.

WHY YOU NEED IT:
Super-penetrating formula conditions skin and nails.

By: Derek

Derek — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:05:13 +0000

Because of the business I am in (fingernail conditioner), I have had a lot of contact with classical guitar players. Rico from RicoGuitarNails.com might be able to help the guy whose wife won’t let him grow the nails he needs (by the way, MusicianMan may have it right

Anyway, from Rico’s website… 1) Finding a way to attach an artificial fingernail without using a toxic substance and which can be put on and taken off easily with no damage to the natural nail

I am not affiliated with Rico in any way – other than he uses FlexiNail and loves it so much he recommends FlexiNail on his site. Anyway, thought this might help out Max. Derek

By: _MusicMan_

_MusicMan_ — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:57:18 +0000

Omg….your MRS forbidds you to grow long nails for playing classical guitar.
I would definately replace the wife!
No doubt about it.

By: Yairi

Yairi — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:20:55 +0000

It’s a tricky thing for sure.

Somehow I find it more natural to play without nails, I prefer using only my fingertips, they provide a warm, smooth tone rather than that rougher, brighter sound of the nails. I don’t play classical pieces but bossa nova and similar genres, it might be that I find more difficult to play with the nails because I have been unconsciously developing my fingertip style playing right from my first guitar lesson. However, I navigated to this article while looking for advice on whether I should use nails or not, so I’m open to change, even though I find it challenging not to produce harsh noises and play equally loud on each strings with nails.

And if it isn’t tricky enough, I’m planning to learn some flamenco while keeping on playing bossa nova. Probably the solution is fingerpicks. We’ll see.

By: Chris Rushton

Chris Rushton — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:57:31 +0000

I find it incredibly hard to get anything like the best tone possible from my guitar without nails on my right hand. They need to be silky smooth too. I polish them with glass paper and on fabric (usually denim jeans). The sound is far more punchy and direct.

I also find it very difficult to play technically harder pieces without nails. It just feels sloppy!