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One thing I learned early on in my harping career was to carry a functioning nail repair kit at all times. I've had to use it less and less over the years because I gradually got more careful about how I grabbed things, and alos learned how to augment strong nails by eating the right things. As for the nail grit thing, I'm going to try your technique on that. I'll let you know how it goes.

Regarding the classical player - I didn't hear her play but you may be totally right. Whenever someone goes nutso like that over a subject there is a very deep issue going on there. All I can tell you is that I did indeed try the "classic style" once, and all I got for my trouble was pain in my back and shoulders and stiff fingers. Screw DAT. I tell people now that I'd rather play a lifetime all "wrong" than ten more minutes in that "correct" way.

On a more broad note, there are alot of classically trained or traditionalist musicians out there who have let their training get the best of their creativity and sense of invention. I ran into the same problem with classical pianists who will see me play and comment that I don't curve my fingers right. Man, critics abound...but they rarely tell you anything that really matters, when it comes to your music.

This is why I over and over and over harp about hearing people play. Everybody is the greatest till you hear them. Everyone is a critic untill you hear them and they should be more critical of themselves then others.

One thing I have to say is my classical teacher a few years ago was the greatest. He made it relaxed and enjoyable as opposed to the strict disciplened approach. Everyone has there own style and we all have different builds so it is not a one technique fits all kind of deal. He explained that to me. Results, that is the key. If you can play difficult pieces standing on your head and that works for you, then that works "for you". I do believe one has to start with the fundamentals then adjust accordingly. Once you start with bad habits they are very difficult to break and that is no good. I play guitar a weird, but that is what gives me my style. The difference is I know what I am playing and why and I am in control of it.

Try the sanding. I just went and grabbed a piece I use and it is 240 grit. Real fine stuff. Just a light sanding on the underside of the nails to smooth them. Don't be over zealous at first. Fine tune as you go. It really helps me. If it works for you you will eventually get it down to a science and know how much to do for what kind of tone you want.

I am intereted to see how that goes for you so let me know. It may be a huge revelation, or no big deal. I know nothing about harp playing but your still plucking a string so I have to think it will help some.

lol so i have much too much ego ehh? no it's ok i no in this music business that is...music we tend to get lost in the mist of all that is filter good or not mostly i rather be great and the best <3 sherry ok later dude...peace! check my band out sorry i haven't posted any songs up yet but if you really want i can send some lyrics over myspace if you want only if you are serious about music...

lol so i have much too much ego ehh? no it's ok i no in this music business that is...music we tend to get lost in the mist of all that is filter good or not mostly i rather be great and the best <3 sherry ok later dude...peace! check my band out sorry i haven't posted any songs up yet but if you really want i can send some lyrics over myspace if you want only if you are serious about music...

The guys who have been on you about your attitude are serious about music and that is the reason why we have been hard on you. There are players out here who have every right to be arrogant because they have the skills to pay the bills and have proved it. Yet they are helpful. You have proved nothing to anyone. So to the other players out here who have paid their dues and put their time in your attitude rubs them the wrong way.

Maybe your awesome. All we are asking is that you prove it before you start talking down us and giving us attitude ok?

Wegman is right. There are guys on here (I am not one of them) who have busted their behinds in this business and have proven themselves worthy. These guys here are probably some of the best guitarists and bassists that you will run into in your life. They have a lot of proof of what they can do, it is in their audio files and in the way they talk. Hey, look, these guys are very nice guys, they have helped me immensely. They all know music very well, they do not like arrogance, especially if they do not see a reason for it.

Therefore, all we ask of you is to just be kinder and not act so egocentric. Do two things:

1. Post some audio, even if you have to buy a very cheap microphone.
2. Post your lyrics to your songs on the board itself, these guys will give you constructive criticism. Trust me, it is important to have people judge your lyric writing abilities.

So, at any rate, I have no issues with you. Just want you to lighten up the ego. Peace out, GuitarAnatomy.

Regarding fingernails:
Yeah, my right hand nails are longer than normal, and my left hand nails are shorter than normal.
As for the stares - I could care less, because I can do something they can not.
My bigggest problem is trying to scratch an itch w/ my left hand . . . .
.
Also,
There's a little trick I found to minimize nail breakage:
Trim the sides of the nail just a little bit shorter than need be. I've found that almost every breakage starts from the side of the nail, and almost never the center.
So, try trimming the corners just 1/2 of a tad shorter, and that's usually all you need to do.
Since I've started doing this, I've cut my breakage down to 1/2 (or probably more accurately, closer to about 1/5) . . .
Actually, since I started trimming the sides of my nails closer, a broken nail is extrememly rare.

Your right RhythmMan.

I file mine on the sides so they actually are inside the edge of the finger. Makes a huge difference.

Good advice.

lol so i have much too much ego ehh? no it's ok i no in this music business that is...music we tend to get lost in the mist of all that is filter good or not mostly i rather be great and the best <3 sherry ok later dude...peace! check my band out sorry i haven't posted any songs up yet but if you really want i can send some lyrics over myspace if you want only if you are serious about music...

Guitaranatomy...calling Guitaranatomy...I need your TRANSLATION skills again!

OK, what is it? Is there a genetic proclivity of musicians to communicate in run-on sentences devoid of grammar??

lol so i have much too much ego ehh? no it's ok i no in this music business that is...music we tend to get lost in the mist of all that is filter good or not mostly i rather be great and the best <3 sherry ok later dude...peace! check my band out sorry i haven't posted any songs up yet but if you really want i can send some lyrics over myspace if you want only if you are serious about music...

Guitaranatomy...calling Guitaranatomy...I need your TRANSLATION skills again!

OK, what is it? Is there a genetic proclivity of musicians to communicate in run-on sentences devoid of grammar??

Lmao!

I will give it my best shot:

"Lol. So I have too much of an ego? It's okay to be arrogant in music. We tend to get lost in the midst of playing music that is average, and not great. I prefer to be the best as opposed to just average.

Love, Sherry, peace.

P.S. Please check out my band. I am sorry I have not posted any audio yet. But, if you really want an example of my stuff, I can send you some lyrics for now since I have no audio up? But it would have to be through Myspace. Also, I will only send it to you if you are serious about music."

... That is the best I can do. Lol.

Regarding fingernails:
Yeah, my right hand nails are longer than normal, and my left hand nails are shorter than normal.
As for the stares - I could care less, because I can do something they can not.
My bigggest problem is trying to scratch an itch w/ my left hand . . . .
.
Also,
There's a little trick I found to minimize nail breakage:
Trim the sides of the nail just a little bit shorter than need be. I've found that almost every breakage starts from the side of the nail, and almost never the center.
So, try trimming the corners just 1/2 of a tad shorter, and that's usually all you need to do.
Since I've started doing this, I've cut my breakage down to 1/2 (or probably more accurately, closer to about 1/5) . . .
Actually, since I started trimming the sides of my nails closer, a broken nail is extrememly rare.

I have often felt the frustration of basically consigning myself to the harp by having long nails on both hands. Many times I have had the urge to take up another instrument - like the octave mandola, but you know how impossible it is to work a fret bar with long nails. So over the Thanksgiving Holiday, when I was visiting with my family, I did something a little radical for me - I cut the nails on my left hand, so I could....

...help my dad learn some initial guitar chords. The guy bought THREE fabulously expensive guitars, and hadn't touched any of them. Fear of starting? Who knows. But I committed to helping him. So I cut those nails and started in. It was then that I discovered a second problem. After years and years of playing harp, and not having fretted a guitar since about 1985, I found out my fingertips had become PUSSIFIED.

Yep, tender as a baby's bottom. No calluses. That meant after about ten minutes (these were all steel strung acoustics) my fingers hurt like a MO-FO. I had to stop and get my brother (who is an absolutely phenomenal guitarist) to take over as teacher for dad.

Well as of today, my left hand nails have regrown. And I'm looking at my red fingertips wondering if I will ever fret strings again. I doubt it!

Lmao!

I will give it my best shot:

"Lol. So I have too much of an ego? It's okay to be arrogant in music. We tend to get lost in the midst of playing music that is average, and not great. I prefer to be the best as opposed to just average.

Love, Sherry, peace.

P.S. Please check out my band. I am sorry I have not posted any audio yet. But, if you really want an example of my stuff, I can send you some lyrics for now since I have no audio up? But it would have to be through Myspace. Also, I will only send it to you if you are serious about music."

... That is the best I can do. Lol.

Thanks. You're better than Babblefish, dude.

Lmao. Yeah. I some how have progressed in gibberish. I am sorry, mean no offense to anyone when I say this, but how does someone write like that? It would drive me nuts. I mean, when I first started using the internet I did, but it was never that discombobulated. However, the problem could be English is not the official language of a lot of these people, and thus the end result is scattered wordage. *Shrug*

I have no clue. But I should start charging for translations of this stuff, could make an extra couple of bucks on the side. Lmao.

Peace out, GuitarAnatomy.

Many times I have had the urge to take up another instrument - like the octave mandola, but you know how impossible it is to work a fret bar with long nails.

I bet you would be an awesome violinst. Ever give that a thought?

That is the next instrument on the agenda for me to learn.

What pisses me off is that musicians already have a rep as being somewhat undereducated, or uneducated. It's hard to fight that with constant examples coming in to the contrary!

Many times I have had the urge to take up another instrument - like the octave mandola, but you know how impossible it is to work a fret bar with long nails.

I bet you would be an awesome violinst. Ever give that a thought?

That is the next instrument on the agenda for me to learn.

Oh, I wish. My hands are too big. I have pianist hands (13 note span). Violinists do best with small hands. Thanks for the thought, though.