General Music Chat

Hi, folks. I have a problem.
First, here's my background: I've been playing acoustic guitar since the 70's.
And I've been getting pretty heavily into fingerpicking, during the last few years.
I've learned enough, now, to convert several songs from strumming with a pick, to finger picking.
(try playing "With a Little Help from My friends," by finger-picking every chord, sometime . . .)
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Here's my problem. If I break a fingernail on my right hand, I can't use that finger to pick with.
My fingertip produces a dull sound, and it throws the timing too far off to even consider using, except in extremely slow songs . . .
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And I will not use the metal finger-pickers that go over one's fingers. It's going to be just my hand and my guitar.
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Anyone know of any vitamine supplements or dietary changes or anything else that will strengthen one's fingernails?

Well, the pre-natal vitamins I took while I was pregnant made my nails grow EXTREMELY fast. Not sure how they'd affect a man, but I can't imagine much damage except maybe a higher voice & boobs (just kidding). Anyway, a massive head of luxurious hair is another added bonus!

Pre-natal vitamines, huh?
All - righty, then!
I know there's a direct correlation between your nails, skin, and hair . . .
I heard vit. E is good - but I've been taking that all along.
I wouldn't bring this out in public, but now I have FOUR broken fingernails on my right hand, and I can not fingerpick at ALL.
One fingernail is almost usable, two more will be usable in 4 - 6 days, but one is pretty severe - it came off about 1/8" back from my finger tip.
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I wonder if there's any type of food group I should eat more of, or vitamines or minerals or something . . .
I'd rather lose a foot than lose my ability to play guitar . . . .

Hey, Jonny - long time - no see.
Howarya?
You say extra calcium will show up in noticable growth, huh? I'll increase my Calcium (and vit. D) intake.
Yeah, I'll try it . . .
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I heard collagen helps, too - like in jello . . . weird.
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In the mean time - I've been experimenting with using the skin of my fingertips to pick with.
With my fingernails, the rhythm is 'right there.'
But skin is 'mushy,' and it compresses . . . takes extra time for the string to slip off and vocalize . . .
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I have to play extremely softly, and amplify it quite a bit.
And it makes for some sloppy-timing problems in fast songs with quick chord changes.
I still can NOT play about 4-5 of my faster finger-picking songs, but - it's a start . . .

fingernails sound like crap. loose them. When you record yourself you'll see what I mean. half the point of fingerpicking is getting that soft subtle sound that the pick can't replicate. Once you build up some calus you'll be able to get any sound you want from it. I don't know of anyone who actually relies on fingernails for picking. From james taylor to albert lee to mark knopfler to chet atkins. Don't take my word for it. Read a bunch of guitar magazine or checkout the master series fingerpicking books.
good luck

MikeV, you say fingernails sound like crap?
And, when I record myself, I'll see what you mean? And, when I build up callus, I'll be able to get any sound I want?
Really?
I've got 30 years of callus, my friend. :0
I've worn out half a dozen guitars. I've been wearing out strings at the rate of a set every 2 weeks, for the last 4 years - the bottoms of the strings are notched from the frets, all the way up to the 14the fret. Acoustic guitar, mind you, not electric. But - I've worn the frets on my Mosrite down to the fretboard, too . . .
And, while it's true the fingertips do give a different sound, it is a completely different technique, and cannot reproduce the sounds required for many songs.
It is also a SLOWER technique than using one's fingernails. Some songs are just too fast for fingertips.
While it's true that the lengths have to be trimmed super-exactingly to the correct couple of millimeters, it is well worth the extra time and trouble to do so.
And - Yes, I've heard myself, too.
Spanning the years, I have hundreds and hundreds of hours of taped playing.
And - I've got 21 copyrighted songs, and I'm waiting for copyrights to come back on 11 more. I've also got another dozen new songs in the works.
10 copyrighted finger-picking songs; 3 more new finger-picking ones in the works.
And I've found that MOST guitarists are nowhere near experienced enough to play many of my songs . . . especially my fingerpicking songs . . .
So, yeah, I've heard myself . . .
It is my humble opinion that finger-picking with fingernails doesn't sound like crap. Unless you haven't yet learned the proper techniques . . .

hey partner, don't get yer undies in a bundle. I am sure you are fantastic, I am too. Don't take this the wrong way, but the spice girls got copywrited music along with a long line of other "musicians" that suck. Anyone can copyright something. I don't mean to offend you but obviously I have. If fingernails work for you, great. Take any song you want and throw it at me... I'll play it without fingernails. I got all five (rhand or lhand) working and have played bouree to valsnr2 to chickenpicken to atkins. there is nothing you can play with fingernails that I can't w/o. that said... my fav fingerstyle artists - from classical to jazz to bluegrass - play w/o fingernails. My instructors at musicians institute in Hwood CA - pedro wyant, for instance, didn't use them. I am sure it is possible, just not something I would strive for as it sounds like a pick. no offense. PS got 20 plus years in myself and have refretted several instruments from playing them... doesn't mean I or you are any good. My answer stands: if yer askin me (and I don't suppose you are now) fingernails sound like a pick and defeat the entire purpose of FINGERstyle... cause I can do anything you can do with a fingernail -with a pick or a finger w/o a fingernail. so it is not about ability at that point, it is about sound. If my opinion offends thee, I sincerely apologize.

btw, mosrite... just because it cost you six grand doesn't mean it has tone. Yes I have played a mosrite and... there's no nice way to say this... unless you WANT to sound like the ventures or roy orbison I'd say you picked about the hands down worst example of tone I could think of. Frankly, neither roy or the ventures are what I think of when I'm talking guitar tone.
What, are you doing fingerstyle versions of whipeout? I wouldn't exactly brag about playing one if I were you because anyone who has had one in there hands and has a frame of reference of vintage strats, pauls and the like will tell you they are worth a lot - to non-professional musicians who want the nastalga of the 50s. Frankly I wouldn't cross the street to releive myself on a mosrite if it were on fire. There I said it. Hate me all you want now.

ok, dude - have it your way.

I saw an article on this in one of those acoustic guitar magazines. Check those sites out and see what those guys and girls use. I seem to remember one of the players talking about some kind of clear special compound that he coats his fingernails with that makes them strong. At least that will help you when they grow back.

You know, Bonnie Raitt uses some kind of clear plastic fingersyle pick tips of some sort. You can see them pretty easily on any of her DVD performances like the SRV Tribute or her new DVD. I know you don't want to use the metals ones, but maybe the clear ones could be an option for you.

Thanks. I'm kinda back in business, except for one fingernail - which I'd ripped half off my finger . . .
I'm playing with a combo of skin/fingertip, which works ok - if I plug in.
I practice w/ a Bassman, - and w/o fingernails, I need a boost, or he can't hear me.
That clear compound sounds good.
Thanks.

Hey, JR,
Yeah, been taking Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc tablets.
What's new?

oh, yeah, I forgot about flamingo music. those flamingo guitarists like the gypsy kings or estabon always use fingernails on their flamingo music. how could I forget flamingo (lol). Flappin around doin flamingo... silly flamingos.
In all seriousness, dude is right. Flamenco music does typically invovle a strum tecnique with the back of the fingernails to achieve an "airy" strumming type of sound.
NOTE: no flamingos are hurt in the playing of this type of music.