Classical Guitar and Fingernails
Had a question of Kier over at Street Musician about fingernails. I thought I would put a response up here!
My Mrs. really hates long fingernails and has totally forbidden me to grow the sort of set you see proper classical guitarists sporting. I can finger pick reasonably well on the acoustic, but will I really need long nails to do well in the classical style or does it not really matter.
I’ve tried the finger picks on all fingers in the past and I just can’t stand them.
I don’t think you need fingernails to do well in the classical style. That said, they certainly make things easier.
The big thing about fingernails is they increase your volume. The goal, and I explained in Good Vibrations good vibrations is to set the string vibrating perpendicular to the guitars sound board. That is, the string moves up and down–towards and away from the sound board. This produces the most sound and the best tone.
Most of making that happen is the way your fingers move. It means playing through the string with a good follow through of the right hand fingers back into the hand at first. Another way to think of it is that all the knuckles of hand move in the same direction. If you’ve every do the “one hand clap” that’s sort of the idea–or closing your fingers into a fist is the same thing. The follow through can be shorted later after a more firm technique is established.
Having a properly shaped nail helps displace the string in such a way that it’s vibrates more perpendicular to the sound board. As you play through the string, the string moves up the nail towards the highest point where it releases. The nail literally helps push the string down into the soundboard then releases it. This same thing can be accomplished with the finger tip, which also has a naturally curved shape. The tone will not be as bright or loud, but that’s not a problem depending your personal preferences and amplification, etc. Some callouses will probably develop on the RH fingertips along the way and brighten the tone.
There are, of course, the stories about Tarrega not using fingernails. His student, Emilio Pujol, even wrote a book about nails vs. flesh, El Dilema del Sonida en la Guitarra.
But How Long Do Those Nails Need to Be?
Every guitarist will have a different opinion. Scott Tennant suggests that nails should be no longer than your fingertip in Pumping Nylon
There’s no right answer. But short nails can work very well. So maybe the compromise can be nails that don’t protrude over the finger tip. I used to keep my nails very short, but since switched to preferring a longer nail. I’m not sure why. I did get a good tone and volume from short nails.
I think the other advantage, aside from tone, is that fingernails can help with accuracy. It’s really easy to get the string in that pocket on the left corner of the nail where the string connects with flesh. That’s something that’s developed, though, and there’s no reason why it can’t happen sans nails. The only thing I would be sure to watch for is that the string connects with the finger tip. Beware the fingers going too far into the sound-hole and the strings resting on the pads of fingers. Not good for technique or tone. Your finger tips, nails or not, should almost glide over top of the string.
My Index Finger Contact Point
Do you have experience playing without fingernails? Please leave your thoughts in the comments!
Did you enjoy this article? Check out Fingernail Basics .
About the Author
Christopher Davis founded The Classical Guitar Blog in 2008. He is currently pursuing a Masters degree in guitar performance. In addition to his studies, Chris is an active teacher and performer based in Middle Tennessee. Connect with Chris on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and the Classical Guitar Network.
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I wrote about my preferences and “why” into my blog.
http://theguitarjournal.blogspot.com/2009/06/nails-with-or-without-and-how-long.html
I definitely prefer to play with nails. My nails meet the flesh on the thumb side corner, ramping to about 1.5mm on the opposite side. My a finger nail is slightly longer than i & m, because the nail is more curved than the flatter nails on the other fingers. It also appears to be slightly rounder when viewed from palm side. My thumb nail has a much steeper ramp, and is about 2-3mm long at its longest point.
I would love to see a post that offers advice on how to get started with finding a nail shape that works. In my case, the biggest mistake I made early on was to look at photos of the fingernails that other guitar players used, and then break out the files and sandpaper in an attempt to reproduce them. This just does not work due to the wide variety of possible finger and nail characteristics. My advice would be to start with a basic ramped shape (Pumping Nylon #3 shape is a good starting point), and then look at other nail shapes to get some ideas. Instead of making drastic alterations to your nail shape, make slow, gradual changes while paying attention to the feel and tone – otherwise you could file your nails down to nothing from experimenting too much. Experimenting with different lengths is also important.
It’s also helpful to keep notes on what you have tried, including what was good and bad about each nail shape. You should also be prepared to keep working on this for as long as you play the guitar, because aside from shape, your nails will change over time. What works today, may sound or feel awful a few years from now.
my girlfriend also forbade me from growing long fingernails, and I have them at maybe just (and I mean just.. like 0.5mm) over the length of my fingertip.
I get the sound that I find pleasing out of my guitar.
Personally I think it depends a lot less on the nails than on general technique.
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!
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.
Omg….your MRS forbidds you to grow long nails for playing classical guitar.
I would definately replace the wife!
No doubt about it.
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