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Beatlejuice

I have recently started to grow out my fingernails to see if its any good for picking. I was curious if anyone has experimented with this in the past, and how you found it worked. Did you continue to use your nails or scrap the idea, and why? Also did you cut your nails in any specific way that you found worked very well, and how did you prevent them from breaking? Please respond, thanks all!

 

Crazy Horse

Depends on how you play it. If you play it hard, fingernails may break. Don't take it from me, though, I play bass (fingers only, keep my nails short so they don't get in the way)...

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Smoke Rings

I find that they dont work well if you strum two ways, like and upwards strum in kinda awkward and painfull, i know its hard keeping track of your pics when your smokin tho hehehe

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scruf

i've always kept my nails short as possible. After a while i have developed calouses(sp?) on my thumb, index, and middle finger so it makes picking alot easier, for me anyways. Or you could just buy those fingerpicks that they use for banjos.

soybomb

I once had the same idea in 5th grade. I thought let my guitar picking hand have long nails to pick with, and let my guitar note controlling hand have short nails so they don't get in the way. It didn't really work too well, and I don't do that anymore.

 

sticky

I think it really depends on your style of playing. I know of some guitarists that keep their fingernails long.. and it compliments their style. Give it a shot.. you have nothing to lose.... except maybe your finger nails.

TheClash

Everytime my fingernails start getting long, it gets harder and harder to play. Just use a pick man...

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Giggles

I would suggest either buying a finger pick or two, or just getting used to picking with your fingers normally... Growing your nails long will probably only be a nuisance, and without a doubt, keep the nails on your fretting hand as short as possible. If you do decide to grow them out though, I would suggest keeping your thumb nail short if you play acoustic a lot, or else it will be hard to get a nice soft strumming sound when you want it.

Best of luck... rock on!

Kibbatoz

Ya don'y bother i wouldn't ever try but it seems annoying and looks stupid.I doubt it will help that much anyway.They invented the fingure pick for a reason.

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Time can be a disaster.

SacredNaCl

Three words: "Clear nail polish".

I play flemenco.