Hi, I am playing plectrum picked guitar since 6-7 yrs, now I am learning Classical finger-picked nylon guitar & also have passed 2 Trinity exams. The problem now is that It's hard maintaining the nails in our Indian Lifestyle. We have our food with hands. Secondly, if there is a minor cut on the nails, the whole nail gets weared off & takes 15days again to regain the new good nail. Any nylon classical guitarist here, plz help.
You can get them manicured, that will strengthen them. Keeping them clean isn't all that hard if you wash your hands properly and take time to clean out the underside.
^What he said. Plus, how long you want them depends on you and your technique. For me, the ideal length is just a little (less than a mm) longer than the 'edge' of the finger flesh. This never gave me much trouble. Longer nails, however... (my thumb nail broke 3 days ago for the first time. Meh.)
Nails... Contd... Thanks thehundredthone & ultrabot90 :beer:, the longest tip of the nail of my nails is ~5mm, I'll try with bit smaller ones. but I'll have to bit practise for a few days, as my hand has much more adapted to these sizes.
It's easier to play accurately with longer ones in the beginning. Shorter ones force you to be precise. See what edges play what role in the sound - I was taught to use the center, but I kind of changed my technique to use the left edge (left as seen from top) after I realized it sounded better to me, and I soon after I round off the right edge so it doesn't 'ching' with the vibrating string as the finger leaves it. I was taught to keep the nails rounded on both sides, but I found a little rounded edge on the left and a little extra rounding off on the right worked better for me. Nail size and shape = find your personal balance. That's the universal advice anyone (including teachers) can give you. Btw - What pieces are ye doing? o.o D'you live in Delhi? If yes, wanna start a duet? If no, planning to shift anytime?
I've never been to the state of India in the country of Maharashtra, but most countries do need a visa to allow entry.
I use the tip that I shape in the centre (as in the pic), now once again growing them, will try short as they grow. Experimentation. I am just afraid I would't put on any bad habbit, as it is really hard to get it out of your finger once it gets fixed. I am just a begginer in staff notation, though I have played many years with a pic. It hard now... But I wanna do it anyhow...
John Williams I just had a question... Are there two Classical Guitarists named John Williams??? :shock:
You're learning - loads of time to fiddle around and 'settle in' on the perfect technique Sheet music > tab, any day. Easy after a while. John Williams? Wikipedia it.
I just apprised you of a situation, where you might curse having long fingernails ... It may not be important to you though ...
Fingers are for the guitar... for the the one your were talking about - we have something much more bigger & stronger !!!
Sometimes your partner may not be in a mood for the "Bigger and stronger" (and coarser) approach. Nothing can match the finger's dexterity at such moments. Ultrabot - usually the left hand fingers are less skilled as well as have less stamina than right hand fingers
