Hi guys, I wasn't sure which section to post this thread in so sorry if it's in the wrong one!

I was just wondering if anyone here has any experience of false fingernails? I'm afraid i've allways had a problem with biting my fingernails, i've tried growing them a few times but allthough having them does make the guitar sound brighter I just prefer playing with my fingertips rather than nails.... I notice than Don Ross has what look like false fingernails and i've heard of other guitarists using them - does anyone here use them? I must admit to finding the idea of them a little bit - but if they make a big difference then it might be worth a try.

Oh, and Andy - do you play using your fingertips, or nails?

Hi Walesy,

I read in an interview with Andy that he only lets his right thumb nail grow, and cuts the nails of the other fingers. Otherwise it would be complicated to do tapping with nails.

I bite my nails really bad... but I use my fingertips and it looks as though andy does too. I can't even play with my fingernails when they are grown a little bit.. its hard for me cause I'm not used to it.

Hey guys
thier called arcrylic nails
thier usually for people who strum with fingernails
Like flamenco strumming
but i guess u can get them

Im thinking about it myself as well.

I have my thumbnail long (im petrified of breaking it) and my fingers just a bit of nail over the edge.
Ive been using nail lacker and it makes them a lot harder, as i play without a pickup trying to play loud can really cut away at them.

Keeping the fingernails at just the right length is a pain in the arse acrylic nails would help. Im screwed for performances if I break my thumbnail.
Wheres a good place to get them?

Hello everyone.

I got fingernails (not only thumb nail) and this is what I can say.

The sound is just awesome for me. The sound of guitar is bright, is loud and is clean.
At the beggining of growing fingernails you can hear a buzzy sound, but not for long. And you don't need really long fingernails to be able to make bright and clean sound.

And they doesn't hinder for me, when I'm tapping.

Hey guys,

I would suggest at least trying false nails and decide whether you like them or not. Pretty much everyone I know uses them. Don, Antoine, Isato Nakagawa, Stephen Bennett, Michael Hedges...

I just never felt comfortable with them.

And it is definitely possible to do tapping with the nails on. I just got used to tapping like Eddie Van Halen years before getting into fingerstyle and changing my angle was too much work for me!

Haha!

But try 'em and see if you like 'em!

Andy

I find it restricts smooth/fast playing when my finger nails are too long, so I only have a small bit over the edge.

I was wondering Andy, if you use any fingernail at all, or is it all flesh?

It's pretty much all flesh, except on the thumb. I grow that nail out about 1/2-3/4 of an inch or so these days.

Andy

I have been using acrylic nails for 15 years now and it's worth it, IMHO.

There are several benefits in tone and attack, but it requires a very specific technique to effectively accomplish everything required for fingerstyle guitar. For instance, with regard to playing with the fleshy part of your fingers... you have to adjust the angle at the wrist in order to cross the strings correclty. Meanwhile, you have to make sure not to touch the string with the acrylic or you'll get some harsh noise.

Tapping... this is something I have a lot of experience with using acrylic nails. There is literally no drawback at all. (hear my tunes Padanaram, Wood Dragon or Open Michael on my latest album for example) In fact I find that the hard nails tend to leave me with a perfect counterbalance at times. I've been able to accomplish incredible volume and aggressive velocity while enjoying true consistency in how the right hand fingers support the rolls or pop of the string on the frets. It takes a long time to get it but the results are worth it.

When I started using acrylics on my harp sympitar I found that they give GREAT volume with little effort. It's like having a plectrum on every finger that you can control with true precision. I've found a major increase in dynamic range as a result.

Ultimately, wearing your nails (fake or not) too long will slow you down. As you start out you'll find that you might need them a bit longer... but once you get used to them, you can file them down to a tight ring outside the range of the end of your finger and get super fast results running across the strings.

I also have the added benefit of having a plectrum-like use of my index finger when needed. Imagine being able to go from arpeggio directly into rapid-fire staccato plucking on one string for crisp runs up and down the frets. It's works well after much practice.

One last note on acrylics... it's not such a bad thing to have a beautiful Vietnamese woman hold my hand once a month.