growing fingernails for playing

[keeefy2000]

Hi there
Im just wondering is it really necessary to grow your nails when doing finger style, I prefer this style of playing but find due to work my nails keep breaking as they sat to get longer, and then I have to wait until they grow again..
cheers
keith

[GnLguy]

The short answer is No, you don’t have to grow your nails to play fingerstyle. If you are playing with your acoustic guitar amplified, you can compensate with the amp for the soft attack on the strings

I allow mine to grow out maybe 1/8″ so that I am using my fingertips followed by the nail hitting the string. By keeping them at that length, they don’t break as much.

And its common to use nail hardener to help keep the nails from breaking plus some pros will use either glue on acrylic nails or they will use liquid acrylic to form nails

[keeefy2000]

Thankyou, never thought of using a amp, so that I didn’t pick as hard
cheers

[Bob S]

Keith,
I have been playing fingerstyle for a long time without growing out my nails. Occasionally if my nails need trimming I might start to pluck the string with a nail. I definitely prefer the softer sound of playing without nails (or I am just used to it). So its a personal choice.
Bob

[Duffy P]

I’ve had longer nails on my right hand for almost 30 years now. I grew them to follow the example of Rick Ruskin, who was my teacher at the time. They aren’t for volume, but for a different tone. And that tone is a matter of taste. So, no, you don’t have to grow them to play finger style. Lots of terrific players don’t have them. Only necessary if you get into serious classical style with a nylon string guitar, and I don’t think any of us are doing that.

[keeefy2000]

thank you for the reply

keith

[Author]

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