lacerveza
Well-known member
when ive seen pros like jake and aldrine i've noticed that they have long nails on the thumb and pointer,BUT i bite my nails.apart from putting rat poison on my fingers, you know the rest
i need to let my nails grow
- Thread starter lacerveza
- Start date
cpatch
Well-known member
Someone told me I needed long nails to play guitar and uke once. Now I have a box of 20d's I don't know what to do with.
OP
OP
lacerveza
Well-known member
i thought of that one miso,but thank you anyway.
god bless
god bless
OP
OP
lacerveza
Well-known member
lanikai does have a website but unfortunately i think its a gainst the rule to post links but they are a hohner company so google hohner then look for ukes
Aldrine Guerrero
Ukulele Underground Staff
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Just make sure to not let them grow out too long. The tone is a lot more balanced if they're short. Nails just make tremolos and playing easier. t compensate length for tone is the challenge. See if you can find your comfort zone.
grappler
Well-known member
OMG
thats long as!
thats long as!
hawaiianmusiclover06
Well-known member
I used to bite my nails too... but ever since I started playing the ukulele I grew my nails... I grew my thumb nail out but now I just need my pointer nail to grow out.
ichadwick
Well-known member
Cut them REALLY short and learn to use the pads of your fingers. Works fine for me. Nails are a liability.
beeejums
Well-known member
Alrdrine, you should make a video fingernail seminar or something, even if only to say "IT'S NOT THAT COMPLICATED FOR CRYING IN A BUCKET!!!"
My strings keep wearing my fingernails down painfully far and I wonder if it's because I have weak nails or because I'm strumming too hard?
And I would love some pointers on learning to tremolo with your fingers... I haven't found a technique that feels like it would work even after practicing for a while.
Anyway... put clear nail polish or superglue on your nails... People have told me to do that to help protect them from breaking while playing, *and* they'll help you keep from biting your nails.
Ukulele JJ
Super Moderator
One big thing I like about the uke is that it's low-maintenance and doesn't demand a lot of hoo-hah. Just grab it and play. No pick needed. No spit-valve to fool with. No strap needed. No belt hook needed. No amp needed. And no freaky-lookin' fingernails needed. 
Which isn't to say that long fingernails wouldn't be useful. But personally, I want to keep my uking uncomplicated. That's kind of the whole point for me.
Plus, ever since I saw Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Doubt"... *shudder*
JJ
Which isn't to say that long fingernails wouldn't be useful. But personally, I want to keep my uking uncomplicated. That's kind of the whole point for me.
Plus, ever since I saw Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Doubt"... *shudder*
JJ
Dude, your hands are dead sexy. Grow those nails and slam some pink polish on there please!
Then play all that godly music :music:
Lanark
Well-known member
Liability? No. Absolutely not.
Having a bit of nail behind your strumming and picking gives a lot more ooomph to the strings and lets them ring loud and clear. It's about volume and clarity. There's also another aspect of speed and precision in terms of picking individual notes that can be done with a nail that is less easily done otherwise.
And has been said many times before, you really do not need to have super long vampire nails. Just enough nail beyond the quick to get over the top of the pads. Just enough to catch the string. It really doesn't take much.
A little care and a little filing and some nail strengthener now and again (which helps with the nailbiting on the ones you're trying to grow.) and you're all set to play and take care of any itch you encounter.
Having a bit of nail behind your strumming and picking gives a lot more ooomph to the strings and lets them ring loud and clear. It's about volume and clarity. There's also another aspect of speed and precision in terms of picking individual notes that can be done with a nail that is less easily done otherwise.
And has been said many times before, you really do not need to have super long vampire nails. Just enough nail beyond the quick to get over the top of the pads. Just enough to catch the string. It really doesn't take much.
A little care and a little filing and some nail strengthener now and again (which helps with the nailbiting on the ones you're trying to grow.) and you're all set to play and take care of any itch you encounter.
hoosierhiver
Well-known member
I agree with Ian, but it may come down to style of playing more than what is better.I find that a longer nail will sometimes snag a string when I don't want it to.
NukeDOC
Retired Mod
i just use fake nails now. the trick is learning how to put them on without getting any bubbles underneath (causes nail fungus), and when they start coming off, to have the patience to soak them in acetone, so they dont take layers of your actual nail along with it.
oh yeah and then theres the funny looks that question your masculinity. just make a "playing guitar" mimic and theyll give you the MENTOS "ah hah!" with a smile.
my nails also get worn away. not so much with the ukulele as with the electric guitar. and i still have trouble working with a pick. so my compromise has been to just coat my fingernails with the pick... fake nails.
as far as length goes, you kinda just gotta find that happy medium between your playing style, tone of your instrument, and how quickly you can wear them away. but i like to have them peeking out just past the pads of my fingertips.
oh yeah and then theres the funny looks that question your masculinity. just make a "playing guitar" mimic and theyll give you the MENTOS "ah hah!" with a smile.
my nails also get worn away. not so much with the ukulele as with the electric guitar. and i still have trouble working with a pick. so my compromise has been to just coat my fingernails with the pick... fake nails.
as far as length goes, you kinda just gotta find that happy medium between your playing style, tone of your instrument, and how quickly you can wear them away. but i like to have them peeking out just past the pads of my fingertips.
Ahnko Honu
Well-known member
Long nails come in handy for picking your nose too.
SuperSecretJohn
Well-known member
Tip: If your nail gets caught, trim the section that's getting caught a little. Voilà! Awesome playability!
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