Anyone Use FingerPicks?

OrangUke

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I've got lousy fingernails - most of the time they are either splintered or badly chipped - even with regular and attentive filing. Been thinking of trying some of those plastic fingerpicks that simulate real nails. Has anybody given them a try? I find that without some nail hitting the string, my tone is muffled and lacking volume and the higher overtones.

cheers!
 
i am also curious about this...i like the control and sound i get from growing my finger nails out long but then they look kinda gross to be honest so if there's a way around it that'd be super cool. if the finger picks work out great then maybe i'll explore that.
 
I use a thumbpick from time to time and I love it. I'd buy fingerpicks the second I see them. Which hasn't come yet.
 
I tried finger picks on classical guitar, But it just didn't cut it for me. I prefer the soft tones of my flesh VS the plastic pics. that does hurt my Tremelo. If i want brighter tones i'll just use a pick...

I have looked into and considered the fake fingernail thing. But, I am having a hard time going to the store and buying fake fingernails :rofl:
 
thanks jumping flea i think ima head to guitar center and check if they got n e of those they look like they would work well
 
There are a number of threads about picking, picks, etc. just do a search. But I think the majority of the responses favor and prefer to use their fingers.
 
Peter Moon and Ledward Kaapana uses thumbpicks (Led also uses a finger pick). I've seen Bryan Tolentino use a thumbpick as well.

Now, my nephew, every now and then, will use a thumbpick. My sons are experiementing with them, and float back and forth, but I think they're more comfortable with nails. Of course, at their age, not widely accepted.

-Aaron
 
...I think the majority of the responses favor and prefer to use their fingers.
So I'm at the far end of the Bell curve because I use my tongue...?

Okay, seriously... I've played guitar for decades and I fingerpick with my flesh. Not nails. I've tried fingerpicks and don't like the feel, or the resulting sound (except the mizrab on the sitar). I think your own fingertip gives far more feedback and control than a fingerpick.
 
Fingerpicks

I use Dunlop plastic fingerpicks and I love them. I started using fingerpicks on guitar and now use them on my uke. I like the clear tone I get using them. They can be irritating, and take some getting used to. But it really comes down to personal taste when it comes to the sound.
 
When taking classical guitar lessons a number of years ago, I constantly battled broken and split nails. I finally abandoned those studies (sadly) because I just couldn't maintain them properly. After struggling to get them in good shape, one by one, they would all chip and break.

The difference in tone as well as right hand technique definitely suffered with no nail contacting the strings. Nails really allow one to control tone and dynamics to a much greater degree (than flesh alone). I tried the acrylic nail reinforcement route, but found that after a short time it caused additional nail damage. The glues dissolved out all the natural oils that kept them flexible, adding to the splintering.

I've tried the metal finger picks on my guitar and couldn't stand them cutting into my cuticles. I also didn't like the fact that I lost the tactile sensations between my finger tips and the strings. As a result dynamics and tonal coloration went out the window. Maybe I just never gave them enough of a chance to develop correct technique.

I'm going to give the plastic nail simulator picks a try, but I'm not very optomistic that I will be happy using them.
 
I think you ALL should visit a nail salon ONCE in your life. Haha I hardly go I'll probably go get my nails "did" twice a year and it can pretty much change your nails life. My nail guru told me I have the healthiest nails he's seen!! So I'll share some of my secrets to non breaking and splinting nails-
I eat a lot of onions, cucumbers, and grapes. I don't know why i just do haha...anyways
I read somewhere that those foods I mentioned and a couple of others are awesome for nail strength and growth!!

I used fingerpicks for guitar once and the feel just doesn't compare. I don't use guitar picks either, I guess I'm all for the nails!!

So maybe try strengthening your nails. I would totally go to your nearest nail salon and ask if they have over the counter remedies hahaha!!!
 
So maybe try strengthening your nails. I would totally go to your nearest nail salon and ask if they have over the counter remedies hahaha!!!

Manicures are cool.

To piggy back on what Sam said, there's another use for nail polish. For those that want to grow nails and have problems with them breaking, put a coat (or two) of clear. Yes, guy's, you'll look, well, like a MUSICIAN! How's that?

I grow my index on both hands. I tried the thumb, but training prevents that from being successful. I don't do nail polish, but I do buff, which seems to add elasticity over time, even at my age.

Oh, moisturizer works well too.

-Aaron
 
My job is kind of hard on my nails sometimes. Lots of potential for breakage and snagging. I was using a nail hardener for a while with kind of mixed results. The hardener was usually chipped off by the end of any day, but the nails tended to last a little longer before cracking off at the quick.

My Lovely Wife did a bit of research and tracked down some stuff called Nailtiques which is some kind of protein strengthener. She read some good reviews of it and a recommendation from a classical guitarist. So far they've fared better and I've only broken the middle finger where I cracked it in a situation where no amount of polish or protein was going to matter. I've also been a lot more conscientious about protecting them and try and wear my work gloves when feasible.

The other thing to bear in mind is that you don't really need to grow out super long nails in order to use them to play. You really only need enough nail to reach at least the top of the pad of your finger. Just enough to catch the string. Things seem to get a bit dicier for my nails if I go let them get too long. They'll get in the way and the stress of the extended length is placed just at the quick. So I try to be on top of filing them to a good maintenance level every few days. (try is the operative word)
I also keep a little manicure set we got at the Dollar Store in the car. Then if I rough up an edge I can file it smooth before it snags or quickly snip out a crack before it takes out the whole nail. It's the taking care of things before they become an issue that I think is really making the biggest difference.

As it is, for the past week without my middle nail playing has been rather like trying to walk with one of your feet asleep.
 
http://www.alaskapik.com/

I have been wanting to buy a set of these.
I swear by these for fingerstyle guitar...they sound natural and work like an extension of your fingernail. I'm new to the uke so I haven't spent much time with them uke-wise, but they still seem to work well.

Most of the people I know who try them and don't like them have a comfort issue. The trick is to try several sizes and see which size works best on each finger then put together a set based on that. They can also be bent to some degree if you warm them up in hot water first and trimmed using regular fingernail clippers. Once you get them the way you like them you can wear them for hours.

Craig
 
I've got some of these that I've only kind of experimented with at this point. They seem to work pretty well, I just can't wear them for more than a few seconds.

I second that... I have one that I bought on impulse out of curiosity, and it's extremely uncomfortable to wear. It fits and all, it just hurts. But then, someone without irregularly shaped sausage fingers might beg to differ.
 
I second that... I have one that I bought on impulse out of curiosity, and it's extremely uncomfortable to wear. It fits and all, it just hurts. But then, someone without irregularly shaped sausage fingers might beg to differ.
Is it the tabs that wrap around the side of your finger that hurt? You can clip those so they're shorter or drop the pick in really hot water for a minute then bend it open more. I had a similar problem with mine when I first got them and had to play around with them to get them right.
 
Is it the tabs that wrap around the side of your finger that hurt? You can clip those so they're shorter or drop the pick in really hot water for a minute then bend it open more. I had a similar problem with mine when I first got them and had to play around with them to get them right.

I couldn't get them to conform to the curvature of my nail... they kept trying to flatten the nail out, and no amount of bending could get it right, so I decided they just weren't for me. Now that I've picked up the uke and actually play it daily, I have no problem growing my nails out... I just wanted to throw in my $.02.
 
I couldn't get them to conform to the curvature of my nail... they kept trying to flatten the nail out, and no amount of bending could get it right, so I decided they just weren't for me. Now that I've picked up the uke and actually play it daily, I have no problem growing my nails out... I just wanted to throw in my $.02.
Oh well...just curious.
 
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