Fingernails vs No Fingernails

I keep my fingernails short, but that's mainly because I wanna look presentable for my coworkers and future dates lol. Below are some points strictly from a playing perspective.

For your strumming hand: Long nails are great for tremolo picking and–to a lesser extent–fan strumming, but they make artificial harmonics way harder. Short nails are the exact opposite. These three techniques are relatively advanced, so you don't really have to worry about strumming hand nail length unless you're dead-set on learning Spanish guitar-sounding stuff (long nails would be best) or learning mellow fingerstyle stuff (short nails would be best).

For your fretting hand: Short nails are better, period. Long nails make it harder to play relatively simple chords like G and E7, and they also make it harder while picking stuff (e.g. picking notes on the C and A strings at the same time).

Hope this helps!
 
Relevant link: Ukulele Magazine - "A Revealing Look at the Hands of Top Ukulele Players"

Nail length and shape are personal choices that work in conjunction with many other aspects of right hand technique. If you're a tone dog, you'll probably end up experimenting with nail length and shape as your right hand technique develops and matures.

FWIW, I keep my nails long, file each to a unique shape, and polish each edge and top surface with fine mesh. Before I play, I run my fingernails through my hair to lubricate them with a little scalp oil. If I neglect my nail care regimen for several consecutive days, I remove excess material with sharp nail clippers and reshape with files. If a nail breaks, I clip and refile the remaining nails instead of replacing or repairing the broken nail.

Shorter nails more easily evince the ukulele's mellower timbral palette. Longer nails more easily achieve brilliance. There's a place for both, and where you fall on the spectrum will inform your compromises.

EDIT: Within 48 hours of replying to this thread, my thumbnail broke while I was polishing my right index fingernail right before a gig. D’oh!
 
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