| Is it possible to play classical guitar without nails? I | | | | players who want to play without nails. Here are my |
| guess so as I often do it myself. Many guitarists today | | | | personal hints: |
| and in the past have also done the same. Let me tell | | | | 1. It will take a week or so to build callouses on your |
| you the advantages of no nails playing and give you | | | | fingertips after having filed down your nails. This will |
| some tips! | | | | improve your guitar playing and tone but until then you |
| Sharon Isbin in her Classical Guitar Answer Book | | | | have to be careful not to play so intensely as to get |
| wrote... | | | | blisters. |
| "Classical guitarists can play without nails, but they | | | | 2. A way to build callouses is to play finger picking on |
| should be aware that in doing so they are sacrificing | | | | electric guitar or steel string guitar. I have experienced |
| certain possibilities of tone color and projection - all of | | | | that my blues guitar playing is much more musical and |
| which affect interpretation and musical presentation." | | | | more dynamic as I play with my fingers instead of with |
| I have played classical guitar and also improvisational | | | | a pick on my electric guitar. Sometimes I use to |
| jazz and blues guitar for many years and have been | | | | alternate between my thumb and index finger when |
| teaching others professionally. I have played with long | | | | playing scales and licks and other times my index |
| nails, shorter nails and no nails at all. | | | | finger and middle finger or in another classical guitar |
| I have seen guitar students struggling with their tone on | | | | playing way. |
| the guitar. Guitarists with problem nails, guitarists not | | | | 3. You will get a softer and in many ways a more |
| taking care of their nails and subsequently with a | | | | beautiful tone if you cultivate your playing without nails. |
| terrible tone and some guitarists with perfect nails and | | | | However you might miss some of the higher |
| still not a good tone because of faltering technique. | | | | frequencies. To compensate for this you can see to it |
| I have also met guitarists that were playing without | | | | that youalways play with fresh new strings and if you |
| nails and I have seen electric guitarists finger playing | | | | are a rich man you might purchase a classical guitar |
| without nails like Mark Knopfler and others. | | | | with more treble and less bass. |
| As with nearly everything there are pros and cons | | | | 4. When you use your nail sharpener (you should |
| with the different approaches. I like playing without nails | | | | instead of just clipping the nails off!) to keep your nails |
| for these reasons: | | | | short you might as well give your fingertips some |
| 1. It's a challenge to find the tone and get the most out | | | | grooming with the nail sharpener. This will improve |
| of the guitar playing without nails. You have to play | | | | yourtone and stimulate your finger tips to become |
| with more force to find the upper harmonics and you | | | | harder. |
| have to work even more with the guitar technique. No | | | | 5. As you practice exercises on your guitar you need |
| sloppiness is allowed! | | | | to play slowly and with a little more force to get a |
| 2. I like the sweet sound of my fingers touching the | | | | good tone. It is important that you don't build tensions |
| strings. The sound created is mellow but the volume | | | | as you play. All musicians benefit from |
| will still be satisfying if you play with force and with | | | | learningrelaxation techniques and stretching to prevent |
| calousses developed by practising. | | | | injuries. |
| 3. There is a special feeling involved in letting living flesh | | | | 6. Practice especially playing apoyando (support |
| touch the strings on a guitar. You will come nearer the | | | | strokes) with all your fingers and listen to the tone and |
| instrument somehow. | | | | try to improve it as part of your playing. |
| 4. Of course you'll have the advantage of not risking to | | | | If you feel that playing completely without nails is to |
| have your nails broken as you don't depend on them | | | | hard for you, you might after this test period let them |
| anymore. | | | | grow but you can keep them a lot shorter as your |
| 5. You will be able to play piano with correct finger | | | | technique has improved. They will then work as the |
| posture. | | | | claws of a cat. Mostly not used but still affecting your |
| 6. You can play electric guitar with your fingers without | | | | tone and supporting your playing. As with long nails you |
| risking to destroy your nails. | | | | will have to polish them and take care of them. |
| I will now give you some of my own advice and | | | | There are many more things to say about playing |
| experiences from playing without nails. | | | | guitar without nails but personally this technique gives |
| You might find some more information on the net as | | | | me a tone I like and an exciting and rewarding |
| there are many other classical guitarists and lute | | | | challenge. |