They say, ‘Music is an outburst of the soul’. If you are a music lover and a crazy fan of guitars, you know how amazing a form of self-expression is the stringed instrument. But if you are passionate about playing the guitar and have just started learning one, you know the pain of having long nails while on the instrument. It becomes difficult when the strings get stuck in your nails, especially the fake nail enhancements; they can even break or pull out the nails. So how do the pros do it?
Let’s take a deep dive into learning how you can play guitar with long nails and understanding some tips and tricks followed by professionals.
It’s an age-old myth that you cannot play guitar with long nails or fake nails. You can still create magic and lovely music out of those strings even if you don’t want to use a ‘pick’. All you need is to shape and file your nails in a certain way and tune your guitar differently. How? Let’s see.
Nail Length
‘How much long is too much long’ is a subjective topic when it comes to nail lengths.
While guitarists and professional players prefer short nails for comfort and precision, it may become difficult for many of them if the nail grows out even a bit. Some are okay with a little growth of the natural nail unless it doesn’t come in the way of holding down the strings and working with them. And then some crazy pros can easily hold their grasp on the guitar string with long-ass acrylic nail enhancements or press-on nails and still create magic with their tunes.
However, the correct nail length depends on individual preference, comfort, practice, and patience. You need to be precise when it comes to holding the chords precisely and steadily so you don’t cause your nails to get stuck or plucked in it. Otherwise, you may risk them to chip or crack and this can even be painful at times.
It may seem quite impossible at first, but you can have a command over your acoustic or electric guitars with long nails too. All you need is some practice and a lot of patience. You need to be careful with both your nails and the strings to grasp your hand on the tunes and you will realize you can play your instrument even with quite long nails or fake nail extensions.
Can You Play Guitar with Long Nails?
There is a reason behind the myth that it is impossible to play guitar with long nails. And, the reason is simple to understand. If you have long fingernails, it will be difficult for you to transition between chords. This will make it uncomfortable for you to hold down and pull the right strings and will eventually ruin the music created. You might not be able to hold a grasp on the chords so the tunes will not come out properly. You may also cause harm to your nails or the guitar strings or both. Hence the belief.
But we are here to help you clear the air. Of course, keeping your fingernails short will undoubtedly make playing the guitar simpler. But it can still be feasible if you prefer to keep the length grown out or wear fake nails. Just remember that you have to maintain a strong grip on the chords so they don’t shake or buzz. For this, you need to develop a habit of using the pads of your fingers and not your fingertips to play.
Pros and Cons
Though you may feel it is difficult to play guitar with long nails, there still are some bright sides to it:
1) It acts as a natural ‘pick’. You may skip the pick and use your long nails to select precise chords to guarantee the perfect tone every time.
2) For acoustic guitars, using long nails, works better than shorter lengths. It makes fingerstyle guitar playing quite better.
3) You can use a combination of a thumb pick and the longer nails of other fingers to play the instrument well especially if you have short and/or stubby fingers.
4) They provide better control. Rather than fingertips, long nails ensure shaking and buzzing are prevented to the maximum, especially when the nails are strong and not brittle or bendy. This can help you ensure correct sound is produced from the chords.
There are certain downsides to being passionate about guitar with a love for long nails or press-on nail extensions or even acrylics.
1) For beginners, it can be a frustrating experience especially when long nails catch on the guitar strings.
2) Using nails to apply pressure to the fretboard can also be much more challenging than you’d think.
3) If you plan to use a pick to manage long nails with guitars, it may happen that the pick will slip or spin and you won’t be able to grip on it strongly, especially when the nail length is too long.
How to Play Guitar with Long Nails
Here are the best tips and tricks to follow if you want to learn how to play guitar with long nails:
1) Fingerpicking technique: Improving your fingerpicking abilities for handling the chords helps you control the pulling or plucking of each string. You can create proper and distinct sounds with this technique especially when using an acoustic guitar for country songs. It is best to use your fingers and nails instead of picks to perform like a pro without any mishaps.
2) Nail Shaping: Be smart in shaping your nails with a pointy middle to replicate a pick. Opt for almond shapes rather than squares that have a blunt tip. Make sure the sides of your grown-out nails are tapered but the tip is neither flat nor too pointed like a stiletto. You may also try ovals and rounder nails to help the guitar sound richer when you play it.
3) Nail Length: Avoid too long or too short nails. If you find it difficult to play with very long or fake nails, keep the length of your natural nails trimmed. But make sure they aren’t bitten or too short at the same time. Otherwise, you may hurt your fingertips with the chords.
4) Fretting hand hack: If you want to have a better hold on the chords, choose a shorter length and a rounder shape for your fretting hand. It is best to avoid a free edge on this hand and keep the nails just till the finger pad. You can still adorn different colors and nail art to give it a unique look for resolving your problem.
Wrap-Up
Playing the guitar with long nails may seem challenging, but with the right techniques and practice, it can be done! Remember to keep your nails well-maintained and use the right tools to avoid damaging them. By following these tips and tricks, you can enjoy creating beautiful music without compromising on your nail length. With patience and perseverance, you’ll soon find a comfortable playing style that works for you. So, don’t let your long nails hold you back from rocking out on the guitar. Embrace your unique style and let your music shine!
