Long(er) Fingernails

OPBASSMAN1994 · #1 07-15-2011, 04:44 PM

So I used to hate longer nails on my fingers because they clipped the strings (I usually play with a very heavy touch). However, I've just not bothered to cut them recently, and I've found that with my longer nails, I'm able to still retain the crunchy bottom end notes played with my pad, but for the first time, the high notes are coming out just as well as the low ones, because of the pick like sound of only my nails really hitting them. This has reduced the amount of motion I have to use with my hand to hit the higher strings and get a good sound out, and it's also lightened my attack a little bit, which definitely makes for more relaxed playing. Plus, it improves my plucking speed. If I'm not mistaken, Geddy Lee keeps them slightly long for the same reason. Any one else here grow them out a bit? Just curious.

BassAsAHobby · #2 07-15-2011, 10:48 PM

I grow my right hand index finger nail out a little and cut it at an angle and file the left side of it down. Now this may seem strange but when I play finger style the nail hardly touches the string. I use the nail part for a pick. It works both ways.

Kwin Smith · #3 07-15-2011, 10:59 PM

I come from a serious classical guitar background, so I am used to playing with a combination of nails and flesh. It has to be -just- right with me. I play mostly fretless, so the extra bit of nail can give me the more immediate attack, if I want it. I also use a very light touch, so the combination of nail, with a pair of Mesa Titans gives me ALL the the tone and power that I need.

For my correct nail length, I squeeze each finger tip, one after the other. Looking straight on, I like to see about one mm of nail above the tip of the pad of each finger. I will sand that with a very fine grade of sand paper for smoothness. Probably a little more OCD than average, but I can absolutely tell the difference.

UnfortunateTony · #4 07-16-2011, 03:55 AM

Geddy played with his nails for a little while in the 80's but if you wanna see a good player who uses her nails constantly, look up the band Clatter. The chick has her own little series of bass videos.