Noticed an interesting thing for playing fingerstyle

Hamlet7768 · #1 12-03-2011, 06:05 PM

Newbie here, I think I noticed something interesting.

I also play some guitar (learning both concurrently at this point), and found the Andrés Segovia, a classical guitarist, uses a combination of his fingertips and fingernails (just nails is the norm). I realized that growing one's nails out so that they just hit the string when playing might add a bit of extra attack to the tone. I tried it when playing some stuff on my roommate's P-Bass copy, and I think there was a distinct edge to it, thought not as much as with a regular pick.

Anybody tried this?

mcblahflooper94 · #2 12-03-2011, 06:27 PM

Haha, oh yes! Very heavy amazing tone, but the only issue with me was when I would play, my nails would break. And my lady friend didn't exactly find it attractive... :l

I heard that you can get something to attach picks to your fingers for this purpose, but I've never actually seen them.

Hamlet7768 · #3 12-03-2011, 06:52 PM

Oh yes, fingerpicks.

Fingerpick - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

mcblahflooper94 · #4 12-03-2011, 07:34 PM

I suggest using those. I don't know if it would effect your speed in any way, but really. No girl likes long nails, I promise you that.
And it really hurts when your nail gets bent back playing Megadeth.

Hamlet7768 · #5 12-03-2011, 07:44 PM

Oh trust me, I didn't mean that long. Eeurgh. I meant just long enough that if I run my fingertip over the string the nail catches.

mcblahflooper94 · #6 12-03-2011, 07:50 PM

That'd need a lot of maintenance to control, but I guess you could. And you'd have mismatching nail lengths, your fretting hand's nails should be short.

Hamlet7768 · #7 12-03-2011, 08:08 PM

Well crap.

Edited for profanity.

fjadams · #8 12-03-2011, 08:49 PM

Yep, the tone is in your fingers.

You get different tones from your thumb, meat of each finger, tip of the finger, fingernail, etc.

Change the finger, attack, part of the finger, and where you play the string to get a myriad of tones from your bass.

Fergie Fulton · #9 12-04-2011, 04:11 AM

Nail beds and nail strengths vary. Personally i would use finger picks rather than risk ripping or tearing a nail or weaking its bed. Segovia was a pro, his strings were light, all he had to do was look after his hands for playing....many on TB do not have that luxury because work, hobbies, sport, etc get in the way and have to be catered for as well.
So see the big picture of why Segovia could do what he does.....not much chance of him ripping off a few nails un-loading his car and lugging in and setting up rig for a gig.

mcnach · #10 12-04-2011, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamlet7768

Newbie here, I think I noticed something interesting.

I also play some guitar (learning both concurrently at this point), and found the Andrés Segovia, a classical guitarist, uses a combination of his fingertips and fingernails (just nails is the norm). I realized that growing one's nails out so that they just hit the string when playing might add a bit of extra attack to the tone. I tried it when playing some stuff on my roommate's P-Bass copy, and I think there was a distinct edge to it, thought not as much as with a regular pick.

Anybody tried this?

Segovia played nylon strings. Even then, strong nails are very important.
I would not do that on an electric bass.

Hamlet7768 · #11 12-04-2011, 12:57 PM

Again, it's not entirely the nail. The nail's just brushing the string (at least, at current length).

SpecialBlender · #12 12-04-2011, 01:20 PM

I keep my nails about 1/8" long (on both hands for appearances). I use my finger tips most of the time but will roll my right hand up and use my nails for a totally different sound. For 1 or 2 songs a night I may use a heavy nylon pick.

Varying between finger tip & nails and moving right hand positioning between the neck and bridge gives you huge tonal & attack possibilities, so much so I virtually never touch the volume or EQ on my bass.

Like others have said the tone is in your hands and fingers.

emblymouse · #13 12-04-2011, 01:26 PM

Since I quit chewing my nails they started to get a little long between filing them down. This has a definite effect on the fingerstyle attack and I have been learning to use it. Sometimes it results in the unintentional zing, and if they get too long it gets harder to control.

James Judson · #14 12-04-2011, 01:43 PM

Finger style guitar players use nail and flesh for thier tone. Some glue fake nails and get manicures regularly. I'm to active to maintain fingernails so I use finger picks for that attack. Fingerstyle guitar lessons improved my bass playing 300%.

On bass??? I can't stand my fingernails long. It's hard enough keeping the clicking and clacking (from fret noise) out, without fingernails adding to it. I keep my nails as short as possible.

What works for you is the right answer.

lweastdad · #15 12-05-2011, 10:06 AM

I have grown my fingernails out a bit (like SpecialBlender) in order to get a better attack sound. I put a nail hardener on them and have had little problems.

64jazz · #16 12-05-2011, 10:26 AM

Wish I could've seen the look on my face when I realized how curling the fingertips on my right (picking) hand and using a bit of nail would accentuate harmonics. What a light bulb moment that was!

Hamlet7768 · #17 12-05-2011, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lweastdad

I have grown my fingernails out a bit (like SpecialBlender) in order to get a better attack sound. I put a nail hardener on them and have had little problems.

Nail hardener...duly noted. For when my nails grow back out...cut them today.