To the female bass players out there

[EADG mx]

I'd cut them off and let them grow until they start to cause problems, cut or file them a bit and there's your reference point of the max. you can grow them

[Honk'n_down-low]

I thought the title of this was to the Female Bass Player??

I noticed many guys took the liberty of adding their opinion - must be responding with your feminine side.

Oh, and, you need short nails to play bass - really just common sense - no sex distinction needed

[txbasschik]

Originally Posted by basschic35

As a female bass player who's been playing for 20some years...you gotta cut those nails, both hands. Personally, I don't use a pick because I have more control that way and the nails get in the way if I forget to cut them. On the other hand, pun intended, I have to cut them as short as they will go. I find that if I don't, the tone changes and I don't get the sound I want. I even have to cut my thumb nails because they get in the way moving up and down the neck. Face it, becoming a female bass/guitar player means you'll be "one of the guys." Sad but true, this is a male dominated skill/talent.

I don't use a pick, either. But a male bassist showed me how to curl my fingers just a teen-niney bit and get almost a pick attack. I'm not perfect at it yet, but its pretty cool when I want it and can manage to get it there. So, I let my right-hand index and middle nails grow just a little bit, but no more than that. Any longer, and they'll mess me up. I play on the meat of my finger when I want a warmer sound, and on the ends when I want it brighter. 'sa work in progress.

Cherie

[blueskid]

i know i'm not the most feminine female on the planet, and i'm not sure that my nails would be long either way...that being said, i keep my nails no longer than my fingers. if they get any longer they interfere with my playing on both hands. there is nothing worse than letting your a nail to get just a bit too long on your left hand and have it break/split during a gig.

[txbasschik]

Originally Posted by blueskid

i know i'm not the most feminine female on the planet, and i'm not sure that my nails would be long either way...that being said, i keep my nails no longer than my fingers. if they get any longer they interfere with my playing on both hands. there is nothing worse than letting your a nail to get just a bit too long on your left hand and have it break/split during a gig.

Yeah, I had that happen a couple gigs back. I've been super-busy, and forgot to cut them, and my nails grow so fast...!

Ripped the middle fingernail down the side, nearly into the flesh. Which of course drove me crazy the rest of the set until break when I could go bite it off.

I pack nail clippers in my gig bag now, so I can cut 'em quick if I ran out of time at home, or manage to tear one while playing.

Cherie

[Hullbert]

I have pretty flimsy nails, so I have to keep them short on my plucking hand--lest I have a nasty nail tearing incident (which I have done in past). I also keep the nails on my fretting hand short.

[crazy_bassist]

I'm a chick and totally don't like my finger nails being long, and I do cut them as a result. No need for them IMHO. .