Fingernail length

[Church-Bass]

I prefer to trim my fingernails short so it’s the pads of my fingers doing the fingerpicking.

I have always done this but wonder what others do.

Do you prefer this or the sharper sound of nails?

 

[JumboJett35]

I play with my toes. Prefer to leave a long curly nail for slides and bends.

 

[Watchootognbout]

My nail beds end at the very tip of my fingers.
So I use a sanding sponge to sand them down.
So that the flesh of my finger tips is the last thing touching the string.

 

[EvilJ]

Clip and file my plucking fingers. I hate the sound of my nails on the strings.

 

[dreamadream99]

I routinely trim the nails on my index and middle finger prior to performing. In the past, whenever I performed with longer nails, there were too many sonic artifacts that I could not control.

 

[jeffb28451]

Clip and file.

 

[Lo-E]

When I doubled on guitar it was trickier because I like to have some nail on the strings when I play guitar but I haven’t played guitar in a band for many years. Without guitar chores it’s better to keep my nails bass-friendly.

 

[bucephylus]

Guitar players manicure their fingernails; bass player cut em off. (Tongue in cheek (sort of))

 

[Geepers]

Because I’m 100% fretless these days I keep my nails very short on both hands (including the floating right thumb). Don’t want any nail interference anywhere.

 

[Major_Rager_4MF]

Best thing I ever did was grow the nails on my plucking fingers. Initially I did it to protect the pads (I tend to overplay and would get nasty blood blisters), but when I heard the change in tone (something between a finger and a pick) I never looked back.

 

[Ritter667]

I've found that I need a very specific finger nail length, not too long not too short, and there is not a lot of margin between too long and too short.

The nails on my plucking hand basically need to be almost exactly flush with the outmost tip of my fingers, in order for me to get my desired tone.

I stroke the strings, more so than really plucking, pulling or striking the strings, with the outmost tip of my finger/nail, in a slightly inward light slapping motion.

Too short nails and my tone gets too thumpy, too long and it gets too clicky.

 

[2saddleslab]

Can't stand nails hitting the strings, so always make sure they are trimmed accordingly.

 

[Dlew919]

I bite mine so you get the full pad.

 

[Lenny JG]

Never fully short, I do flamenco and stuff though

 

[KenD]

I have always played with nails trimmed on both hands, so that only the pads of the fingers on my plucking hand strike the strings.

However, as a New Year mental development and retention project I will be studying classical guitar. Most modern classical players play with nails on their plucking hand. However, I have discovered that before Segovia many of the Spanish masters eschewed the use of nails (Tarraga, Torres, et al.).

So in reverse, "everything new is old again"

 

[Wyrdlow]

Definitely very short on both hands. Clippers and a sanding stick are as much a part of my gig bag kit as strings and cables.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I prefer to trim my fingernails short so it’s the pads of my fingers doing the fingerpicking.

I have always done this but wonder what others do.

Do you prefer this or the sharper sound of nails?

Short, but long enough to prevent blisters.

 

[Deleted member 394512]

Filed short is my preference. I don't like managing nail click.

I have been meaning to post on this topic and ask what folks use for files? I find it frustrating to locate emery boards etc that don't fall apart or dull in a few uses.

Grit preferences etc?

 

[JRA]

i keep them trimmed (clipped and filed). the fingernails on my left hand are sometimes a slight bit longer than those on my right/plucking hand --- the angle/posture of my left hand/fingers allows that.

 

[Jefenator]

I always thought thick bass strings might rip a long fingernail out.
Even I'm wrong about that, I'll go ahead & keep using the pick when I want that extra snap.