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Fingernail length
- Thread starter Church-Bass
- Start date
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- fingernails
Because of curvature of right hand pointer, i must keep it very short, otherwise i get that wonderful scrape on my roundwounds. Everything else I keep reasonably short.
As short as possible. I think metal players may have a different sonic goal and want the nails in on the action.
I also keep my L thumb nail trimmed or it will cause little marks on the back of the neck. Found that out the hard way.
I also keep my L thumb nail trimmed or it will cause little marks on the back of the neck. Found that out the hard way.
All fingers trimmed very short, so no inadvertent nails hitting strings, BUT I keep my plucking hand THUMB nail a little long, because I like the option of an occasional “nail clunk” while palm muted thumb picking, which gets me a sort vintage “tic tac” bass plunk sound. I can adjuat how much nail sound or not I get while thumb plucking by just angling my thumb so the strings hit more of the side of my thumb for a smooth tone or for a bit of nail strike.
I also feel like it protects my skin and feels more comfortable for double-thumbing, although I only do that occasionally.
Basically I keep my thumbnail a little long and use it just like a plectrum.
I also feel like it protects my skin and feels more comfortable for double-thumbing, although I only do that occasionally.
Basically I keep my thumbnail a little long and use it just like a plectrum.
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I file my fingernails on all 10 digits short enough that the white part at the ends barely shows, if at all. I've done this for many years because it helps me get the tone I prefer and it is more comfortable for me.
As luck would have it, my vey short nails also work better with using phone and tablet type devices.
Koog
As luck would have it, my vey short nails also work better with using phone and tablet type devices.
Koog
I keep a fingernail clipper in my case specifically for this reason. If they get long enough to start affecting my tone, they get trimmed.
Pretty short but not down into the quick.
I float pretty high and don’t click so much. They’re not long enough that they would hit the strings the way I usually play. I also am a finger player on guitar and that tends to file the edges down anyway.
I float pretty high and don’t click so much. They’re not long enough that they would hit the strings the way I usually play. I also am a finger player on guitar and that tends to file the edges down anyway.
I've always used the metal ones with pretty big grit. But Santa left this in my stocking this year and I'm very happy with it so far.
https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Crystal-Diamond-Natural-Christmas/dp/B077XC3SKB/?th=1 (MiDenso Manicurist glass file, in case the link doesn't work.)
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Fretting hand clipped as short as possible. I like to keep some nail on my plucking hand as I will often hit the strings with the nail specifically to get the tone it makes.
Pads, there's about an ⅛" on there. If I had strong nails I would've a classical or flamenco player, but my nails are thin and bendable. I'm good with the fingers though.
Even professed lesbians agree, keep 'em short!
And yeah, that's good for bass too.
Dated a nail tech, she left behind some nicer nail/callous tools
Namely that foam block backed sandpaper.
Available at hardware stores and auto body shops too
400-600 grit works a treat
And yeah, that's good for bass too.
Dated a nail tech, she left behind some nicer nail/callous tools
Namely that foam block backed sandpaper.
Available at hardware stores and auto body shops too
400-600 grit works a treat
I hate, I really really hate, the sound and feel of my fingernails on the strings.
I do cut mine a lot, and I also very much dislike jagged edges, so I file them clean and round too.
I do cut mine a lot, and I also very much dislike jagged edges, so I file them clean and round too.
Yup. I keep mine long enough that I can curve my index finger at the first digit, lay my pinkie in front of the bridge, and get a Carol Kaye sound. My normal playing position is bent at the second joint, with a floating thumb, kind of like a classical guitarist without thumb picking. In that position I can still get all flesh or some nail if I want, until they get longer than 1/8”-3/16” then I trim them back. I have very fleshy hands, and my nail beds sit pretty far back from my fingertips. What you see in the pic is pretty average, I could certainly play a gig like this or longer.
I have a lot of bassist friends who are rather tall , and they have a more “extended “ hand position, but bend their wrist over the edge of the bass. I think I’d have to keep my nails really short if I played like that. I don’t think that angle would allow me the control to adjust how much nail I use. I can’t play like that anyway because I have to keep my wrist straight- it would cause me pain to play with it bent like that. I marvel that bassists do that for decades without getting carpal tunnel syndrome. Maybe they’re playing softer than I am…
Attachments
Left hand kept trimmed short . . . . .
Right hand kept long to use effectively as "picks" (1st & 2nd fingers only) . . . .
This carried over originally from my early days playing 6-string guitar finger style instead of using a flat pick. When I later began to play bass it just seemed natural to do it similarly. Unfortunately, when I do break a nail on my right hand I struggle slightly to maintain a proper feel of plucking. I've super-glued a broken nail on gig day probably about ten times - sometimes it held long enough to complete the gig - sometimes it didn't.
Pretty much as short as I can get without trimming into the nail body. I usually file them.
I do occasionally "flick" chords so it's important that there is no pain or exposed nail bed.
I find filing my nails to be more effective and less risky than trimming.
I do occasionally "flick" chords so it's important that there is no pain or exposed nail bed.
I find filing my nails to be more effective and less risky than trimming.
This is why I have small nail clippers in my gig bag. I also wash my hands with soap before hitting the stage after every break...when I can
