How long are your finger nails?!

[Isaac_James]

Not quite down to the quick, but I only keep about 1/8" or so of white at the tip of my nails. Enough to scratch off a sticker or get the back of a label off, but any more and I feel that they get in my way. I'd do the same if I weren't playing bass, I just don't like long nails.

 

[MichelD]

Short.

 

[Bass Momma]

I get flak from the guy who does my gel manicure every couple of weeks because they’re so short. (Btw I get the gel jobs because my nails would split… it’s a great solution.)
Can’t STAND long nails. Always trimmed close to the quick.

 

[Fynn]

Been searching for a particular tone for a while and realised this particular's player's tone was partly due to his nails getting involved. I've always cut mine short. Have I been making a mistake?

I personally despise the sound you get when you hit your strings with your nails. To me that sort of tone is akin to a distorted guitar amp that goes direct into a console.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Short
But not short enough.

The flesh of my fingers does not stick out past the nails.
In fact the pads are kinda soft and indent easily.

And the last thing that hits the strings is nail.
There is a brief hang up.
I get a "k-dum,k-dum efffect.

So I sand them down with a sanding sponge until they don't effect the strings.

 

[Lostgallifreyan]

If this turns into a thread of old men showing their toenails I'm out

I could justify a dog's claw clippers for some of mine. Is that too much information?

Re fingernails, all short. The moment I misfret due to nudging something with the end of a fingernail, that end is gone. If I can't afford to stop playing, I'll make sure this is done well in advance. Same applies to the other hand, holding a pick. Those things can be hard to grip as it is.

 

[Ricky Caboverde]

I guess it really depends on how committed you are in getting the type of tone and character of sound you're interested in. Learning a new playing technique might take more than you're willing to give. In my case, I happen to have studied classical guitar, so playing with nails just became part of my technique as I learned to play bass (I don't get (much) clicks from the nails hitting the strings because there is a proper technique which prevents this). They're only 1/16" to 3/32" past the tip; so, not in line with current classical guitar players or flamenco guitarists. Sometimes, though, I'll use the side of my finger to get a flesh tone from the bass, i.e., get more fundamental than harmonics. My finger nail tone is thicker than when I play with a pick, and gives me more attack/high-mid punch than playing with flesh alone. I dig it.

There's a lot we fuss over, that when listening to a recording, you'd be hard pressed to really tell the difference of things like what pickup brand, pedal, nail/no-nail, etc. IMO, most of it only matters to how it makes you feel and consequently play/respond to the music. I doubt one can tell I'm playing with nails in either of these songs, below. All that to say, I don't think you have to (various ways to get at similar sounds), but if you want to, I doubt it'll be an easy change to make.

 

[JRA]

mine aren't typically trimmed down to the quick (the way i voted) but they're very short, and i'm always trimming/cleaning/filing them for playing (and removing hang nails)...my wife thinks it's funny that i pay so much attention to them... always have --- just a part of the gig. they're about the same on both hands, but if my left-hand nails were a tiny bit longer = that might be ok on the gig.

 

[rashrader]

It depends on if I just cut them, or if I need to cut them. Honestly, I don’t keep them at one particular length.

 

[Pilgrim]

No manicures, I just keep them fairly short. Not something I spend time thinking about.

 

[Grinderman]

When I was young I had a nervous, unpleasant habit of picking and chewing my nails to the quick, perhaps evidence I was made to be a bass player.

I hate when I pick up my bass and start playing to be reminded that I haven't clipped my nails in the last 3 days. Stop everything, get the clippers.

 

[dave64o]

I don't like the sound or the feel of fingernails on the strings. I keep my nails SHORT.

 

[pcake]

for over 25 years, i played with medium nails - not fingertips - that were covered with acrylic overlays.

since the pandemic, i found more frequent washing and alcohol / sanitizer removes the overlays, and since i'm not in a band, i just do my best to pay softer and be more careful, but my medium length nails stil break or crack a lot more than they used to. right now, my right thumb nail cracked on the inside (not from playing), so it's still longish on the outside so i can play but short on the inside...

 

[Turnaround]

I hate using a pick, but at times I want the bite that a pick delivers. So my nails are short enough that I can play without that “ting”, but long enough that I can rotate my hand forward a bit an get a pick sound.

 

[micguy]

Mine are very short - they never get anywhere near a string. If you look at my nails from the side, the end of my fingers is a bit above the height of the nail. I still get good articulation, though - hard callouses, and… when necessary, bouncing the strings off the frets.

 

[Tommy V]

 

[Killing Floor]

Pretty short. But they grow insanely fast.

And Thanks to the heroes of TB for not posting gross fingernail pics.

 

[Nev375]

My index and middle on my right hand are long because I play specifically with my nails.

About 25 or so years ago I went through a phase of wanting to learn banjo and fell in love with the rolling technique of using fingernailss and thumbpick. That super-efficient technique just stuck for a long time. Then about 5 years ago I ditched the thumbpick and adopted Leo's original vision for playing bass with the meaty part of my thumb and anchoring my fingers on a tug-bar.

So now, my technique is completely backwards. Thumb for soft rounded tone and fingers for a sharp pick attack.

I know it's all wrong and weird, but I've never been one for following tradions. I like to experiment and find my own way of doing things.

 

[sabre79]

Really short, too short, on my left hand, been playing a lot of 6 string. Right nails are a little longer, but not by much. Just enough to support the tip for fingerpicking.

Every couple of weeks I go through this thought process:
"What's that weird clicking sound?"
"Oh yeah, I've got to cut my fingernails."

 

[Cutter8]

Left/fretting hand:

Right/plucking hand:

The nail lengths/shapes on my right thumb and index finger are needed for a pinch-plucking technique I use that is very much like what Remco Hendriks does. Because I pluck with all my fingers at times, I keep the nail on my right pinky long to give me the added reach I need with that shorter finger.