Proponents say that, with proper technique and practice, tone is actually better and more dynamic, volume is tied to technique and angle of attack and speed can be cultivated. Forget about oils and ointments, repair kits and nail files – life is simpler with short nails, and you’re always ready to play.ĭisadvantages: Many argue that tone, volume and speed suffer.

Rip open those cardboard boxes, yank the lawnmower out of the shed, fear no more the car-boot door, nibble your nails during scary movie moments, even unscrew that little screw when you don’t have a screwdriver at hand. Here we’re going to have a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of both methods. Many classical teachers start their students for a year or two without nails to promote a deeper understanding of tone and dynamics. Some, like the great Tarrega, played with nails and then towards the end of his life played with flesh. Some people swear by (and sometimes at) natural nails whilst others devote themselves to developing a flesh technique which involves the cultivation of fingertip callouses and, sometimes, very short nails to add a bit of top end to the sound. This article isn’t going to go there suffice to say that for some people, especially those with weak nails, it could be an interesting option. Here again there is an ongoing and lively debate about their merits and pitfalls. Before we get into it, it should be mentioned that there is a third choice here: artificial nails. There’s no right or wrong here, just plenty of heated debate.

They are much more permeable than the skin (so be careful what you let them come into contact with) and contain 7 to 12% waterīefore we get into the nitty-gritty of fingernail cultivation and maintenance, let’s take a look at a perennial debate that continues to stir up passion and fill blog pages and forums: do we actually need these things to play the guitar? Nails v Flesh – which is better?

Their main purpose in life (unless you are a guitarist of course!) is to protect our finger tips from damage and to help us handle smaller objects. Nick Haughton looks at the role of fingernails in guitar playing, especially classical and flamenco, and provides some tips and advice on shape, care and repair What are they?įingernails are made of the same stuff as the hooves and horns of many animals: a tough protein called alpha-keratin.

Classical guitar without nails