anji and my damned thumbnail!

domhatch · 2017-05-04T11:38:32+00:00

so after a bit i'm getting back into fingerpicking. it's been a while since: - i played acoustic with any real intent - i used my fingernails for picking (th...

anji and my damned thumbnail!

domhatch

modulator wrote: You have choices here, adapt or struggle. But keep playing...

shew. that hits hard. and that's where i am in my life. i'm never going to be an almightily great guitarist. but i believe i owe it to myself and whatever power it is that saw fit to bestow some modicum of talent upon me to do just that. to keep on keepin' awn.

so thanks man. not only for 'nailing' the advice. but for nailing that last bit

cheers
dh|

Guitarstar

For what it's worth, i've battled with this issue for a few years and started taking it seriously 2/3 years ago. I will never have indestructible nails, but they have improved considerably since I started doing the following:

* Never do any washing up without gloves - repeated/prolonged exposure to detergent is an enemy of strong nails
* Invest in at least one good nail file, with at least one side which is v smooth. Crystal nail files are good and there are some guitarist's special types out there. The second you feel a nick or split, gently smooth it out. The edge of your nail should feel like glass.
* Biotin supplements - widely available. Also omega 3/fish oils. I used to eat jelly too, never entirely sure how effective this was, but some people swear by it.
* Good oils - rub in regularly, before bed is a good time, or when you know you won't be getting your fingers wet for a while. People swear by different oils - olive, coconut, almond. There is a blend called Flexinail which is highly rated, don't know if it's available here but even in the UK it was around R400 equivalent for a tiny bottle, but it does last ages.
* Moisturise as often as you need to - but beware doing this shortly after or before exposure to water, the combination can have a weakening effect
* Get plenty of sunshine on them. Mine have definitely improved since coming to SA from northern Europe.
* Plenty of You Tube and book tutorials on the ideal shape, which differs according to whose advice you're taking. Don't always assume that a perfect rounded curve is the best shape.
* Avoid (if possible) playing bass guitar or playing hard on heavy gauge strings. They will shred your nails.
* Just my personal opinion: using your nails (especially on the gentler nylon strings) helps strengthen them. Leaving them idle doesn't.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

domhatch

Guitarstar wrote: For what it's worth, i've battled with this issue for a few years and started taking it seriously 2/3 years ago. I will never have indestructible nails, but they have improved considerably since I started doing the following:

* Never do any washing up without gloves - repeated/prolonged exposure to detergent is an enemy of strong nails
* Invest in at least one good nail file, with at least one side which is v smooth. Crystal nail files are good and there are some guitarist's special types out there. The second you feel a nick or split, gently smooth it out. The edge of your nail should feel like glass.
* Biotin supplements - widely available. Also omega 3/fish oils. I used to eat jelly too, never entirely sure how effective this was, but some people swear by it.
* Good oils - rub in regularly, before bed is a good time, or when you know you won't be getting your fingers wet for a while. People swear by different oils - olive, coconut, almond. There is a blend called Flexinail which is highly rated, don't know if it's available here but even in the UK it was around R400 equivalent for a tiny bottle, but it does last ages.
* Moisturise as often as you need to - but beware doing this shortly after or before exposure to water, the combination can have a weakening effect
* Get plenty of sunshine on them. Mine have definitely improved since coming to SA from northern Europe.
* Plenty of You Tube and book tutorials on the ideal shape, which differs according to whose advice you're taking. Don't always assume that a perfect rounded curve is the best shape.
* Avoid (if possible) playing bass guitar or playing hard on heavy gauge strings. They will shred your nails.
* Just my personal opinion: using your nails (especially on the gentler nylon strings) helps strengthen them. Leaving them idle doesn't. EDIT: Idle hand do the devil's work, I guess, huh? ?

Hope that helps. Good luck.

thanks bud. some i do, some i don't. will give consideration to all. going into winter, everything up here gets more brittle... sigh... one of the things i (used to and am trying again to) swear by is that vaseline/someone else hand and nail cream in the pink container. sinks into the hands/nails/feet/err'tang like nobody's bizznizz.

the only problem i have is playing bass. just bought one so i could add dinkum bass lines to my songs/compositions. but that makes sense. so i guess it's bass picks from here on out... 8)

shot again
dh|

bruciekins

I have a similar problem with soft nails. One part of the solution is to keep them only as long as they need to be. I use the nail to support the fingertip, rather than to produce the notes. There's no need to use the thumb nail on every note, after all, it's the most powerful digit. It might take a while getting used to, but it's served me well, giving extra tone colour. The other thing that might help is that apparently almonds help your nails. I can't guarantee it, but in the 2 years I've been eating 4 a day I've had less trouble with my nails than I've ever had- after spending a fortune on Onymhyre and the like. I also use Mavala Nail Hardener, expensive, but lasts for ages. At the same time I went vegan, but that might be a bridge too far for you, and I have no evidence that it's helped in any way, only that it hasn't made things worse. Good luck, I hope this helps. All the best, Bruce.

domhatch

bruciekins wrote: I have a similar problem with soft nails. One part of the solution is to keep them only as long as they need to be. I use the nail to support the fingertip, rather than to produce the notes. There's no need to use the thumb nail on every note, after all, it's the most powerful digit. It might take a while getting used to, but it's served me well, giving extra tone colour. The other thing that might help is that apparently almonds help your nails. I can't guarantee it, but in the 2 years I've been eating 4 a day I've had less trouble with my nails than I've ever had- after spending a fortune on Onymhyre and the like. I also use Mavala Nail Hardener, expensive, but lasts for ages. At the same time I went vegan, but that might be a bridge too far for you, and I have no evidence that it's helped in any way, only that it hasn't made things worse. Good luck, I hope this helps. All the best, Bruce.

thanks bruce. will give the almonds a bash (love 'em!). and i also think i grew my nails a little long, especially the thumbnail. but, having had a look at the price of mavala - think i'll be steering clear! ?
dh|

studmissile

My secret to to healthy nails: Tea Tree Oil!

domhatch

studmissile wrote: My secret to to healthy nails: Tea Tree Oil!

yeah, have definitely heard that one. more than once. in the interim, have been keeping my nails as short as necessary, and that seems to have helped a lot. eating the almonds (or any nuts, really) has also helped apparently. without getting into the nitty gritty, i've been a lot more, ahem, careful doing up the ol' zipper. it's helped with the index fingernail, which has also been a bit of a bugbear.

i'll get a wee bottle of tea tree oil. i assume one applies directly? perhaps before sleep?

cheers
dh|

studmissile

domhatch wrote:
studmissile wrote: My secret to to healthy nails: Tea Tree Oil!
yeah, have definitely heard that one. more than once. in the interim, have been keeping my nails as short as necessary, and that seems to have helped a lot. eating the almonds (or any nuts, really) has also helped apparently. without getting into the nitty gritty, i've been a lot more, ahem, careful doing up the ol' zipper. it's helped with the index fingernail, which has also been a bit of a bugbear.

i'll get a wee bottle of tea tree oil. i assume one applies directly? perhaps before sleep?

cheers
dh|

Actually I stumbled across it in desperation, after a nail fungal infection. The doctors prescribed all sorts of medication (expensive medication) which helped but did not cure it. So after 3 months I googled and came across Tea Tree Oil, and though what the heck? Within two weeks my nails were perfect and healthier than they had ever been before. At Dischem you get Thursdays Plantation Brand, which is the purist and IMO the best. Its truly remarkable, I use it for everything now. I started off with a drop on each finger everyday, anytime. even just before I play guitar. I let it sink into my fretboard from my fingers. My nails grow so quickly and strong now, I'm cutting them more than doing drops. Now I only do the drops maybe 1 to 3 times a month. I sound like a commercial ?, but it changed my view on homeopathic medicine. I try a natural remedy before I go to the doctors now. I'm eternally grateful for this little bottle. its about R70-80, (there's also a larger one for about R120) both are worth their weight in gold. If I recall the prescription medicine in the same size bottle was something like R350.

It has a little nozzle you drop at the tip of your finger between you nail and finger.

They sell other products, but just get one of these little bottles, its a natural antiseptic, so you can treat it as such.

http://www.thursdayplantation.com/product-categories/australia/the-essentials-100-pure-oils/tea-tree-oil/

studmissile

Whats truly disturbing. I recall reading, that these trees that provide the oil, were heading towards extinction through deforestation a few decades ago!

domhatch

they're endemic to australia, somewhere in new south wales in particular if i recall. grow all over the place. although now they are cultivated all over the world - for obvious reasons. as with everything we humans covet, it wouldn't surprise me at all if what you say is true...

Shibbibilybob

Guitarstar wrote: For what it's worth, i've battled with this issue for a few years and started taking it seriously 2/3 years ago. I will never have indestructible nails, but they have improved considerably since I started doing the following:

* Never do any washing up without gloves - repeated/prolonged exposure to detergent is an enemy of strong nails
* Invest in at least one good nail file, with at least one side which is v smooth. Crystal nail files are good and there are some guitarist's special types out there. The second you feel a nick or split, gently smooth it out. The edge of your nail should feel like glass.
* Biotin supplements - widely available. Also omega 3/fish oils. I used to eat jelly too, never entirely sure how effective this was, but some people swear by it.
* Good oils - rub in regularly, before bed is a good time, or when you know you won't be getting your fingers wet for a while. People swear by different oils - olive, coconut, almond. There is a blend called Flexinail which is highly rated, don't know if it's available here but even in the UK it was around R400 equivalent for a tiny bottle, but it does last ages.
* Moisturise as often as you need to - but beware doing this shortly after or before exposure to water, the combination can have a weakening effect
* Get plenty of sunshine on them. Mine have definitely improved since coming to SA from northern Europe.
* Plenty of You Tube and book tutorials on the ideal shape, which differs according to whose advice you're taking. Don't always assume that a perfect rounded curve is the best shape.
* Avoid (if possible) playing bass guitar or playing hard on heavy gauge strings. They will shred your nails.
* Just my personal opinion: using your nails (especially on the gentler nylon strings) helps strengthen them. Leaving them idle doesn't.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

Some great advice here.
One that I find of particular importance is the good nail file. Keeping the edge precise and clean (Like glass) does sooooooo much to prevent tears and cracks.
And, though it does little for the strength, I find buffing my nails improves my sound.
I use a Wolfram slides crystal nail file, and thoroughly recommend them. I have broken one before (dropped on the floor) and I now keep one at home, and one at work. I have a spare that is going to find its way into my primary guitar's case, once I have built a little holder for it.

I found this video most helpful:

modulator

domhatch wrote:
modulator wrote: You have choices here, adapt or struggle. But keep playing...
shew. that hits hard. and that's where i am in my life. i'm never going to be an almightily great guitarist. but i believe i owe it to myself and whatever power it is that saw fit to bestow some modicum of talent upon me to do just that. to keep on keepin' awn.

so thanks man. not only for 'nailing' the advice. but for nailing that last bit

cheers
dh|

Shew to you too. Yes, too many years behind us and 1000 too few ahead. But, yes. We owe it to ourselves. I do not play to woo an audience, although the (few) people I have played to reacted supportively, even intrigued, I play to satisfy myself. Which is much harder to do. I amaze myself sometimes, but keep hoping that I can get to be a Player. Maybe the small victories should not be ignored. But a master, I will never be. This does not mean that we must stop trying to do our best. Grow up but never grow old? Or is that grow old but never grow up?

Enjoy! Always something new just around the corner...

domhatch

modulator wrote: Shew to you too. Yes, too many years behind us and 1000 too few ahead. But, yes. We owe it to ourselves. I do not play to woo an audience, although the (few) people I have played to reacted supportively, even intrigued, I play to satisfy myself. Which is much harder to do. I amaze myself sometimes, but keep hoping that I can get to be a Player. Maybe the small victories should not be ignored. But a master, I will never be. This does not mean that we must stop trying to do our best. Grow up but never grow old? Or is that grow old but never grow up?

Enjoy! Always something new just around the corner...

either or, i don't mind! works for me...
dh|

modulator

It's been a while, have you made any progress?

My problem is still lack of clarity/brightness/projection due to playing with my fingertips. I have been enjoying a Cedar top nylon, which we play for the "traditional" "warm" and "rich" sound, (apart from being masochists) but listening to CD's featuring classical guitars, I do note the lack of treble brightness and volume in my playing. The only solution is nails. Going to harder tension stings will not help much, I need nails.

I shall see how short they can be to play the nylon, but I fear my efforts will be useless unless I retire to a life of leisure, servants and never using my hands for anything other than playing.

domhatch

modulator wrote: It's been a while, have you made any progress?

My problem is still lack of clarity/brightness/projection due to playing with my fingertips. I have been enjoying a Cedar top nylon, which we play for the "traditional" "warm" and "rich" sound, (apart from being masochists) but listening to CD's featuring classical guitars, I do note the lack of treble brightness and volume in my playing. The only solution is nails. Going to harder tension stings will not help much, I need nails.

I shall see how short they can be to play the nylon, but I fear my efforts will be useless unless I retire to a life of leisure, servants and never using my hands for anything other than playing.

i share your fear. i recently tore my thumbnail (my bugbear, if you recall) on - of all things - my jeans pocket, getting dressed.

it seems i am destined to win on a seldom-to-never basis. but i have noticed an improvement by keeping the nails shorter on my plucking hand. i'm not too worried with the 'glassiness', mainly with shape and length. the video someone posted (Shibbibilybob i think - check above), has a great hint. shape the first and second fingers toward the thumb, and the third away from it - i'd never tried this before, but it works lekker. also, no particular shape on the pinkie - pretty much straight around the curve of the finger and fairly short. the guy in the video says it offers tone variation and that it does.

i've been using the vaseline pink hand n nail conditioning cream fairly regularly, and unless i'm really clumsy and tear a nail - or let one get too damn long - everything seems to be going pretty dandy.

thanks for the interest!
dh|

ps - considering fingerpicking is a pasttime, rather than a primary concern, i'm quite happy with where i am. were i more serious about it as an endeavour, i would invest a whack more into solving this as an issue!