Picking for nail biters!

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

">{ daZza }

2003-09-01 20:33:13 UTC

Hi all,
my tutor has decided its time I learnt to finger pick, I think he called it
"arpeggio?", you know, thumb, index-middle-ring type picking. Anyway I bite
my nails and have done for the last 20 years. I know now is a good time to
get some will power and stop, but until they grow can anyone recommend some
"false nail" style picks for thumb and fingers. Had a quick search on the
web and found Alaska Piks in the US, but, 1; I am in the UK and 2; the
amount of nail you need to wear them means you wouldn't need them!
Thanks in advance
daZza.................

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Charlie

2003-09-02 01:04:34 UTC

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I have played for over 30 years and I used to be a nail biter. Get the
stress out of your life and your nails will grow and you'll admire them and
take care of them instead of biting them. Now I fingerpick with my natural
nails more than any other style and get regular manicures. For me..my nail
biting propensity and nail growth were direct barometers of my mental and
emotional well-being. Kick back..get the stress out and the nails will
grow.

There is nothing more satisfying then sitting on my Mississippi country
front porch in the swing and fingerpicking my old 6 string
(Yamaha APX-5A) and singing out loud to the cows!! Sometimes they actually
sing along.....I think!!!

-ps to actually answer the best fingerpicks I have ever found were from
ProPik. I use the stainless steel thumbpick and 2 of the resonator "double
wrap" brass fingerpicks for reso playing. ProPiks are great
IMHO................
--
Charlie in Mississippi
(driftin' blues player and gospel picker)

Post by ">{ daZza }
Hi all,
my tutor has decided its time I learnt to finger pick, I think he called it
"arpeggio?", you know, thumb, index-middle-ring type picking. Anyway I bite
my nails and have done for the last 20 years. I know now is a good time to
get some will power and stop, but until they grow can anyone recommend some
"false nail" style picks for thumb and fingers. Had a quick search on the
web and found Alaska Piks in the US, but, 1; I am in the UK and 2; the
amount of nail you need to wear them means you wouldn't need them!
Thanks in advance
daZza.................
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Daniel Seung Pugliese

2003-09-02 02:18:25 UTC

Permalink

">{ daZza }<" <dazkelly@"spam egg and chips"tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
: Hi all,
: my tutor has decided its time I learnt to finger pick, I think he called it
: "arpeggio?", you know, thumb, index-middle-ring type picking. Anyway I bite
: my nails and have done for the last 20 years. I know now is a good time to
: get some will power and stop, but until they grow can anyone recommend some
: "false nail" style picks for thumb and fingers. Had a quick search on the
: web and found Alaska Piks in the US, but, 1; I am in the UK and 2; the
: amount of nail you need to wear them means you wouldn't need them!
: Thanks in advance
: daZza.................

Dazza,

While (in my opinion) there is no substitute for natural nails,
Alaska picks come closer than anything that I've found.

I used to bite my nails as well, but as soon as I started
relying on them for guitar (I almost always use my fingers with a thumb
pick now), I found that the nail biting habit just disappeared with no
effort or willpower needed on my part.

****************************************************************************
Pugs (Daniel Seung Pugliese) INTP ***@execpc.com

"You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me!"
****************************************************************************

Rookie

2003-09-02 18:52:52 UTC

Permalink

Is it necessary to have long fingernails to fingerpick? I have very short
nails and I have found that I have no problem to fingerpick on an electric.
Of course I may be wrong, because noone has ever shown me fingerpicking in
real life.

jerry/patchmonkey

2003-09-02 04:27:23 UTC

Permalink

Speaking of this...

I am curious about the suggested length. I grew mine out to about 1/4 an
inch, but it got to be way too annoying for everyday things, like putting in
contacts. A pal who has been playing for a long time says that he does fine
with his nails very short - and another says that he has they at nearly 1/2
an inch.

Is there anything that says I can't keep them shorter, or is it all personal
preference?

-jerry

jerry/patchmonkey

2003-09-02 04:42:24 UTC

Permalink

Whoops...(try number 2)

Speaking of this...

I am curious about the suggested length. I grew mine out to about 1/4 an
inch, but it got to be way too annoying for everyday things, like putting in
contacts. A pal who has been playing for a long time says that he does fine
with his nails very short - and another says that he has they at nearly 1/2
an inch.

Is there anything that says I can't keep them shorter, or is it all personal
preference?

Also, what is the best way to pluck the strings? Ring on 1, Middle on 2,
Index on 3, and thumb on 4, 5, and 6? Or index on 3 and 4 and the Thumb on 5
and 6? Or even to use all five fingers (including pinky)?

-jerry

Post by ">{ daZza }
Hi all,
my tutor has decided its time I learnt to finger pick, I think he called

Post by ">{ daZza }
"arpeggio?", you know, thumb, index-middle-ring type picking. Anyway I

bite

Post by ">{ daZza }
my nails and have done for the last 20 years. I know now is a good time to
get some will power and stop, but until they grow can anyone recommend

some

Post by ">{ daZza }
"false nail" style picks for thumb and fingers. Had a quick search on the
web and found Alaska Piks in the US, but, 1; I am in the UK and 2; the
amount of nail you need to wear them means you wouldn't need them!
Thanks in advance
daZza.................
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.509 / Virus Database: 306 - Release Date: 12/08/2003

Daniel Seung Pugliese

2003-09-02 15:58:47 UTC

Permalink

jerry/patchmonkey <patchmonkey-***@patchmonkey.nospamming.net> wrote:
: Is there anything that says I can't keep them shorter, or is it all personal
: preference?

Jerry,

It really is a matter of personal preference for the most part.
Many Classical players will tell you that the nail should just be
visible above the tip of the finger when you look at your palm with the
fingers straight. This is the length that I keep mine at. Much longer
than this and they get in the way. Still I've met some other
non-Classical fingerpickers (and even some Classical players now that I
think about it) who have significantly longer nails.

Also, I've met some fingerpickers who don't use their nails at
all. The pads of their fingers on their picking hand have developed
callouses to the point that they can get a pretty sharp attack without
the nail. I had a guitar instructor once who had a callous on the edge
of his thumb that he used like a thumb pick.

: Also, what is the best way to pluck the strings? Ring on 1, Middle on 2,
: Index on 3, and thumb on 4, 5, and 6? Or index on 3 and 4 and the Thumb on 5
: and 6? Or even to use all five fingers (including pinky)?

Traditional technique calls for ring on 1, middle on 2, index on
3, and thumb on 4, 5, and 6. Again, there are exceptions to every rule.
There are some songs that I play that don't use the first string much so
I tend to move everything up, ring on 2, middle on 3, index on 4, thumb
for the last two.

Take a look at Mark Knopfler sometime and you'll note that for
the most part he is using only his thumb and index in an alternating
pattern (I've heard this called the St. Louis Waggle).

I would say that you should learn the traditional rules first.
There has to be a reason why they've stood the test of time. After you
learned the "rules" feel free to break them. Not knowing the rules and
breaking them is ignorance; knowing the rules and breaking them is
creativity. This goes for all of guitar and music. Learn the theory,
learn the notation, learn the scales, learn the chords, then feel free
to take whatever creative license you want.

****************************************************************************
Pugs (Daniel Seung Pugliese) INTP ***@execpc.com

"You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me!"
****************************************************************************

p***@quicknet.nl

2003-09-02 11:32:51 UTC

Permalink

Hi daZza
I am a flamenco guitar player, and as you may know, we use a lot our nails.
perhaps I can give you a few tips.
( ofcourse you can do with them what you want.)
I suggest, if you want to use your nails in the future, don,t use nail
picks, becouse the technic of playing is different.
When you play with your nails, touch the string with your fingertip, and
then slight it against your nail.
Let your nail grow about one or two mm above your flesh.
Not too long in the first time, becouse it is strainge in the beginning.
Your thumbnail, and thirth(middle finger) can be a little longer than the
rest.
Polish your nails, than you will not have hooks, and it will avoid them of
braking.
If your nails are soft in the beginning, you can use some nailhardener,
perhaps your girlfrend will have some (lol)
And now a little nailbite tip :
Start filing your left hand too, keep it short, and don"t bite this hand
eather, that way, you get used to be a nonebiter faster.
well daZza I did not want to sound like a teacher, but maybe you can use
some of the tips.
greetings, Peter.