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Old April 27th, 2008
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solidwalnut solidwalnut is online now
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Playing guitar for what seems like forever.
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Location: Phoenix, AZ USA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Noodler View Post
...Is it going to hurt and peel and all that sort of stuff, solidwalnut?
Oh, I don't know. I think it probably will, but not as radically as the fret hand fingers do.

I also thought more about my attack with finger picking. I really add flavor and varying levels of volume/string attack by not only using the fleshy parts of my fingers, but by also playing with the edge of my nail.

I keep my nails cut back, but not to the quick. So mabye there's 1/16th of an inch or so of nail...I find that I am playing the string with the edge of the nail at the same time that I am using the flesh. I get more bite the more I aim for pressure on the nail, softer attack with more flesh.

Many times, I'll intentionally catch a string by the underneath side of the nail and 'pluck' it. I'll continue like this for any individual note runs I want to incorporate. I also love the occassional 'fling' of the back of the index nail in a downward strum a la Flamenco style.


Steve Cass
Solid Walnut Music/ASCAP

Becoming a great guitarist has less to do with fancy moves than it does becoming a master of the basics and learning musicianship.
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