[Witchblade]

Hey there everybody!!

here is my next silly question
How short should my fingernails be on my fretboard hand? They are not really long. For instance I can type no problems - with out interfereing (do not mind my spelling however - that is not my nails fault just me!)

But I am having trouble not only with feeling like I have sausage fingers as well as hitting with my nail the string above it - I guess they have to go huh?? No vanity for the aspiring guitarist I guess

I am assume its ok to leave them longer on my strumming hand especially if I want to learn to finger as well as strum??

Any advice is welcomed
Sheila

[OldG]

Originally Posted by Witchblade

Hey there everybody!!



I guess they have to go huh?? No vanity for the aspiring guitarist I guess

I am assume its ok to leave them longer on my strumming hand especially if I want to learn to finger as well as strum??

You answered your own question there, Sheila...

If its any consolation, I never understood why long nails are supposed to be attractive - they do nothing for me

[Matty22]

Ill agree with OldG on the not finding long nails attractive.

on your fretting hand, they should be below the level of the fingertip so they dont interfere with the strings when your fretting them.

On the right hand (and im not 100% on this), i think they talk 1/8th inch longer than your finger tip. So the nail gets some bite on the strings too...

Try it, grab your guitar, and pick a string using only the flesh of the finger tip... and then do the same using the fingernail as well..... Much better tone innit?

[737blues]

Sheila, I think what Matty has said is pretty well spot-on but you might like to try the forum search engine too, (On the top blue menu bar) as there has been a heap of posts about nails and playing position. All sorts of useful info in there.