Do You Have To Have Long Nails To Play Classical Guitar

Guitar Lesson: Larn To Play Classical Guitar Without Nails

By Peter Edvinsson | Submitted On August 24, 2006

Expert Author Peter Edvinsson

Is it possible to play classical guitar without nails? I gauge then equally I oft do it myself. Many guitarists today and in the past have also done the same. Permit me tell you lot the advantages of no nails playing and give y'all some tips!

Sharon Isbin in her Classical Guitar Answer Book wrote...

"Classical guitarists tin play without nails, only they should exist aware that in doing so they are sacrificing certain possibilities of tone color and projection - all of which affect interpretation and musical presentation."

I take played classical guitar and also improvisational jazz and blues guitar for many years and have been teaching others professionally. I take played with long nails, shorter nails and no nails at all.

I have seen guitar students struggling with their tone on the guitar. Guitarists with problem nails, guitarists not taking care of their nails and after with a terrible tone and some guitarists with perfect nails and still not a good tone considering of faltering technique.

I accept also met guitarists that were playing without nails and I take seen electric guitarists finger playing without nails like Mark Knopfler and others.

As with nearly everything there are pros and cons with the unlike approaches. I similar playing without nails for these reasons:

one. Information technology's a claiming to find the tone and go the most out of the guitar playing without nails. You have to play with more than forcefulness to notice the upper harmonics and you lot accept to work fifty-fifty more than with the guitar technique. No sloppiness is immune!

2. I like the sugariness sound of my fingers touching the strings. The sound created is mellow but the volume will nonetheless be satisfying if y'all play with strength and with calousses adult past practising.

three. In that location is a special feeling involved in letting living mankind touch the strings on a guitar. You volition come nearer the instrument somehow.

4. Of course yous'll have the advantage of not risking to have your nails cleaved as you don't depend on them anymore.

5. Y'all will exist able to play piano with correct finger posture.

6. Yous can play electrical guitar with your fingers without risking to destroy your nails.

I volition now give you some of my own communication and experiences from playing without nails.

Yous might discover some more information on the net as there are many other classical guitarists and lute players who want to play without nails. Here are my personal hints:

one. Information technology will take a week or then to build callouses on your fingertips after having filed down your nails. This will improve your guitar playing and tone but until so you lot have to be careful not to play and so intensely every bit to become blisters.

ii. A fashion to build callouses is to play finger picking on electric guitar or steel string guitar. I accept experienced that my dejection guitar playing is much more musical and more dynamic as I play with my fingers instead of with a option on my electrical guitar. Sometimes I employ to alternate between my thumb and index finger when playing scales and licks and other times my alphabetize finger and center finger or in another classical guitar playing way.

3. You volition become a softer and in many ways a more beautiful tone if you cultivate your playing without nails. However you might miss some of the higher frequencies. To recoup for this y'all can see to it that you
e'er play with fresh new strings and if you are a rich man you might buy a classical guitar with more treble and less bass.

4. When yous use your nail sharpener (you should instead of but clipping the nails off!) to keep your nails short you might as well give your fingertips some grooming with the smash sharpener. This will improve your
tone and stimulate your finger tips to go harder.

5. As you exercise exercises on your guitar you need to play slowly and with a footling more strength to go a adept tone. It is important that you don't build tensions as you play. All musicians do good from learning
relaxation techniques and stretching to preclude injuries.

6. Exercise especially playing apoyando (support strokes) with all your fingers and heed to the tone and try to improve it as part of your playing.

If you feel that playing completely without nails is to hard for you, you might later this test period let them grow only you can go along them a lot shorter equally your technique has improved. They volition so work as the claws of a cat. Generally not used but however affecting your tone and supporting your playing. Equally with long nails you will have to shine them and accept intendance of them.

There are many more things to say about playing guitar without nails merely personally this technique gives me a tone I similar and an exciting and rewarding claiming.

Peter Edvinsson is a musician, composer and music teacher. Visit his site Capotasto Music and download your gratis printable sail music and guitar tablature at http://world wide web.capotastomusic.com.

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