How short do you keep your fingernails?

[Kerry Brown]

I was writing a song that had very quick changes between open C and full barre F. I’ve never had a problem with F barre chords before. Today I just couldn’t nail the change at any speed except slow, like 80 bpm. At 100 bpm I was lucky to nail it 50% of the time. I noticed my fingernails which were quite short were causing a problem. I trimmed them right down to the quick and it was way easier. I spent an hour practicing the change and now it’s no problem. I don’t know if I was just out of practice it was it my nails? How short do you keep your fingernails? I know I always used to trim them before jamming but I don’t remember them needing to be this short.

 

[Clockworkmike]

Lol i cant open soda or beer cans half the time without using my keys, so probably too short

 

[Kerry Brown]

I've let them grow out a bit so not usually this long....

View attachment 66771

Do you play left handed.

 

[Kerry Brown]

Sorry for posting you Kerry. I couldn't resist but I felt bad the whole time.

I actually have this problem from time to time. The worse problem for me is with hybrid picking, the strings snag under the corner of my middle finger nail and snap back unless I've just trimmed them. Drives me nuts.

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No problem. I knew it was a joke.

 

[Ramo]

I cut them just enough not to hurt myself and have that uncomfortable feeling.

 

[marshalltsl]

I cut them like every body. I don't use fingers nails to play. I use my fingerstips to play.

 

[guitarweasel]

Do any of you guys file your nails?

Because.........













I usually just throw mine away.

 

[iblive]

Do any of you guys file your nails?

Because.........













I usually just throw mine away.

Yes but….. do you also paint them?

But seriously folk. Like already stated by y’all. Keep my left hand finger nails pretty short. Hate feeling the nail hit the board before fingers do.

 

[Sérgio]

I cut them short. I hate long nails, always a shelter for bacteria and everything else. Plus it sucks when you break them. Back in the 90s when I played classical guitar I'd leave my right hand's nails long but I hated it.

 

[jtcnj]

Shorter than my fingertips. Feel it right away when longer, especially on open D chord.

 

[Cadorman]

Yep, short. Drives me nuts too if I can feel them on the fretboard. Maybe I should start painting them black like Ozzy.

 

[gball]

Sorry for posting you Kerry. I couldn't resist but I felt bad the whole time.

I actually have this problem from time to time. The worse problem for me is with hybrid picking, the strings snag under the corner of my middle finger nail and snap back unless I've just trimmed them. Drives me nuts.

View attachment 66773

I'd say mine are just about exactly the same length as Yargnad's. One thing I've noticed over the years is that I never have to trim the nail on my right index finger - it's always kept quite short and irregularly shaped from contact with the strings while I am playing guitar.

 

[Kerry Brown]

I’ve often wondered how Dolly Parton plays guitar. Her fingernails are exceptionally long. I’m thinking she must use an open tuning.

 

[gball]

I’ve often wondered how Dolly Parton plays guitar. Her fingernails are exceptionally long. I’m thinking she must use an open tuning.

Looks like when she plays.

 

[iblive]

I’ve often wondered how Dolly Parton plays guitar. Her fingernails are exceptionally long. I’m thinking she must use an open tuning.

Exactly. Always wondered same thing. I do believe she plays a nylon string guitar which wouldn’t require the required pressure. But don’t hold me to that premise. Just a guess.

 

[Beagle]

I keep mine about this long.



But they seem to grow between songs...

 

[Zzzzz]

 

[iblive]

I keep mine about this long.

View attachment 66876

But they seem to grow between songs...

Yours too? Guess I’m not alone on that one.

 

[Sp8ctre]

I keep mine cut down to where there is no white part on the end if that makes sense...

My nails are so brittle they break below the quick if I grow them out at all.

This is how I keep them, not my hand by the way...