If you play guitar, you know how important it is to have healthy and well-groomed hands and nails. Your fingers are the main contact point between you and your instrument, so you want them to be strong, flexible, and comfortable. Whether you play with a pick or with your fingers, your nails can affect your sound quality, accuracy, and speed. In this article, we will share some tips on how to look after your hands and nails for guitar playing.
Fret-Hand Nails: Keep Them Short and Smooth
Your fret-hand nails are the ones that press down on the strings on the neck of the guitar. If they are too long, they can interfere with your playing by making it harder to push into the fretboard. They can also cause buzzing noises or intonation problems if they touch the strings. To avoid these issues, you should keep your fret-hand nails short and smooth. Here are some steps to follow:
- Trim your nails regularly with a pair of nail clippers or scissors. Leave a small sliver of white at the tip of your nail to avoid exposing the sensitive nail bed underneath. You can clip your nails anywhere, as long as it’s classy. You can clip them while watching a video or waiting for a pot of water to boil. Just exercise some awareness of the social situation you are in, as in some circumstances it may not be polite to suddenly start doing your nails.
- File your nails with a fine-grit nail file or emery board to smooth out any rough edges or jagged corners. File in one direction only, from the side to the center of the nail. Fret hand nails (and picking-hand nails, if kept short) need little attention from the nail file. Just enough to smooth out sharp edges or loose nail material.
- Moisturize your nails and cuticles with a hand cream or oil to prevent them from drying out or cracking. Massage the product into your fingers and nails gently. You can use any skin moisturizer for your cuticles, or choose a specific cuticle cream or oil that nourishes and moisturizes dry cuticles.
- Protect your nails from damage by wearing gloves when doing chores or activities that could harm your hands or nails, such as gardening, washing dishes, or handling chemicals. You can also apply a nail strengthener or hardener product to your nails regularly to make them more resistant to breaking or splitting.
Keeping your fret-hand nails short and smooth will help you play more comfortably and accurately. You will be able to press down on the strings more easily and avoid unwanted noises or tuning issues. You will also prevent injuries or infections that could affect your nail health.
Picking-Hand Nails: Shape Them According to Your Style
Your picking-hand nails are the ones that pluck or strum the strings on the body of the guitar. Depending on your style of playing, you may want them to be longer or shorter than your fret-hand nails. Here are some general guidelines:
- If you play with a pick, you don’t need to worry too much about your picking-hand nails. You can keep them short and neat like your fret-hand nails, or slightly longer if you prefer.
- If you play fingerstyle, you may want to grow your picking-hand nails longer so that they can act as natural picks. You can shape them according to your preference, but a common method is to file them from underneath at an upward angle, creating a ramp-like surface that glides over the strings smoothly.
- If you play tapping or rock guitar, you may want to keep your picking-hand nails shorter so that they don’t get in the way of tapping notes on the fretboard. You can file them flat or slightly curved like your fret-hand nails.
Shaping your picking-hand nails according to your style will help you improve your tone and technique. You will be able to produce different sounds and effects depending on how you use your nails. You will also avoid damaging your nails or hurting yourself by hitting them against the strings or frets.
Here are some more tips on how to shape your picking-hand nails for fingerstyle guitar:
- Start with trimming your nails to a length that suits your playing style and comfort level. You can use a pair of nail clippers or scissors, but be careful not to cut too much or too close to the nail bed. A good rule of thumb is to leave about 2-3 mm of white at the tip of your nail1.
- Next, use a fine-grit nail file or emery board to shape your nails into a curve that follows the contour of your fingertip. File in one direction only, from the side to the center of the nail. Avoid filing back and forth, as this can cause splitting or peeling.
- Then, file the underside of your nail at an upward angle, creating a ramp-like surface that will slide over the strings without catching or scratching them. The angle should be about 45 degrees for most players, but you can adjust it according to your preference and comfort.
- Finally, smooth out any rough edges or bumps with a finer-grit nail file or buffer. You can also polish your nails with a soft cloth or a cotton pad dipped in rubbing alcohol. This will make them shine and reduce friction.
Shaping your picking-hand nails for fingerstyle guitar may take some trial and error until you find what works best for you. You may also need to adjust them depending on the type of guitar, strings, and music you play. The key is to experiment and listen carefully to how your nails affect your sound and feel.
How to Protect Your Hands and Nails from Damage
Playing guitar can be hard on your hands and nails, especially if you practice for long hours or perform frequently. To prevent injuries or infections, you should take some precautions before and after playing:
- Wash your hands with soap and water before playing to remove any dirt or bacteria that could cause infections or irritations. You can also use a hand sanitizer or alcohol wipes if you don’t have access to a sink. Make sure your hands are dry before picking up your guitar.
- Warm up your hands and fingers with some stretches and exercises before playing to loosen up your muscles and joints and increase blood flow. You can do some simple movements like opening and closing your fists, rotating your wrists, bending your fingers, and squeezing a stress ball. You can also play some easy scales or chords to get your fingers moving.
- Use a guitar humidifier or case humidifier if you live in a dry climate or store your guitar in a dry place. This will prevent your guitar from cracking or warping due to low humidity levels, which could affect its sound quality and playability. You can also use a hygrometer to monitor the humidity level in your guitar room or case.
- Wear gloves when doing chores or activities that could damage your hands or nails, such as gardening, washing dishes, or handling chemicals. You can also wear finger protectors or finger picks when playing guitar to avoid blisters or cuts on your fingertips.
- Apply a nail strengthener or hardener product to your nails regularly to make them more resistant to breaking or splitting. You can also use a nail polish remover that does not contain acetone, which can dry out your nails.
- Moisturize your nails and cuticles with a hand cream or oil after playing to prevent them from drying out or cracking. Massage the product into your fingers and nails gently. You can use any skin moisturizer for your cuticles, or choose a specific cuticle cream or oil that nourishes and moisturizes dry cuticles.
Protecting your hands and nails from damage will help you maintain their health and appearance. You will avoid common problems such as dryness, brittleness, peeling, cracking, splitting, bleeding, infection, inflammation, pain, etc.
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We hope you enjoyed this article on how to look after your hands and nails to improve your tone and technique. By following these tips, you will be able to play guitar better and longer without hurting yourself or damaging your instrument.
