The debate over long or short nails has raged since the dawn of the classical guitar and the right answer to this question is "It doesn't matter". But there are differences between the two styles and some things you should know before you decide which is right for you.
Some classical guitarists prefer to pluck the strings with the nails of their right hand while other guitarists prefer to keep their nails trimmed and to pluck the strings with the tips of their fingers. If you are a beginner classical guitarist you might be wondering which way you should play.You can start with no nails at all playing like that for one year or so.In that way you will find the right attack of the fingers.Only after that you could let them to grow.
Here are some insights about each way so you can make a decision as to which style is right for you.
The most important thing about playing classical guitar is the playing! It is true that the oscillating back and forth between long and short nails has an effect on the virtuosity but this switching also brings a benefit. The two different styles of playing produce two very different tones and this awareness of tone improves the ear and the ability to express yorself with the guitar. It helps you to better tap into the incredible range of tone the guitar is capable of.
Long Nails
Long nails give you a more vibrant tone, better volume and faster speed. But long nails can be a real maintenance headache. You have to keep them very carefully trimmed and watch out for their welfare in your normal life.
Short Nails
Short Nails do not produce as loud a volume, do not lend themselves to the fastest playing but do give you more control and more sensitivity in your playing. There is more of an emotional connection with the music because you literally touch the strings. Short nails are also easier to maintain and easier to integrate into the rest of your life.
So which should you use?
My recommendation for you is that if your intent is to be a professional classical guitarist you should cultivate your playing experimenting with both styles and see which you like.It can be a bit of a worry to have long, perfectly trimmed and manicured nails for playing yet always worry about breaking them. And breaking one nail seriously hampers, if not totally stops your ability to play. You will be running down to the local drug store to find a nail repair kit. Either way you go with your nails my biggest recommendation is that you not worry about it. The most important thing in classical guitar is the music and you should always think about what do you want to heare playing your guitar because its a beautiful instrument and it is going to sound fantastic.
Comments
I agree as well with the practise of shorter nails. For years the standard was 1/16" above the tip of the finger, thumb just a bit longer, and that was all. As of late, an easier standard to commit to memory is to have the fingernail be flush with the fingertip (looking at the profile of the finger, check this by holding a flat side of a nail file to the tip of the finger to ensure they are even).
A major drawback of excessively long fingernails is the producing of "buzz notes." These are when, after a string is plucked, one inadvertently touches the vibrating string again with the fingernail; producing an annoying buzzing sound. That sound alone is enough to ruin an otherwise good performance. There have been many who have played quite well with longer nails, but have had to program themselves unnecessarily to avoid such sounds. With shorter nails the method of muting and ideal timbre achievement is far easier and done with more natural string-hand positioning.
I have always played with no nails. My nails are at best, undependable and I have always relied on my pads to convey the sound. I give my students the information to tailor their nails if they request it, but I don't start any of my students with nails unless they insist. I think that it can be a nice effect, but it should not be a deal breaker for someone who wants to incorporate guitar into their lives otherwise. With young female students, I have the opposite problem. They want to grow their nails out for a dance or other social event, and are not willing to trim the nails on the left hand . This can damage the wood on the fingerboard and cause any number of other difficulties. Most of them will eventually compromise and wear the press on nails to the occasion, but a few of them will actually leave guitar rather than give up their nails. Does anyone else run into this, and how do you manage or fail to manage this sensitive situation?
Seems like everyone here leans toward shorter nails. I guess I just don't get that. Every guitarist I know personally (and all those I admire who are world renown) have longer nails.
I've tried playing with shorter nails and I just feel a lack of control.
I don't see how anyone can play tremolo without longer nails. (Although Tarrega himself had short nails - which surprises me).
The author of this advice mentioned that a beginner can start with no nails and then grow their nails. When I started to learn classical guitar, I read a book that described in detail how to shape the nails, and I grew and filed them to their advice.
Then, I read that many guitarist from the renaissance til about 1900 AD played with no nails including Sor, Carcassi and Tarrega, so I tried this and have never grown my nails since. Playing with nails sounds too harsh for my ears. When I play quietly, I can tell the difference in the sound between nails or no nails, but when I play loudly, I hear no difference between nails or no nails.
Absolutely agree with 123. I used to play with longer nalis, and now find that shorter nails with straight on positioning leads to greater speed, power and control in my playing. Paco is a good example. So are players like Barrueco. I wonder about the research and conclusions of the above article.
Wow, been playing 3 years myself & while I've tried, on many occasions, there ain't no way that I can get used to longer nails. I've found what works for me is the tip of the nail just short of the end of the finger flesh, that way I find they don't drag the string but when needed a minor alteration to finger angle lets the nail produce its thinner attack sound. If I let mine get longer that this, despite much polishing and attention, they just drag & interfer with my pick.
Having said there I notice on some UTube videos that there are some players who have positively excessively long nails. This doesn't appear to have interferred with the beautiful result they produce.
I guess it's what ever works for YOU at the end of the day!
Yes you got a point 123, but Paco is a Flamenco guitarist
So being a classical guitarist I would not want to play classical music with the sound Paco is playing because this is another thing.
I am not saying that it is not a good one I am just saying that it is another kind of sound and it is not the sound i want to hear.
I can assure you that not the muscle of the hand is giving you the tone volume etc but the spirit of the soul and the music you play.
Yes I also prefer short nails because I can have more control of the sound and more sensitivity in my playing
I agree with 123. Shorter nails are generally thought to be faster than long ones.Most current teaching encourages playing from the "spot" which is when both the flesh and nail contact the string. When executed properly it results in both a warm and clear tone.
Minor adjustments in the angle of attack can then create a more brilliant (nail) or sweeter tone (flesh) to augment playing ponticella or dolce, that is closer to the bridge or closer to the fingerboard
I would agree with 123 above. I used to play with longer nails and a little higher bend in my right wrist, and I found the longer nails hard to maintain. When a nail did break, there was such an inconsistency in the sound and feel that it was hard to play until it was repaired or grew back out. By keeping my wrist a little straighter and the nails shorter I could get the same tone and volume with an increase in speed.
The added benefit of not having to constantly having to worry about them was worth it alone. The main thing is to always keep them smooth so you dont get it snagged on clothing, etc, increasing your chance of breakage.
Well, this isn't quite researched. Look, for example, at Paco de Lucia's nails: short, he plays extremely fast if he wants to and has a beautiful tone and great volume too. (yes, but he plays flamenco some will say. And?...) The angle and way of attack, the muscles in the hand give the most part of the tone, volume and the other things. Personally, I can't understand how some people can play with very long nails. So my choice would be: short nails shaped to the right,with a correct angle of attack and strength in the hands.
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