Interesting! I use my fingernails exclusively. Not even sure I could use a pick anymore! My thumb nail I shape to match how it hits the strings but the rest of my finger nails are mainly ”rounded”. I have no issues with nails breaking but find that if I have been using solvents without gloves (naphtha and such), my nails are more likely to break.A while back, I spoke with a local classical guitar teacher about my nails. He gave me a guide on nail shapes based on nail type.
Classical guitarists use different nail shapes: rounded, sloped, flat, or pointed. Right now, I'm using the rounded shape for my thumb. And the sloped shape for my fingers. This seems to be helping.
Sloped fingernail shape looks like this:
I like that illustration as a guide, using a filed down, rounded off Fred Kelly 'Slick Pick' thumbpick only and part fingertip/part nail attack, this shape mimics my Red Bear flatpick 'bevel' choice as close as possible.A while back, I spoke with a local classical guitar teacher about my nails. He gave me a guide on nail shapes based on nail type.
Classical guitarists use different nail shapes: rounded, sloped, flat, or pointed. Right now, I'm using the rounded shape for my thumb. And the sloped shape for my fingers. This seems to be helping.
Sloped fingernail shape looks like this:
I'm a life long bassist who suffers from psoriasis. I've always played finger style, and I've never been able to keep nails without them splitting and breaking. I'm now playing finger style on guitar as well (a pick feels really awkward to me), and it's been frustrating. While searching for nail health remedies, I came across this forum thread. I just bought some of the Youtheory Collagen tablets to see if It will help me. I hope it works!Big believer in collagen here!
After losing over 85 lbs, I had a lot of extra skin hanging off of me. One of the ways I read to remove this is to take collagen daily.
I've been taking 6 tablets of this a day for a couple of years and now I'm starting to see abs!
Side benefits are extremely durable nails and thicker hair!
Please post a report. I fingerpick with bare flesh. Can’t keep nails due to psoriasis.I'm a life long bassist who suffers from psoriasis. I've always played finger style, and I've never been able to keep nails without them splitting and breaking. I'm now playing finger style on guitar as well (a pick feels really awkward to me), and it's been frustrating. While searching for nail health remedies, I came across this forum thread. I just bought some of the Youtheory Collagen tablets to see if It will help me. I hope it works!
on.soundcloud.com
Exactly what I have done for decades!
And it's the same here. I see so many people use a thumb pick with bare fingers otherwise, and I've tried that too. I can get the technique down without an issue, but the thumb pick always overpowers the fingers and all I get are bass strings. I'm just very comfortable with bare thumb/fingers.
