Are you a guitarist who loves their long nails? Do you feel like they get in the way when it comes to playing your instrument? If so, then this blog is for you! We’ll be discussing how to play the guitar with long nails and provide tips on how to make sure your nails don’t become an obstacle.
With our advice and a bit of practice, soon enough you’ll be shredding away with ease no matter what length your natural nails or fake nails are. So let’s get started – read on to learn how to play the guitar with long nails.
Practice With Your Fingers Higher Up
You can also play with your fingers higher up the neck, which allows them to be further away from the guitar’s strings. This is helpful if you have long fingernails or are just getting comfortable playing with them.
Playing with a capo will allow you to play on different strings while keeping your nails clear of the fretboard. For example, if you want to play something in an open position but don’t want your nails getting caught on any frets, try using a capo and playing at that section’s fretboard level rather than nearer where it bends.
If this still doesn’t work for whatever reason (e.g., because it feels awkward), consider switching guitars entirely—some guitars have smaller necks that make it easier for people with long fingernails (or even just regular ones) to reach all parts of their fretboard comfortably and safely!
Apply A Coat Of Polish
Before you start playing, apply a coat of polish to your nails. This can help strengthen them and protect them from breaking. Try to avoid using acetone-based nail polish remover when cleaning up your nails, as this can dry out the nail and make it more likely to break.
If you want, you can also apply a top coat every time before playing in order to protect the polish from chipping or wearing off quickly. Avoid using glitter or shimmer polishes – they are too heavy for guitar playing!
Try The Fingerpicking Technique
If you’re still struggling with your long nails, try fingerpicking for your classical guitar. This can be done with a plectrum (pick), or by using only the fingernails of your thumb and index fingers.
Fingerpicking is more difficult than strumming because it requires more dexterity and coordination, but it’s also possible to use this technique with longer nails than those required for strumming.
To get started on fingerpicking, hold down one string at a time with your thumb, while plucking the others individually with the index and middle fingers of that same hand.
This will produce an alternating bass pattern between notes when played quickly enough—this technique is called Travis-style picking after its inventor Merle Travis who used it extensively in his work as well as influencing many other guitarists from then on.
Another way to learn how to play guitar with long nails is by learning how to use a thumb guitar pick or “plectrum,” which are generally smaller than regular picks but have a similar shape; these allow for greater precision when playing chords or melodies that require both melody lines being played simultaneously (elevating their status from accompaniment).
Play With Your Finger Pads
Some guitar players are able to use their finger pads to play the guitar. If you’re one of them, great. But if not, here’s another trick that most people can pull off:
If you don’t have the dexterity needed to use your finger pads, try using your fingertips instead. This might feel weird at first, but it’s surprisingly easy once you get used to it (and there aren’t any big disadvantages as far as I can tell). Just play with whatever part of your fingertip feels comfortable and keep practicing until it feels like second nature.
Learn To Play With Both Hands
In order to get started, you need to learn how to play with both hands. The easiest way is by using your dominant hand (the one you write with) and playing the melody with it while using your other hand for chords.
The thumb of your dominant hand should strum down on all bass notes, which are indicated with a dash (-). With that same thumb, use upstrokes for open strings and downstrokes for fretted notes.
Use your fingers of your dominant hand in order to play the melody of whatever song or riff you’re learning. Your ring finger is used for fretting chords when needed, but not required in most cases (i.e., if there isn’t a chord on that string).
Use Nail Strengthening Base Coat To Strengthen Your Nails
The base coat should be applied before the polish. It’s a thin layer that strengthens your nails and prevents chipping. Base coats are designed to protect the nail from staining, which can happen when you’re applying dark colors to your nails.
The base coat acts as a barrier between the color and your actual nail. If you apply it correctly, it makes sure that none of the color gets underneath your nail or around its edges so that there are no white spots in any of your manicures!
When using a strengthening base coat like Orly Nail Strengthening Base Coat, make sure you don’t get too much product on your brush because this could cause clumping in future coats if they aren’t dry yet (which would look bad). Also note that if used properly with this method, each application will last up until next week without any problems! Here’s how:
- Apply one thin layer of strengthening solution onto clean fingertips using one stroke across each digit area only; avoid contact with cuticles or skin surfaces surrounding them because these areas may become irritated over time due to prolonged exposure…
Use The Right Type Of Guitar
It’s also worth noting that there are some guitars that are more difficult to play than others. For example, if you have long nails, then it may be more difficult for you to play certain styles of music on a electric guitar with a longer neck.
By the same token, if your nails aren’t quite as long, or your fingers aren’t as nimble, then those same guitars might be easier to handle on account of their smaller size and shorter necks.
Similarly, while many classical guitars come with solid bodies (i.e., they don’t have any cutaways), there are some hollow-bodied models that can be extremely comfortable with extended fingerwork (such as jazz or blues). They’re also often lighter in weight, which makes them easier on the hand after hours upon hours of practice sessions.
How To Play Guitar With Acrylic Nails
If you have acrylic fake nails and want to learn how to play the guitar, it can seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, there are strategies that you can use in order to make playing with acrylic nails easier and more successful.
Start by finding a comfortable grip for your hand on the neck of the guitar. A wide V shape is recommended for playing with acrylic nails.
This shape allows you to use the flat tips of your fingers as your primary source of sound production, instead of relying on just the nail. To play a note, press down firmly and try to keep the pressure evenly distributed across your fingertips.
You may need to adjust how you hold and strum the strings in order to avoid your acrylic nails getting caught in the strings. A lighter grip on the pick or strumming with your finger may be helpful.
When fretting notes, try to use only one finger at a time and press down firmly but gently onto the string just behind the fret. This will make it easier to get clean tones. If you’re having difficulty fretting the strings, you can use a small piece of foam to help deaden the string and make it easier to press down. Try playing slowly at first until your technique is perfected.
Perfect The Fingerstyle Guitar Technique
Fingerstyle guitar is the technique of playing the guitar with the fingertips, rather than a pick. It’s a good skill to master if you are wanting to play the guitar with long false nails.
When playing fingerstyle, your fingers should be curved and firm. Keep your thumb in line with the neck, slightly bent. This will give you the best angle to pluck the strings. Your other fingers should be slightly arched, with enough space between them so that each finger can pluck its own string.
When practicing, start by playing single notes and gradually build up speed. Concentrate on getting a consistent sound from each string and make sure your technique is consistent. This is especially vital, as false nails may interfere with your ability to pluck the strings cleanly.
Try Using Thumb Picks
If you have long false nails and want to play guitar, there are several ways of doing so without damaging the instrument or your own nails. One way is to use thumb picks. These attachments fit right over the thumb and allow it to strum or pick the strings with ease.
You can purchase these at most music stores, or even online. When using a thumb pick, you will need to adjust the angle of your grip slightly in order for them to work properly. You may also have to get used to playing with them before you can become comfortable.
Shorter Nails Are Easier For Guitar Playing
It’s easier to play the guitar with short nails, but it is still possible to play guitar with acrylic nails, if you find the right tricks.
For example, you can practice holding your hand higher up and squeezing your fingers together so that only the tips touch the guitar strings. This will allow you to use more of a fingerpicking technique as opposed to regular strumming.
Another thing is applying a coat of polish overtop of your nails in order to make them stronger and less likely to break while playing. If this isn’t enough, however, then consider using one or two base coats on top of each layer of polish so that they’re fully fortified before heading out into public.
Finally there’s also learning how to play with both hands at once which is something less people know how to do – especially without breaking any strings off their guitars while doing so.
Which Type Of Guitar Is Best For Playing When You Have Long Nails?
Acoustic guitars are an ideal choice when it comes to playing with long nails, since the pressure to press down strings is not as intense as on electric guitars. While an acoustic guitar produces its own beautiful sound, players can still use a guitar pick should they prefer.
The larger strings on an acoustic guitar allow for longer nails to be used without interference. Even if you have a smaller handsize, making it difficult to fit your fingers around steel strings, there are light gauge acoustic strings available that provide the same tone but make playing much more comfortable.
Lastly, the body of an acoustic guitar shields those long fingernails from damaging the instrument’s wooden surface or breaking off from heavy strumming.
Summary
If you have long nails, it can be difficult to play the guitar. However, this does not mean that you cannot play at all. If you think about your hand position and pay attention when you are playing, it can be done.
Always try to keep your nails trimmed short enough so that they do not interfere with your playing or cause pain when pressing down on the strings with them.