n00b question about playing: fingernails...

[BrandonS]

... please bear with me, I'm still learning!

How long do you keep your nails? I find that I need to keep mine very, very short or they hit the strings and can cause a very bright sound when I least expect it.

Or... do you actually use them to sometimes create this sound? I've broken mine a half-dozen times already, even when very short.

Then again, the strings on my pre-MM borrowed bass were as hard as rocks...

 

[oddjob]

I think this is best answered by saying: It is whatever floats your boat.

I personally keep mine VERY short - but that is me. My buddy keeps his long (and paint 'em too) Neither of us are right or wrong. I have been known to dig with my nails a bit to get certain sounds but I am a finger tip type of guy.

Define your own playing style and habits (that includes personal grooming )

 

[Psycho Ward]

Use a pick. Next problem!

 

[oddjob]

Lefthanded pick????

 

[BrandonS]

Hey, I can barely learn one thing at a time. Let's not throw a pick into the equation!

 

[Ole Man Blues]

I had the same problem trying to learn finger style Bass. I cut my nails as short as possible and they still hit the strings.

I play mostly with my thumb and 1st finger sort of an acoustic finger style thing I learned when finger picking the Blues. Sometimes I use the middle finger too as needed. I get some weird looks from other Bassists, but doesn't everyone?....

OMB

 

[jlepre]

I bite 'em off (VvvV)

 

[adouglas]

Short.

This photo was taken to show how small my hands are...in order to demonstrate that you can play a 5-string bass quite well without having large hands.

 

[oddjob]

ADoug... oh, there are soooooooooooooooooooooooo many comments to insert here - don't make things that easy! Must show self restraint!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Big Poppa]

if your nails are hitting the strings unintentionally you are hitting the strings at a different angle than might be best.try woring on your fingers to have the nails point towards the floor a little more. You wrist is either bent or your hand is in more of a claw like position. Whatever works but there is never a easier time to fix this then how before you droove it beyond the point of no return

 

[oddjob]

if your nails are hitting the strings unintentionally you are hitting the strings at a different angle than might be best.try woring on your fingers to have the nails point towards the floor a little more. You wrist is either bent or your hand is in more of a claw like position. Whatever works but there is never a easier time to fix this then how before you droove it beyond the point of no return

so true

 

[Duarte]

Maybe a thumbrest would help...keep your hand at the right angle.

 

[BrandonS]

Good words, BP, thanks!

After revisiting I think the issue is when I get tired (like playing Peggy Sue at the end of a set) and for relief I change my hand/wrist angle during the song. Still working on building up endurance!

Last Sunday I used a friend's wonderful Taylor Acoustic for our church set and during practice it really seemed to amplify the fingernail-mistake Thankfully I stayed away from the problem during service.

Thanks, everyone!

 

[vcs700s]

I was a worship leader for years and had my nails longer on my right hand for songs that I fingerpickedon my Taylor acoustic. When I began playing bass I heard this irritating sound, cliicking against the strings. Easy fix- cut those suckers off!

Or as one person said- chew them off!! Yummy!!!

Now, I don't have any problems with noise on the strings.

I do find I need to keep my nails short as if I don't I begin to hear that irritating noise again.

 

[oli@bass]

Keep those fingernails pretty short. On both hands. It's more comfy that way.

 

[Smakbass]

I keep a set of clippers in my car and keep em short...used to keep them in my case but I have 4 different cases so I know keep a few things in this little compartment in the hatchback of my car...

9 volt batteries...
Strings
Clippers
Screwdriver
Fuses for my amp
Bungee cords

Then on the otherside I have a 10ft extension cord..

I would say if your just learning the best option is too keep them short you can get into using some nail in your sound here and there but I dont think as a learner this is something you should be really doing, keep it simple...

 

[carpedebass]

Wow! I'd say you guys NAILED this one...bu dump...boom

 

[Frantic Slayer]

very very short...some times i have to take a bit of skin off to keep short

 

[Aussie Mark]

Shorter than adouglas' nails.

 

[the unrepentant]

I have a habit of biting mine so i keep them short but i wouldn't want them long anyway. The only players that really have them long intentionally for the music are either country players or classical guitarists.