Numerous guitarists struggle daily with nail problems, and rightly so because, both with classical and acoustic guitar, the best sound is achieved by picking the strings with one’s natural nails. At least that’s an opinion I share with many other friends and fans. If guitarists who use nylon strings can have nail problems, just imagine those who play the acoustic!
In fact, not only the strings are made of steel, but they are also knurled and with a higher tension, and the trouble is that if you play frequently, even if the nail doesn’t break, it will surely wear out. Perhaps this is also why not many acoustic guitarists are using natural nail.
Habits of acoustic guitarists
Let’s say that the habits of “steel strings players” are among the most diverse and bizarre: those who apply fake nails or clippings from plastic material ( ie ping pong balls), those who use metal fingerpicks, those who use the naked fingertip.
Sculpture nails
Others apply “sculpture nails” by using a mix of resin and various solvents. In the latter case, they also use dangerous chemicals such as cyanoacrylate glues that are harmful to skin and health.
It is certainly reasonable that before an exhibition you use various methods to repair or strengthen your nails, but if some alternative practices become the rule it is good to know that gluing something on top or even worse under the nail, we do nothing but weaken it.
Strengthen your nails without damaging them
If you decide to improve your sound choosing to pick the strings with your natural nails, let’s see how to reinforce them.
In the presence of particularly fragile nails, it is advisable to analyze the problem from a medical point of view and whether needed, to start a diet to fill up any calcium deficiencies.
On more, you can use products based on keratin, which is naturally contained by nails, or a mixture obtained with one spoon of lemon juice with two spoons of olive oil.
Currently, the product that in my opinion guarantees the best results from a curative and hardening point of view, is the Pentamedical ‘Pentaker’. It is recommended to apply it twice a week before going to bed. It is studied also against onychophagia, so in contact with the mouth, it releases a very bitter taste that can easily be transferred to foods, such as the fruit for example. That’s why the daytime application is not recommended.
Ideal cut of the nail
The correct cut of the nail is represented by figure n. 10
(Source: Mauro Storti: ‘L’arte della mano destra’ published by Carisch)
Prevention
Care time must be considered in the long term, so if we need to protect our nails not only to play but also before a manual work, for example, it is always better to apply a layer of hardening enamel to prevent damage.
In addition to this, it is important to follow daily care: the use of progressively finer abrasive papers for filing and polishing are practices that allow you to have always ‘‘well-groomed’ hands and not just before playing.
- Before diving into the water, especially if salted, apply two or three layers of hardening enamel protection over the four fingers of the right hand.
- Before work, use protective gloves and always keep a pair at home, in the car and at work.
- A good habit is to bring keys and other metal objects in the left pocket instead of the right one.
- In many manual operations, use your left hand as much as possible. A typical example, especially for us Italians: grater in the right hand and parmesan on the left!
- Check your nails twice a day. The so-called ‘sweater test’ consists of slightly rubbing the nails on the wool: in the presence of even the slightest cut, a thread of wool will fit on the nail highlighting the part to be filed at soonest.
- Finally the length the nail cut is very important: a short, wide-dome nail (see picture n. 9) will be more resistant than a longer one with an acute end. Moreover, in the first case the sound will be stronger and the attack cleaner.Greetings and good music! Franco
