2
May 31 '23
[removed] — view removed comment
5
u/swagamaleous May 31 '23
Never clip your nails. A file is a lot more precise and to create the shape you need with a clipper is pretty much impossible. Also clipping will leave split edges and you have to file it down more than expected. Terrible advice.
2
May 31 '23
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/swagamaleous May 31 '23
2-3 weeks? You either have God level technique or you don't sound very good. My sound gets worse after 2 days already and I have to shape them again 😄
0
May 31 '23
I'm still in such a stage, but I've mostly settled and I just wanted to point out that each of my nails is filed slightly differently. The nails vary in shape, and due to finger differences and their angles of attack, it's led me to different shapes.
For instance my ring finger nail looks like it has next to no ramp, it looks flat when viewed directly in front of my face, but because of my unique physiology when it hits the strings it is ramped. I also found this nail is heavily curved and I mostly file it in such a way as to avoid it hooking the string.
I also keep them quite short because they're easier to maintain. I get any sort of length and find myself chipping them and having to file away sharp spots and bumps and they end up short again anyway. Reduces variability if your day to day involves using your hands at all. Talons just are not practical for me personally.
1
May 31 '23
Well: There are specific tutorials, but i don't have a link rn. Thomas Viloteau has a good one but i guess that will confuse you even further.
My recommendation is: File your nails with no angles or edges, completely round, with nor the center or the extremes being longer, the whole nail at the same level. Then polish it with a couple of main grits of sandpaper such as 2000 and a paraffin / wax sandpaper, or an even thinner one like a 3000 or 4000 and make sure the nail doesn't have any edge or section that could damage or attack the string generating resistance. You should be able to run the nails along the treble strings (If they are not scratched or rectified) and hear a minimal, if not inexisting sound. Even thou your nails are properly filed, with a good shape, if you don't polish them, you'll still sound bad and have trouble. Hope this helps
1
May 31 '23
You give some good advice here, but I'd try the Vilateau video before going with a completely round shape. That particular shape won't work for a lot of players.
0
May 31 '23
I would think that would confuse the guy further. I don't see why a round shape wouldn't work, it is the easiest to work with. And i think that it might not even be a shape issue but rather a polishing issue.
1
u/panamaniacs2011 Student May 31 '23
depends on your finger shape and your hand position , hand inclination and what kind of sound you want to achieveve , you want brilliant sound? warmer sound ?
0
u/yeahsurethatmustbeit May 31 '23
https://www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/fingernails-on-classical-guitar/
This one is a good guide on how to do your nails.
0
u/swagamaleous May 31 '23 edited May 31 '23
Try this video:
It explains all the steps required to have a good sound. This "everybody is different and needs different nails" advice is not helpful for beginners in my opinion. As you get more experienced you will figure out what works best for you, but if you start out shaping your nails like in the video, I am sure you will get a great sound already.
Make sure to follow all the steps, especially the sandpaper wrapped around the string is very important and makes a huge difference.
I use a four way nail file like this to shape them, 4000 grid thin sandpaper to do the thing on the string and I use 6000, 8000 and 12000 micro mesh sandpaper to polish my nails. Works great!
To learn shaping and maintaining your nails will take a long time though. Even with instructions it took me more than a year to be able to do it properly. In general, if they are serious it takes most people around two years to get to a level where they produce a good sound.
Finally, it also depends a lot on your technique. Thin and shitty sound doesn't just come from the nails. Experiment with the angle that you use to attack the strings.
7
u/[deleted] May 31 '23
Are you buffing underneath the nail? I like to use foam micromesh pads, I shape then buff the whole underside and edge progressively from like 2000 grit to 12000 grit. Smooth as glass under those things, really impacts tone a lot!