Breaking Nails

[cheddatom]

I always break at least one nail at each gig I play. I know it's from popping too hard, but I can't seem to stop it! Anyone else have this problem? Any advice to get around it?

The last gig I played I broke the 2nd finger nail and bit it off. Then the nail on my 3rd finger ripped, and I couldn't bite it off as it was so far in! Now I have bloody strings, which is rather annoying.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I keep my nails trimmed down as much as possible so they don't catch the string at all. I carry a little nail trimmer gadet with sissors & a file - its now one of my pre-rehearsal & pre-gig rituals. I started doing this when I noticed that alternate notes varied in brightness as my index finger nail was longer than the middle finger, so the notes played with the index finger were brighter which sounded odd.

To improve your technique, economy of movement is your friend. You don't need to play hard to sound like you're playing agressively - its all in the timing, turning up the amp + using a limiter if necessary.

Edited September 24, 2007 by Jean-Luc Pickguard

[cheddatom]

There is a definite difference in tone between playing hard, and playing medium, or soft. Plus, at gigs, we all get a bit carried away, surely?

Maybe if I kept them cut I wouldn't break them, but then I wouldn't have such a mean tone for my pops!

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

[quote name='cheddatom' post='64659' date='Sep 24 2007, 11:12 AM']There is a definite difference in tone between playing hard, and playing medium, or soft. Plus, at gigs, we all get a bit carried away, surely?

Maybe if I kept them cut I wouldn't break them, but then I wouldn't have such a mean tone for my pops![/quote]

In that case the only option I can suggest is nail varnish

[Alpha-Dave]

You could learn to use one of these?

[url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/Catalogue/ViewProduct.aspx?productId=2399"]http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/Catalogue/V...?productId=2399[/url]


[url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/Catalogue/ViewProduct.aspx?productId=1544"]http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/Catalogue/V...?productId=1544[/url]

[cheddatom]

I already use thumb picks, but hadn't thought about finger picks. I would worry about damaging the strings with metal picks though. I get through 7 plastic thumb picks on average each month.

I guess nail carnish would be ok if it actually strengthened the nail enough. Any ladies know about that?

[bassbloke]

It's what's referred to as suffering for your art

[endorka]

A large part of achieveing proficiency on a musical instrument is the striving for consistency, both in tone and your ability to perform. It is not always possible to control the sound of a venue we play in, for example, so elimination of as many variables as possible is a key to achieving this consistency. As you have stated, the length of your fingernail affects your tone; it also affects the way you play, as a nail scraping past a string will offer some additional resistance. If your fingernails always stayed the same length and never broke, this would not be a problem, but... this is not the case.

So, you basically have two choices; maintain a consistent nail length the easy way, which is that suggested by Jean Luc, i.e. keep them trimmed back. This is the method I choose; there are many styles of bass that demand a fat sound best produced by only the flesh of the finger, in any case. In my experience, long fingernails just get in the way, both on the left and right hands. If I want to get a sharper attack from notes, I can do it by plucking closer to the bridge, for example.

The other approach is that taken by classical guitarists, which is too keep your nails consistently long, in which case, welcome to the world of limp handshakes, the manicure set in your bass case, faddy diets, the diva huffs when you break one, and sneaky visits to the manicure booth in Boots where you hope your mates won't spot you :-)

Jennifer

[url="http://www.jenniferclarkbass.com"]http://www.jenniferclarkbass.com[/url]

Edited September 24, 2007 by endorka

[cheddatom]

I don't really like this idea that I shouldn't be using my nails, or that I should be striving for consistency. I'm striving for variety, originality, and fun!

I don't have very long nails, and none on the left hand as I agree, they get in the way, but, when you pop extra hard with your nail, it has a bite that cannot be attained otherwise, deffinitely not by playing closer to the bridge.

I was talking to my (female) boss at lunch time, and she says she gets her nails painted with some strengthening resin for like £15 so I may go for that when they grow back.

Thanks for the replies so far :-)

[anti-barbie]

False nails?

[cheddatom]

[quote name='anti-barbie' post='64832' date='Sep 24 2007, 04:16 PM']False nails?[/quote]
Wouldn't they come off even easier than real nails?

[bass_ferret]

Not if you use superglue

If you wont change the way you play to protect your nails then you are gonna have to do something like that.

[martthebass]

[quote name='cheddatom' post='64792' date='Sep 24 2007, 03:19 PM']I don't really like this idea that I shouldn't be using my nails, or that I should be striving for consistency. I'm striving for variety, originality, and fun!

I don't have very long nails, and none on the left hand as I agree, they get in the way, but, when you pop extra hard with your nail, it has a bite that cannot be attained otherwise, deffinitely not by playing closer to the bridge.

I was talking to my (female) boss at lunch time, and she says she gets her nails painted with some strengthening resin for like £15 so I may go for that when they grow back.

Thanks for the replies so far :-)[/quote]

Guess we must be in the minority. I play on nails on index, middle and 3rd finger, this gives me the tone I'm looking for plus cuts down on blisters if I'm doing a few back to back gigs. I generally just keep 'em at 2-3mm though so that breaking isn't likely and 'handshakers' don't think you're a girl

OTHH when playing fretless the nails are then short enough so you can play on the 'pads' and get the smooth tone if you want.

[Shaggy]

When I used to play a lot of flamenco guitar I used this stuff called Tuffnail (from Boots etc) that you rub into the base of the nail daily -it really did work. Also drink lots of milk - high protein & calcium - sounds daft but true. When I'm concentrating on bass I tend to keep them v short and use only the finger pad - find nails too "clicky" - but I mainly play fretless.

[endorka]

[quote name='cheddatom' post='64792' date='Sep 24 2007, 03:19 PM']I don't really like this idea...that I should be striving for consistency. I'm striving for variety, originality, and fun![/quote]

I think you misunderstand me. When I advocate consistency, I am not saying that every note you play should sound exactly the same: I am saying that every note you play should be under your control and should come out sounding the way you want it to. Elimination of variables helps you achieve this.

Jennifer

[url="http://www.jenniferclarkbass.com"]http://www.jenniferclarkbass.com[/url]

[grosa]

nitromours and gaffa tape

fix anything

[cheddatom]

[quote name='martthebass' post='64957' date='Sep 24 2007, 07:04 PM']Guess we must be in the minority. I play on nails on index, middle and 3rd finger, this gives me the tone I'm looking for plus cuts down on blisters if I'm doing a few back to back gigs. I generally just keep 'em at 2-3mm though so that breaking isn't likely and 'handshakers' don't think you're a girl

OTHH when playing fretless the nails are then short enough so you can play on the 'pads' and get the smooth tone if you want.[/quote]

Yeh, I don't keep my nails that long, maybe 3mm at the most, but they still break. I do change between using the nail and using the "pads".

[quote name='Shaggy' post='65048' date='Sep 24 2007, 10:31 PM']When I used to play a lot of flamenco guitar I used this stuff called Tuffnail (from Boots etc) that you rub into the base of the nail daily -it really did work. Also drink lots of milk - high protein & calcium - sounds daft but true.[/quote]

Thanks, good advice!

[quote name='endorka' post='65098' date='Sep 25 2007, 12:08 AM']I think you misunderstand me. When I advocate consistency, I am not saying that every note you play should sound exactly the same: I am saying that every note you play should be under your control and should come out sounding the way you want it to. Elimination of variables helps you achieve this.

Jennifer

[url="http://www.jenniferclarkbass.com"]http://www.jenniferclarkbass.com[/url][/quote]

Yeh, obviously the variable here is my finger nail length, which is very annoying, and I would like to get rid of it, as it comes with a lot of pain, and looking like an idiot on stage trying to rip my hang-nails off and suck the blood off my finger! When my nails are at the right length, I don't have any problems with control, or getting my sound right (or though I do use a lot of pedals, which helps).

[skywalker]

[quote name='grosa' post='65110' date='Sep 25 2007, 01:00 AM']nitromours and gaffa tape

fix anything[/quote]

Put Nitromors on your nails until they fall off and then wrap your finger ends with gaffer tape - consistent sounds and stops blisters

[s_u_y_*]

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='64657' date='Sep 24 2007, 10:53 AM']I keep my nails trimmed down as much as possible so they don't catch the string at all. I carry a little nail trimmer gadet[/quote]

Me too. I freak out when I'm playing with long nails (>1mm) and really disrupts my flow.

As for the TS, I seriously suggest going for a manicure everynow and then if they are that much of a problem. I've considered it.

[gilmour]

Martin Taylor the guitar player (jazzy Folk - very well renowned) uses false nails.

Walked in on him once at a gig putting them on. I was dissapointed at first, but I suppose If you play with your nails and you are gigging daily then needs must...

[cheddatom]

I'm waiting for them to grow back, and then i'm going to try this nail strengthening stuff they put on ladies long nails, so, i'll report back when I get some results from my experiment!