Monday, May 10, 2010

Can you play Guitar with long finger nails?

I have long nails..and I was wondering can you play guitar with long nails....Dolly Parton (who is my fav singer)...plays the guitar with her long nails?....how does she do it?? can it be done??Can you play Guitar with long finger nails?
Dolly and other artists having long fingernails on their left hand play by tuning the guitar into a chord, usually, G major. They then barre the frets which produce the major chords needed for their songs. Obtaining dominant 7ths, diminished 7ths, major 6ths, and minor chords would be difficult.





I keep the nails of my left hand moderately short, but do use them occasionally to pluck additional notes as I use my right hand, getting a different sound from the strings at the nut.Can you play Guitar with long finger nails?
Thank you, I can see you, for selecting my reply as best.

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call me weird, but my nails on the left hand are always shorter than the ones on the right. i keep my nails long on the strumming side because i don't really like picks and it's easier to pluck when they're longer. (=
it'll be more difficult but not impossible.
Not well, No!





I used to play quite well, then I decided to be a lot more feminine. Look after myself, etc. But goodbye guitar: it's a butch thing! (Regardless of whether you are male or female).





Take up keyboards!
It would be pretty hard on the fret board. Pick one up, press on finger down on a string, and play it. And you'll see why. Would be good for picking the stings though.
depends on how your coming down on your notes....straight on or flat...if straight on (no)...if your coming down flat (shure)....
Can be done, but it's far harder. Yet if you practice enough, like Dolly, then you should grow acustomed to it and play just as well! On the down side you will be far more likely to scratch the plate : ( , but yes it can be done!
well there was an interview with DOLLY Parton years ago where she was just strumming her guitar and the interviewer asked how she played with long nails,


she promptly replied


'; well i just take em off ';


so i think that answers your question on both accounts!!
We're talking about your fretting hand, right? The basic answer would be NO - your finger tip has to contact the string and the fret board to get a clean sound. Even a slightly long nail ends up digging into the fret board. However, I have seen some ladies hold their fingers flat to avoid the nails - they can't play well, but they can play some basic chords. I think that's what Dolly does.
It's normal to have long nails on your right hand when you play the guitar,it's actually easier...but you can't have on your left hand ;)
yes flamenco style guitarists use their long nails to make the right sounds, its easier for strumming and they use them to tap on the guitar too. its what makes the style sound so amazing.
Sure, only with the plucking hand. It's a must for classical and flamenco.
One of the finest flaminco guitarists in the world is...don't laugh too hard because it's true...Charro. Really long nails and plays incredibly well.
it would be difficult on the fret board as you would get a lot of dead strings and buzzing, but you could tune your guitar to a key and just bar each chord [whole finger across all strings]
It would be difficult but not impossible. Hard to get a good clear sound with long nails on the fret board.

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