I stumbled upon this and might be able to help. Although I don’t play, I’m a licensed cosmetologist. For the dips in your nails, thinness/upward bends & grooves, etc. that is usually lack of certain vitamins/proteins. You can take collagen, multivitamin, etc. and it will do wonders. The large square file is a buffer actually (for the top/bed of your nails or long free edge.) Start by shaping the nail edges with the coarsest grit and then work your way to the finer grit/polisher, and maybe skip some middle grits, as that may save some time. You can work your way from the coarse grit to polish grit with about 2-3 different nail files and in much less time. And as you finish shaping the nail edge, swipe underneath with the finer grit/polisher and that takes care of the under nail. The crystal/glass files are meant to keep/not disposable like the emery boards, so you can just invest in a couple/few of those and you’ll be good to go!
And then there are some of us where no amount of supplements or eating right has changed how crappy our nails are. I have been genetically gifted with really bad nails no matter what I do.
Collagen makes a huge difference. I'm a guitarist and used to get my nails to the right length and shape for a short time before I broke at least one, then I started putting collagen in my coffee every day and now they are super strong.
Wow. Just wow. I never thought of this. This made classical guitar like 10x better. At first my nails grew pretty long so there was so much resistance and my nails kept getting stuck on the strings. It sucked. I literally worked around it this way for like 3 months until I found this video today. All that resistance is gone and I understand how gliding really feels. Thank you
I´ve been playing classical and other styles for 55 years. We all kind of know the basics of nail care but - as one upgrades to better instruments we need to also upgrade our unferstanding on this crucial subjet. You don´t play an Amati with a cheap bow. This lesson made all the difference for me and I am now enjoying great progress with my Paco Santiago Marin. Everything just fell into place. Thank you many times!
My guitar professor in college gave me a great tip for filing! Use saxophone reed filing paper. It’s very fine grained and makes you nail extremely smooth. Yamaha reed paper is the best.
I now understand why I've struggled for years trying to get a feel for, and where my fingers are, when trying to get a consistent action to my finger movement. Thank you.
Thank you so much for this in depth video. I have been struggling with nail shape for a long time because I didn't understand in detail what needed to be done to them. This is a great explanation, so much better than, "you have to play around with different shapes till you find what works for you." I mean true advice, but details are much more helpful. Thanks again.
Well, "you have to play around with different shapes till you find what works for you" is actually pretty true though. However, having a starting point is extremely important. I have my students follow this and then they make adjustments during their ongoing technique development.
Thank you ever so much! I have looked far and wide on this subject both online and in books. I have never gotten full understanding on the subject, and therefore never shaped my nails to achieve a good tone. Until I came across your detailed and clear explanation on the issues, with the close up videos finally made me understand what we are trying to do in shaping our finger nails! Thank you again!!!!
I am new to classical guitar, the sound is so beautiful trapped inside the guitar. Slowly you learn how to move your fingers to coax the notes out for your ears to enjoy. I am at this stage now where i am trying to develop muscle memory in my fingers. They like to do their own thing so i am patient. Your instruction videos have been amazing, i am now making the sounds that i love. This video was especially helpful because .... as you were showing the different finger angles and playing that very simple exercise for an extended time i was playing along with you. This really helped to pace me ....put a little pressure on ..... it is fantastic, i can't thank you enough for your efforts to teach this beautiful instrument. Thank you ...Glen, - South Australia.
Very thorough and helpful! I started in classical, switched and graduated in jazz, and I'm just taking back classical again (after *several* years). Your videos are the lessons I needed. Subscribed! Thank you very much for your dedication!
Extremely useful to beginners and intermediate students who can't find a good nail shape, it gives them more perspective as to where to look. No nail is the same, so trial and error is a must process which can't be avoided if you want to develop a "good" sound. Some very good photography illustrating hand position and nail approach. Lots of work, so thanks for sharing.
I used to play mostly blues but transisioned to classical as i became a father and did not have time for a band, rehearsals, tours etc. When playing blues i mostly played with a pick before going more for finger playing, but in blues i never had nails. As i started with classical i found the tone crispier and i got better precision with nails. But just as different picks generate different tones i found just outgrown arc formed nails gave tone i did not like, i watched some videos and decided to try your shape and MAN, it does a TONNE of difference, it gave exactly the tone i sought after! Thank you so much!!
In my experience I can say your nails are the ideal shape. The curvature is important. Not too much, just a smooth arch. Flat nails aren't good either as excessively curved nails. You have to make the most of what nature gives you. Thanks for posting, I found this very inpirational and useful. I think you are a great teacher.
What an excellent series! I've been playing for decades but had stopped for several years due to illness and circumstances. Coming back to it, your videos have been great! I am self taught, so I was excited to discover that my technique is solid--clearly I can play, but there is SO much I didn't know, or have language for in spite of the fact that I'd been doing it. Still more that's been amazing to learn and apply. Appreciated! Thank you!
Followed the advice and steps for this video and the results were amazing. Wasn't sure about growing them out but now I play better than ever, thank you!
A great video. I've seen many but not with the many angles you use. I used to play with somewhat longer nails but have recently realized that shorter nails give a much smoother attack and eliminate the nail click sound when playing free stroke. The advice about keeping the nail very short at the contact point ensures flesh contact. It took a long time for me to realize this, and that only happened when I broke a nail in that location! I am still trying to figure out the best shape for my thumb nail. My thumb does not bend back at all at the first joint. The nail has more arch across the width, which causes it to hook the string when it gets to a certain length. After seeing how your thumb moves through the strings, I think I need to experiment more with my hand position. Your thumb seems to be at more of an angle relative to the string than mine does, which is more parallel. That has caused me to grow a much longer nail than I probably need. Thanks again for the great video and your excellent website
Thank you for the very good introduction. Often you need to have have artificial nails first. Especially if your nails are not perfect in shape or if you play steel strings also a lot. I play since 40 years and this was always my main trouble. Now I found an extremely good solution to make perfect nails first, before grinding them. The one solution I prefer today is, with very high tech UV glue and standard available good nail coating. Cost for glue, small UV LED lamp and nail coating around 200 to 300 Euro. It is a little bit expensive but will keep forever. I am very exited with this solution and use it today.
Good video on shaping the nails. I like the fact that I can see all the views and contact points. I also like the fact that your nails do not need to be too long. Long nails get in the way and chip and break easier. Also, in my profession as a Surgical Technologist we are not supposed to have long nails. Love your site --Miss not having a guitar instructor now.
Excellent information. I had just started going to method of use of fingernails after decades of just using the fingertips with ground down nails. It sounds better to shape the nails as you've shown here. Very appreciated. I learned a lot. My recordings and live performances will be better. You covered all the points I was concerned about. Thanks!!!
Thank you so much. I am new to the guitar and was having trouble with nails and placement of the fingers on the strings. This is perfect advice. Love your channel.
I have a tradesmans attitude to the sanding... in that I use a 350, get the shape, grab my orbital sander discs (1200) and tidy up, then I let the burr fall off while playing haha. It sounds tinny at first but it sorts itself out. Your shape is good for my nails though. I appreciate the info. Thanks!
Thank you very much,after watching the video I was able to avoid some noise nails I was carrying all along. Besides my nails are now half long they were before so It'll be more difficult to break and faster to grow. Really appreciate your help :)
Wow what an amazing subject, I've never seen nail files like those, you explained all brilliantly, thankyou for sharing everything, all the best to you and all
Very helpful, thank you for making such a detailed video!! Really helps to see how the nail and finger are striking the string, especially for us visual people 😊
Thank you very much, I have been using my nails to play for 5 years but I had never achieved the sound I wanted, I will try to achieve it with your advice
I went to see the Montreal guitar trio a few years ago. I spoke with them after the show. I asked them about their nails. They had all fake nails with a ton of glue to hold them in place ;-)
Jesus, I can't thank you enough - I always used to have the ramp on the other side of the nail and I could never really figure out why I would have such a trouble consistently plucking the strings smoothly. Now, for the first time I played etude no. 1 by villa-lobos without any mistakes and I'm beyond happy :)
Best video on nails. What are your thoughts on reinforcing or repairing nails with nail glue and nail powder? Thanks for all your wonderful lessons, reviews and beautiful performances!!
You are welcome. I tend to stay away from glues and such as I find it causes issues down the road with weakening the health of the nails. Using a protein cream and moisturizer is the the best way to keep them healthy and avoid breakage in the first place.
Congratulations on the video. It is the best I have seen. It was good to see the contact point close up. I was surprised how much flesh of the finger tip was in contact with the string. Also my thumb nail looks like its slopes the opposite way to yours. So will test that out also.
Yes, the flesh/nail combo is a tricky thing to get down since it is a very specific spot. That's why beginners shouldn't use nails until they have more precision. The thumb nail is really dependant on your hand position and thumb joint, it's a bit different for everyone.
Hi Bradford, Thanks for your wonderful offerings. I got your Vol 2 book and now receive the newsletter. I am an experienced steel string guitarist wanting to play classical. My huge problem has been fingernails. Your excellent video on nails helped me understand two essential things: -the dynamic of the string riding along the ramped nail, pushing the string down, and then releasing. -that the fingers should travel toward the palm. Up until now I have just plucked at something like 90° to the string and my fingers were moving toward the side of my palm. This information of yours has made me turn my wrist and hand and I can see the difference immediately. My fingernails are a constant issue because I work with my hands (I am older and they break, even with nail hardener, good diet, etc.). With a decent nail I can start to relax and not push so hard to produce a tone. Playing with just flesh isn’t an option. With all this said, do you have an opinion about gel or other types of artificial nails? All the best, Tico Vogt
Hi Tico, if possible when you are working wear good quality well-fitted gloves, that helps. Plus, keep the nails moisturized, if they dry out they break and crack but when hydrated they bend instead of break. Lots of pros use fake nails, I don't really have experience with them but they do work. You can play with just flesh though, it can sound good if you work on it.
I've never considered the reverse ramp for my thumb. I'll have to try it out. I've always used ramps because that seems to make the most sense since strings are plucked at an angle. I've been told to try a more rounded shape, but I have slight dips in my M and A nails and the ramp allows the string to slide across the dip without getting caught by it.
Very nice and informative video! I enjoyed the variety of views and clearly explained even for a beginner! I've also read the full article on your blog and watched the videos there as well. Thank you for making this video, extremely helpful!
Cogent analysis and description of nail edge forming. I found the thumbed bass too loud decades ago so don't use pulgar nail and like skin . The i,m+a nails l would agree require exact maintenance personalised to suit
It’s difficult because with tremolo, I tend to prefer my nails longer. I almost feel that I can play faster with longer nails, but my contact point is interrupted with a nasty hiss when my nails are too long. I wish I could fast forward with tremolo to the day I’m fast with no gallops and hisses! Haha By the way, this is the best nail shape video on UA-cam. ✌️
Thanks Dani. Yes, I like long nails too until I try a diverse amount of technique. If I go through my whole technique routine with rest and free stroke I usually need to keep them on the shorter side.
@@Thisisclassicalguitar Very much so! I also enjoy your Cordoba reviews and many of your other videos. Your channel is a godsend to me! Would you consider making a comparison video playing the same piece on your different Cordoba's and your main guitar? Ideally with quick cuts throughout the piece from one guitar to another. I think it would get a lot of views, there is a serious need for a good video demoing and comparing the different Cordoba models. I looked exhaustively and a quality one simply does not exist. The few that I found all have bad sound quality or don't even play in the classical style. Cordoba should really be the ones to make such a video. I don't know why they do not make a good demo video for each model and a comparison of the different models. I would be really interested to hear your opinions on the c3m and c7 as well. Cordoba should really send you and a few other big classical guitar channels one of each of their models to demo and compare. It would be a win win win for Cordoba, for you and for the UA-cam viewers. Just an idea. Keep on keeping on, I love your channel and you play beautifully and you are a good teacher, as well.
Hello, thank you very much for these explanations. It realy made a diference on the sound of my play on Cancion del Emperador from Luys de Narvaez. I can hear more clearly every voice I'm playing.
I've been playing 2 and a half years with nails. You cannot believe how much times I dumped playing guitar just because of nails! I tried lots of shapes and I wasn't ever satisfied. Of course, there were times when the nails were perfect, but the thing is, it is impossible for me to redo that shape later when nails grew a bit. I had to relearn pieces of composition like Capricho arabe, just because my hand position changes significantly when having nails that differentiate a little bit after filing, therefore my hand tend to hurt, because of different muscles working when the hand position changes. Playing without nails is like playing 50% of the guitar for me... The only way is to grow longer nails, what I've been doing lots of times, but the tone is crappy most of the time and I cannot play fast arpeggio-strummed 6 string chords, because my thumb gets stuck (thumb is usually the center of all problems for me, not even mentioning a finger, because I have no idea why it is playing differently than any other finger). I am starting to feel that my right hand ain't suitable shorter nails, that produce great tone. Guitar is a very inconsistent instrument for me and very depressing...
Well, having a great teacher can sometimes fix a lot of things. Also, if need be you can play with fake nails which should work. That said, I don't mind the sound of no nails at all. Maybe some types of music suffer clarity-wise but Renaissance and classical works sometimes sound quite nice. There are pros that play without nails and sound good still. Don't nails distract you from making beautiful music.
You're not alone! Most guitar players experience the same feeling... and even when it sounds good, you still feel unsatisfied ;) Patience and tolerance is the key. Tuning is the other issue I personally find annoying. Depending on the humidity and the nail sound it makes tuning less satisfactory. The important thing is to always be positive and know that the next day will be better.
Thank you! Even though quite many people told me the same thing, today I realized how important it really is to be patient... I guess I am always in a rush when I try to fix problems. The problem I mentioned needs years to solve and I am expecting to solve it absurdly fast. Ridiculous right? From now on I will try taking it slow by keeping my perfectionist pessimistic self at bay.
I spent my first years getting nowhere... I was not practicing correctly. First of all the brain has to be taught to do the work, for this perfect repetitions at a snail pace at the beginning will ensure that you play fast later on. Practicing with a metronome is very useful at slow speeds. Remember this: Endless repetitions over a long time is useless unless you do it perfect. The difference between a good guitar player and a bad one is the way they go about studying. Unless you are someone like John Williams or David Russell to name but a few. Remember that patience is always the key to success. Take advantage of all the exceedingly good tutorials such as this one to become the player you always dreamed of. Slow and steady wins the race. Keep up the good work.
Jeremy Holston I feel all these sentiments also but I like to focus on keeping things balanced. Humidity and temperature is a huge factor in the playability of my guitar and affects the intonation so if it’s not right, it feels harder to play and the tuning won’t be right. But when things are all right it’s a beautiful thing. I get discouraged and then I know it’s time to return to some of the basic lessons and easier pieces that I know I can play and still challenging. I like Giuliani’s 120 arpeggios for right hand practice, it’s the same two and allows you to focus on many variations. Just do 10 a day and you’ll notice a difference. Also Segovia’s daily slur exercises for the left hand. They are boring but they work and you’ll enjoy playing more when it comes to pieces you like. I bought an 80s Ramirez 1A from a guy who didn’t play it for a long time, it sounded dead and I questioned buying it. I did and after being treated nice and played every day it is very much alive again. Classical guitars are like living breathing things.
Thanks for watching! Enjoying my videos? LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to help my channel grow! Need more help? Check out my videos courses with books: www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/classical-guitar-online-courses/
Excellent video, as usual. The camera angles are incredibly helpful, in fact the best I’ve seen. A personal request would be to see the same camera angles to show exactly what is going on during tremolo. Would that be possible please?
Good idea, although I'd say there is nothing going on during tremolo. I really don't view a difference between tremolo and playing scales and arpeggios.
@@Thisisclassicalguitar Thanks for the reply. I’m a learning Flamenco player, so all of my scales are rest strokes. I can certainly see where you’re coming from with arpeggios though in relation to tremolo. However, it’s still something that would benefit me, I.e forensically looking at string clearance and hand position. Hitting adjacent strings is taking a lot of avoiding! I do realise that practice will bring consistency, but I’m not sure if I’m making a fundamental error and establishing that as a ‘norm’ instead of practicing a good technique from the start. If the video is something you can do, I would be incredibly grateful, but not, thank you so much for your reply.
Ya, maybe in the future I will do a video. For now, check out my tremolo exercises: www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/lesson-tremolo-exercises-for-classical-guitar/
I have my angle reversed. Will have to slowly change it. I will probably notice a smoother feel and less grab. I noticed you nails are not that long. Do you find that your nails were short on this video or would that be the best length. Thanks for your videos, very helpful.
These are the ideal nail shape and length for me. If you play rest stroke and your hand position and knuckles are up high enough this length should be enough. That said, everyone is different!
I have the same guitar as you only it’s the newer model that hasn’t really changed other than you can’t get a pickup built in. However you can get a bridge pickup.
Could you please share your experience with playing with such short nails? What does it feel like playing with such short nails compared to longer first time the day? Do you feel comfortable playing, how long does it take till you feel 'warmed up' to play?
It depends on what you mean by 'short'. It comes down to the angle that your nail approaches the string and also and overall guitar and right hand position. Long nails can be difficult with rest strokes if the hand is in the proper position.
19:37 was actually the most helpful angle in the video, for me at least. Great video, I learned a lot. Thank you! Also, do you ever trim your nails? Or does filing on a regular basis keep them at the proper length? Mine grow very fast, I couldn't imagine filing so frequently that they never need trimming. But I've never filed my nails before so who knows.
I file them lightly every day to keep them exactly the same. Sometimes that is just a very light file and polish. I haven't clipped or trimmed my right hand nails in decades!
I stumbled upon this and might be able to help. Although I don’t play, I’m a licensed cosmetologist. For the dips in your nails, thinness/upward bends & grooves, etc. that is usually lack of certain vitamins/proteins. You can take collagen, multivitamin, etc. and it will do wonders. The large square file is a buffer actually (for the top/bed of your nails or long free edge.) Start by shaping the nail edges with the coarsest grit and then work your way to the finer grit/polisher, and maybe skip some middle grits, as that may save some time. You can work your way from the coarse grit to polish grit with about 2-3 different nail files and in much less time. And as you finish shaping the nail edge, swipe underneath with the finer grit/polisher and that takes care of the under nail. The crystal/glass files are meant to keep/not disposable like the emery boards, so you can just invest in a couple/few of those and you’ll be good to go!
Basically, shape the nail with the coarse one and then smooth it out/perfect it with the fine/polish one
And then there are some of us where no amount of supplements or eating right has changed how crappy our nails are. I have been genetically gifted with really bad nails no matter what I do.
Collagen makes a huge difference. I'm a guitarist and used to get my nails to the right length and shape for a short time before I broke at least one, then I started putting collagen in my coffee every day and now they are super strong.
@@alchemist1111 Did nothing for me
@@Cork_UO sounds like you didn’t do it every day
Wow. Just wow. I never thought of this. This made classical guitar like 10x better. At first my nails grew pretty long so there was so much resistance and my nails kept getting stuck on the strings. It sucked. I literally worked around it this way for like 3 months until I found this video today. All that resistance is gone and I understand how gliding really feels. Thank you
No more nail biting from now on? I see how challenging this is going to be XD. Thanks!
I started playing the guitar to get rid of that habit lol :D
Guys. Can I shape them without the nail file and stuff. I only have finger nail clippers.
Bite the left hand nails.
bite the left dude. its easier to control once youve grown your right
@@distortedswamper5796 basically impossible
I´ve been playing classical and other styles for 55 years. We all kind of know the basics of nail care but - as one upgrades to better instruments we need to also upgrade our unferstanding on this crucial subjet. You don´t play an Amati with a cheap bow. This lesson made all the difference for me and I am now enjoying great progress with my Paco Santiago Marin. Everything just fell into place. Thank you many times!
Glad you found it helpful.
My guitar professor in college gave me a great tip for filing! Use saxophone reed filing paper. It’s very fine grained and makes you nail extremely smooth. Yamaha reed paper is the best.
I now understand why I've struggled for years trying to get a feel for, and where my fingers are, when trying to get a consistent action to my finger movement. Thank you.
I've been unhappy with my sound for years and I just couldn't figure it out. This helped me immensely. Thank you so much.
Glad it helped!
Thank you so much for this in depth video. I have been struggling with nail shape for a long time because I didn't understand in detail what needed to be done to them. This is a great explanation, so much better than, "you have to play around with different shapes till you find what works for you." I mean true advice, but details are much more helpful. Thanks again.
Well, "you have to play around with different shapes till you find what works for you" is actually pretty true though. However, having a starting point is extremely important. I have my students follow this and then they make adjustments during their ongoing technique development.
Thank you ever so much! I have looked far and wide on this subject both online and in books. I have never gotten full understanding on the subject, and therefore never shaped my nails to achieve a good tone. Until I came across your detailed and clear explanation on the issues, with the close up videos finally made me understand what we are trying to do in shaping our finger nails! Thank you again!!!!
Glad it was helpful!
I am new to classical guitar, the sound is so beautiful trapped inside the guitar. Slowly you learn how to move your fingers to coax the notes out for your ears to enjoy. I am at this stage now where i am trying to develop muscle memory in my fingers. They like to do their own thing so i am patient. Your instruction videos have been amazing, i am now making the sounds that i love. This video was especially helpful because .... as you were showing the different finger angles and playing that very simple exercise for an extended time i was playing along with you. This really helped to pace me ....put a little pressure on ..... it is fantastic, i can't thank you enough for your efforts to teach this beautiful instrument. Thank you ...Glen, - South Australia.
Very thorough and helpful! I started in classical, switched and graduated in jazz, and I'm just taking back classical again (after *several* years). Your videos are the lessons I needed. Subscribed! Thank you very much for your dedication!
Truly fantastic with the various angled views. Thank you Bradford. Great instruction. Getting better everyday with your tutorials.
Thanks, yes, I wanted to do a long in depth video as I know it's something of interest and also a difficult subject to wrap one's head around...
Extremely useful to beginners and intermediate students who can't find a good nail shape, it gives them more perspective as to where to look. No nail is the same, so trial and error is a must process which can't be avoided if you want to develop a "good" sound. Some very good photography illustrating hand position and nail approach. Lots of work, so thanks for sharing.
I used to play mostly blues but transisioned to classical as i became a father and did not have time for a band, rehearsals, tours etc. When playing blues i mostly played with a pick before going more for finger playing, but in blues i never had nails. As i started with classical i found the tone crispier and i got better precision with nails. But just as different picks generate different tones i found just outgrown arc formed nails gave tone i did not like, i watched some videos and decided to try your shape and MAN, it does a TONNE of difference, it gave exactly the tone i sought after! Thank you so much!!
In my experience I can say your nails are the ideal shape. The curvature is important. Not too much, just a smooth arch. Flat nails aren't good either as excessively curved nails. You have to make the most of what nature gives you. Thanks for posting, I found this very inpirational and useful. I think you are a great teacher.
Thanks very much, everyone will be a little bit different but I like sending this to my students as a preparation before a nail lesson.
3:10 Thank you for the ligatures (fi and fl on this page). Great work, mate!
What an excellent series! I've been playing for decades but had stopped for several years due to illness and circumstances. Coming back to it, your videos have been great! I am self taught, so I was excited to discover that my technique is solid--clearly I can play, but there is SO much I didn't know, or have language for in spite of the fact that I'd been doing it. Still more that's been amazing to learn and apply. Appreciated! Thank you!
Thank you so much for this. It is the most thorough discussion/demonstration I have seen anywhere.
This was uploaded just in time for me. I grew my nails out and am now about to shape them. Thanks for the informative video!
Good luck, just remember to experiment and try it out using a variety of different techniques to find the shape that works with everything.
Followed the advice and steps for this video and the results were amazing.
Wasn't sure about growing them out but now I play better than ever, thank you!
A great video. I've seen many but not with the many angles you use. I used to play with somewhat longer nails but have recently realized that shorter nails give a much smoother attack and eliminate the nail click sound when playing free stroke. The advice about keeping the nail very short at the contact point ensures flesh contact. It took a long time for me to realize this, and that only happened when I broke a nail in that location! I am still trying to figure out the best shape for my thumb nail. My thumb does not bend back at all at the first joint. The nail has more arch across the width, which causes it to hook the string when it gets to a certain length. After seeing how your thumb moves through the strings, I think I need to experiment more with my hand position. Your thumb seems to be at more of an angle relative to the string than mine does, which is more parallel. That has caused me to grow a much longer nail than I probably need. Thanks again for the great video and your excellent website
You are very welcome! Let me know how it works out.
3 years later and my man is still helping me with this vid, Thanks!
Glad it was helpful.
Thank you for the very good introduction. Often you need to have have artificial nails first. Especially if your nails are not perfect in shape or if you play steel strings also a lot. I play since 40 years and this was always my main trouble. Now I found an extremely good solution to make perfect nails first, before grinding them. The one solution I prefer today is, with very high tech UV glue and standard available good nail coating. Cost for glue, small UV LED lamp and nail coating around 200 to 300 Euro. It is a little bit expensive but will keep forever. I am very exited with this solution and use it today.
Good video on shaping the nails. I like the fact that I can see all the views and contact points. I also like the fact that your nails do not need to be too long. Long nails get in the way and chip and break easier. Also, in my profession as a Surgical Technologist we are not supposed to have long nails. Love your site --Miss not having a guitar instructor now.
Excellent information. I had just started going to method of use of fingernails after decades of just using the fingertips with ground down nails. It sounds better to shape the nails as you've shown here. Very appreciated. I learned a lot. My recordings and live performances will be better. You covered all the points I was concerned about. Thanks!!!
Glad it was helpful!
Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you very much!
Thank you so much. I am new to the guitar and was having trouble with nails and placement of the fingers on the strings. This is perfect advice. Love your channel.
Glad it helped!
Very thorough, love the detail and effort put into this.
Thanks! I try!
Finally a tutorial. Thank you sooo much.👍👍👍
I have a tradesmans attitude to the sanding... in that I use a 350, get the shape, grab my orbital sander discs (1200) and tidy up, then I let the burr fall off while playing haha. It sounds tinny at first but it sorts itself out. Your shape is good for my nails though. I appreciate the info. Thanks!
This was fairly detailed and useful
Best sounding nail filing video in the world!
I wish I could have nails for guitar. Between my industrial job and rock climbing, I’d snap them off all the time.
Excellent lesson. I was always not clear anout this entire topic. I understand better now .Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent, looking forward to optimizing my tone. Thank you so much for this very informative video.
Thank you very much,after watching the video I was able to avoid some noise nails I was carrying all along. Besides my nails are now half long they were before so It'll be more difficult to break and faster to grow. Really appreciate your help :)
Glad it helped!
Wow what an amazing subject, I've never seen nail files like those, you explained all brilliantly, thankyou for sharing everything, all the best to you and all
Glad it was helpful!
Very helpful, thank you for making such a detailed video!! Really helps to see how the nail and finger are striking the string, especially for us visual people 😊
Thank you very much, I have been using my nails to play for 5 years but I had never achieved the sound I wanted, I will try to achieve it with your advice
Fabulous lesson Bradford. Thanks
Beautiful channel! a hug Lele (classic guitarist from Milan)
.
OUTSTANDING
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I went to see the Montreal guitar trio a few years ago. I spoke with them after the show. I asked them about their nails. They had all fake nails with a ton of glue to hold them in place ;-)
Ya, they shred a lot so I assumed that they would need fakes. Lots of players do these days.
Thank you! All the camera angles were incredibly helpful!
Jesus, I can't thank you enough - I always used to have the ramp on the other side of the nail and I could never really figure out why I would have such a trouble consistently plucking the strings smoothly. Now, for the first time I played etude no. 1 by villa-lobos without any mistakes and I'm beyond happy :)
Glad to hear!
seems like a weird place to write a prayer...
Those photos were so helpful
Thanks for the tutorial sir. 👍
Best video on nails. What are your thoughts on reinforcing or repairing nails with nail glue and nail powder? Thanks for all your wonderful lessons, reviews and beautiful performances!!
You are welcome. I tend to stay away from glues and such as I find it causes issues down the road with weakening the health of the nails. Using a protein cream and moisturizer is the the best way to keep them healthy and avoid breakage in the first place.
Congratulations on the video. It is the best I have seen. It was good to see the contact point close up. I was surprised how much flesh of the finger tip was in contact with the string. Also my thumb nail looks like its slopes the opposite way to yours. So will test that out also.
Yes, the flesh/nail combo is a tricky thing to get down since it is a very specific spot. That's why beginners shouldn't use nails until they have more precision. The thumb nail is really dependant on your hand position and thumb joint, it's a bit different for everyone.
A friend gave me the tip to use a certain brand of clear nail varnish to help protect brittle or cracked nails.
Thank you, Brad!
Hi Bradford,
Thanks for your wonderful offerings. I got your Vol 2 book and now receive the newsletter.
I am an experienced steel string guitarist wanting to play classical. My huge problem has been fingernails. Your excellent video on nails helped me understand two essential things:
-the dynamic of the string riding along the ramped nail, pushing the string down, and then releasing.
-that the fingers should travel toward the palm.
Up until now I have just plucked at something like 90° to the string and my fingers were moving toward the side of my palm. This information of yours has made me turn my wrist and hand and I can see the difference immediately.
My fingernails are a constant issue because I work with my hands (I am older and they break, even with nail hardener, good diet, etc.). With a decent nail I can start to relax and not push so hard to produce a tone. Playing with just flesh isn’t an option.
With all this said, do you have an opinion about gel or other types of artificial nails?
All the best,
Tico Vogt
Hi Tico, if possible when you are working wear good quality well-fitted gloves, that helps. Plus, keep the nails moisturized, if they dry out they break and crack but when hydrated they bend instead of break. Lots of pros use fake nails, I don't really have experience with them but they do work. You can play with just flesh though, it can sound good if you work on it.
16:37 that G# harmonic when you hit the E string
@Siddharth its a comment.
Nice! Great camera angles. 👍🎬
Thanks!
Thanks for this, very helpful.
Very comprehensive demonstrations! Merry Christmas!
excellent video,thanks !
Thank you Sir 😊
Excellent and timely. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I've never considered the reverse ramp for my thumb. I'll have to try it out. I've always used ramps because that seems to make the most sense since strings are plucked at an angle. I've been told to try a more rounded shape, but I have slight dips in my M and A nails and the ramp allows the string to slide across the dip without getting caught by it.
Experimentation is key to it. I'm still experimenting 25 year later (although the experiments become much more specific and small over time).
Thank u I found this super instructive!
Thanks a lot for this really helpfull NailLesson!!! Greetings from Saxony Germany ... :)
What an excellent video. Very helpful. Thank you very much.
Glad it was helpful!
Great lesson! So many important and useful information. Thank You!
Glad it was helpful!
All very important... thanks.
Thanks, very helpful. Subscribed.
Glad it was helpful!
Super fantastic - I never found any instruction or video on you should plugs the strings -- this answers me 100%
Great video! Very helpful explanation! Thank you so much!
Glad it was helpful!
Very nice and informative video! I enjoyed the variety of views and clearly explained even for a beginner! I've also read the full article on your blog and watched the videos there as well. Thank you for making this video, extremely helpful!
Glad you enjoyed it, it took forever to make!
This is very helpful. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Cogent analysis and description of nail edge forming.
I found the thumbed bass too loud decades ago so don't use pulgar nail and like skin . The i,m+a nails l would agree require exact maintenance personalised to suit
It’s difficult because with tremolo, I tend to prefer my nails longer. I almost feel that I can play faster with longer nails, but my contact point is interrupted with a nasty hiss when my nails are too long. I wish I could fast forward with tremolo to the day I’m fast with no gallops and hisses! Haha By the way, this is the best nail shape video on UA-cam. ✌️
Thanks Dani. Yes, I like long nails too until I try a diverse amount of technique. If I go through my whole technique routine with rest and free stroke I usually need to keep them on the shorter side.
Great explanation. Thank you sir.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you!
My pleasure, hope you found it helpful!
@@Thisisclassicalguitar Very much so!
I also enjoy your Cordoba reviews and many of your other videos. Your channel is a godsend to me!
Would you consider making a comparison video playing the same piece on your different Cordoba's and your main guitar? Ideally with quick cuts throughout the piece from one guitar to another.
I think it would get a lot of views, there is a serious need for a good video demoing and comparing the different Cordoba models. I looked exhaustively and a quality one simply does not exist. The few that I found all have bad sound quality or don't even play in the classical style.
Cordoba should really be the ones to make such a video. I don't know why they do not make a good demo video for each model and a comparison of the different models.
I would be really interested to hear your opinions on the c3m and c7 as well. Cordoba should really send you and a few other big classical guitar channels one of each of their models to demo and compare. It would be a win win win for Cordoba, for you and for the UA-cam viewers.
Just an idea.
Keep on keeping on, I love your channel and you play beautifully and you are a good teacher, as well.
Hello, thank you very much for these explanations. It realy made a diference on the sound of my play on Cancion del Emperador from Luys de Narvaez. I can hear more clearly every voice I'm playing.
Glad it helped!
I've been playing 2 and a half years with nails. You cannot believe how much times I dumped playing guitar just because of nails! I tried lots of shapes and I wasn't ever satisfied. Of course, there were times when the nails were perfect, but the thing is, it is impossible for me to redo that shape later when nails grew a bit. I had to relearn pieces of composition like Capricho arabe, just because my hand position changes significantly when having nails that differentiate a little bit after filing, therefore my hand tend to hurt, because of different muscles working when the hand position changes. Playing without nails is like playing 50% of the guitar for me... The only way is to grow longer nails, what I've been doing lots of times, but the tone is crappy most of the time and I cannot play fast arpeggio-strummed 6 string chords, because my thumb gets stuck (thumb is usually the center of all problems for me, not even mentioning a finger, because I have no idea why it is playing differently than any other finger). I am starting to feel that my right hand ain't suitable shorter nails, that produce great tone. Guitar is a very inconsistent instrument for me and very depressing...
Well, having a great teacher can sometimes fix a lot of things. Also, if need be you can play with fake nails which should work. That said, I don't mind the sound of no nails at all. Maybe some types of music suffer clarity-wise but Renaissance and classical works sometimes sound quite nice. There are pros that play without nails and sound good still. Don't nails distract you from making beautiful music.
You're not alone! Most guitar players experience the same feeling... and even when it sounds good, you still feel unsatisfied ;) Patience and tolerance is the key. Tuning is the other issue I personally find annoying. Depending on the humidity and the nail sound it makes tuning less satisfactory. The important thing is to always be positive and know that the next day will be better.
Thank you! Even though quite many people told me the same thing, today I realized how important it really is to be patient... I guess I am always in a rush when I try to fix problems. The problem I mentioned needs years to solve and I am expecting to solve it absurdly fast. Ridiculous right? From now on I will try taking it slow by keeping my perfectionist pessimistic self at bay.
I spent my first years getting nowhere... I was not practicing correctly. First of all the brain has to be taught to do the work, for this perfect repetitions at a snail pace at the beginning will ensure that you play fast later on. Practicing with a metronome is very useful at slow speeds. Remember this: Endless repetitions over a long time is useless unless you do it perfect. The difference between a good guitar player and a bad one is the way they go about studying. Unless you are someone like John Williams or David Russell to name but a few. Remember that patience is always the key to success. Take advantage of all the exceedingly good tutorials such as this one to become the player you always dreamed of. Slow and steady wins the race. Keep up the good work.
Jeremy Holston I feel all these sentiments also but I like to focus on keeping things balanced. Humidity and temperature is a huge factor in the playability of my guitar and affects the intonation so if it’s not right, it feels harder to play and the tuning won’t be right. But when things are all right it’s a beautiful thing. I get discouraged and then I know it’s time to return to some of the basic lessons and easier pieces that I know I can play and still challenging. I like Giuliani’s 120 arpeggios for right hand practice, it’s the same two and allows you to focus on many variations. Just do 10 a day and you’ll notice a difference. Also Segovia’s daily slur exercises for the left hand. They are boring but they work and you’ll enjoy playing more when it comes to pieces you like. I bought an 80s Ramirez 1A from a guy who didn’t play it for a long time, it sounded dead and I questioned buying it. I did and after being treated nice and played every day it is very much alive again. Classical guitars are like living breathing things.
Thanks for watching! Enjoying my videos? LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to help my channel grow!
Need more help? Check out my videos courses with books: www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/classical-guitar-online-courses/
Very helpful!
Great to hear!
thank you, it is just that i need
Glad to hear it helped!
Ty from brazil!
You are very welcome!
I use 600 grit sandpaper to buff after shaping.
Always enjoy your tutorials
Thanks, this one was a lot of work but fun too.
Excellent video, as usual. The camera angles are incredibly helpful, in fact the best I’ve seen. A personal request would be to see the same camera angles to show exactly what is going on during tremolo. Would that be possible please?
Good idea, although I'd say there is nothing going on during tremolo. I really don't view a difference between tremolo and playing scales and arpeggios.
@@Thisisclassicalguitar
Thanks for the reply. I’m a learning Flamenco player, so all of my scales are rest strokes. I can certainly see where you’re coming from with arpeggios though in relation to tremolo. However, it’s still something that would benefit me, I.e forensically looking at string clearance and hand position. Hitting adjacent strings is taking a lot of avoiding! I do realise that practice will bring consistency, but I’m not sure if I’m making a fundamental error and establishing that as a ‘norm’ instead of practicing a good technique from the start. If the video is something you can do, I would be incredibly grateful, but not, thank you so much for your reply.
Ya, maybe in the future I will do a video. For now, check out my tremolo exercises: www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/lesson-tremolo-exercises-for-classical-guitar/
@@Thisisclassicalguitar
Thanks for your reply. You’re a great player and a brilliant teacher.
Amazing helpfull video. Thank you buddy 🙌👍💙
Happy to help!
I can't thank you enough!!
Impecable ,pero sería bueno que se tradujera al ESPAÑOL gracias.
Great help chap. Thanks.
Nice, glad it helped!
I have my angle reversed. Will have to slowly change it. I will probably notice a smoother feel and less grab. I noticed you nails are not that long. Do you find that your nails were short on this video or would that be the best length. Thanks for your videos, very helpful.
These are the ideal nail shape and length for me. If you play rest stroke and your hand position and knuckles are up high enough this length should be enough. That said, everyone is different!
One time I accidentally shaped my nails correctly and I've been trying to get that feeling again for about a year now! LOL, maybe this will help
I have the same guitar as you only it’s the newer model that hasn’t really changed other than you can’t get a pickup built in. However you can get a bridge pickup.
veRRy good tutorial!!! much obliged!
You're welcome, glad you enjoyed it.
Tarrega (one of the major figures in classical) gave up on nails around 1900.
My string travel direction on the thumb goes the other way 🤷♂️
Can you invert and re-upload the vide for lefties?
I agree
How are your nails so thin? Mine are like steel after decades of keeping
Could you please share your experience with playing with such short nails? What does it feel like playing with such short nails compared to longer first time the day? Do you feel comfortable playing, how long does it take till you feel 'warmed up' to play?
It depends on what you mean by 'short'. It comes down to the angle that your nail approaches the string and also and overall guitar and right hand position. Long nails can be difficult with rest strokes if the hand is in the proper position.
Btw, and don't quote me on this, if you fill your nail both ways (Saw-like motion when filling) it causes the nail to get weak.
19:37 was actually the most helpful angle in the video, for me at least. Great video, I learned a lot. Thank you!
Also, do you ever trim your nails? Or does filing on a regular basis keep them at the proper length? Mine grow very fast, I couldn't imagine filing so frequently that they never need trimming. But I've never filed my nails before so who knows.
I file them lightly every day to keep them exactly the same. Sometimes that is just a very light file and polish. I haven't clipped or trimmed my right hand nails in decades!
@@Thisisclassicalguitar Wow okay, good to know. Thank you!
mil gracias por tomarse el tiempo!
Why would someone dislike this video?So dumb😐 .. Honestly there's so much effort put into this.
Thanks, maybe they just disagree with the shape or something. No worries, most people like it!