Girlie Girl and Finger Nails

Hi there,

Just getting started with this guitar thang, and for fear of being mocked by you "serious" guitar playin' people - I like my artificial nails and am not in the mood to cut them. I did some searching online and discovered Dolly's been playing with those ultra long nails for years (other than some clacking on the fretboard she's able to play without issue). Does anybody know or have experience/tip on whether it's possible to play with long nails on the left hand? I seem to be working around it so far, and have filed them back a touch - but they are beyond the tip of my finger for sure. Let me know if I'm living in a fantasy land, or if you know people who've done it!

Thanks for any help/advice...

You can play power chords and slide guitar with no problem, but if you want to get serious on guitar, you really need to get them suckers off. After your first big bend, one of them would probably come off :) .

I'd say it would depend on your aimed level of playing. If you just want to strum chords they would make it slightly harder but shouldn't be too much of a problem. But yeah, if you're going to want to start playing lead at some point or even just more intricate chord shapes, at the least they'll get in the way...or worse like he said, break off.

Oh, I and guess it all really depends on just how long they are. Just barely past the fingertip may not pose any issue.

You are a girl... you know how is like to break a nail, some things you can do yes, but eventually accidents happen... and they hurt...

Better to de safe than sorry, I'll say... get them out. Nice nail polish works well too... ask Nuno Betancourt... killer black nail polish.

Rock on girl.

Oh by the way... wellcome to GT great place for new and not so new players, and don't be affraid...ask anyhting...everyone in here is super cool, so no worries. :D

If you're just going to want to strum basic open chords and do some barre chords you should be ok. On some chords they'll probably get in the way, but there's several different ways of playing the same chords so you can probably find a way that works.

Personally though, I'd say trim em back if you wanna get serious. Maybe it's just a guy thing but I don't get girls fascination with little things like fingernails or shoes or whatever.
I don't think guys even notice stuff like that. The only time I notice my own is when I haven't played in a week and suddenly can't play properly.

Thanks all! Very helpful...maybe when I get good enough I'll be inspired to give something up to get better. Until then...damn my nails look pretty... Oh, and they're fake - so I'll lose a lot more than a nail if one bends - eeeeeeeek..... :D

i had (notice past tense, LOL) long natural nails that i always got complimented on. But, I quickly learned if I was going to be serious about guitar, they were going to have to go. I miss em, but I enjoy the guitar more, so it was a good trade off. You will find as you get more into it, they will impede your progress and abilities and if you are serious at that time, you will cut them off.

i had (notice past tense, LOL) long natural nails that i always got complimented on. But, I quickly learned if I was going to be serious about guitar, they were going to have to go. I miss em, but I enjoy the guitar more, so it was a good trade off. You will find as you get more into it, they will impede your progress and abilities and if you are serious at that time, you will cut them off.

I guess I'm not a girly girl.. I didn't even think twice about cutting mine off... I actualy prefer them short now.

But like anything.. if there is a will there is a way. Once you get to a level where your nails will inhibit your progress, you'll make the right decision for you.

Yeah - I'm already starting to get to that point... Thanks for the female perspective.

well, thats really up to you...

I think that eventually, they'll have to go, if you get into it all properly...until then, confratulations on having nice nails...I think girly girls (nice nails, nice hair you know the ones...are great...so nah Schmange, Nah!)