Guitar Nails

Sometimes when I am paying for an item at Target or somewhere like that, people can give me a funny look because the nails on my right hand are really long and the ones on the left are normal. I guess they think I'm some kind of weirdo; if they ask me, I tell 'em the truth: I am a guitar player.

In a guitar picker paradise like Nashville, this curiosity is less common than places with a smaller professional-musician population, but people can sure stare sometimes. Really, it's just the thumb and three fingers of my right hand, excluding the little pinky-finger, that are longer than usual. As an acoustic guitar player, I am dependent on my nails to act like picks when I perform finger-style/ folk guitar playing. I sometimes use my nails instead of a plastic pick when playing electric guitar.

Most of my life I have been a nail biter and didn't have enough nail length to create the crisp, clear sound that properly cared-for nails can offer. When I did grow my nails out, they were weak, and even strengthener didn't help. So I went to a nail salon.

It can be kind of awkward when they ask if I am waiting for my wife and I say, "No, I wanna get my nails done!" They usually look with even more suspicion when I only want three fingers and a thumb of one hand done. Then with a sheepish grin I say, "Guitar player...," and they begin to understand--sort of. I had my nails done every two weeks for over a year until I got curious and went to Walgreens to buy a do-it-yourself overlay kit so I could "save money" and do them at my leisure. At first, I was terrible at it, and it gave me great respect for those ladies at the salon! I managed to get the hang of it, and now I can do my own nail maintenance. Plus, doing the nails at home means I don't have to shrug my shoulders in surrender when the other salon patrons look at me funny!

James Taylor has a website that offers an interesting video on how he cares for his nails. JT is the "maestro" when it comes to finger-style playing. If you get the hang of either using his method of nail-care or mine, using acrylic overlay, you can be on your way to great acoustic guitar tone.

CLICK HERE to go James Taylor's Guitar Lessons page and look for the "Nails 101" video. PLAY IT!