fingers

[deigh]

In my search for information about plectrums I found a few videos about the great Joe Pas, I tried to study his right hand work. He does not seem to hold a plectrum and only one video showed a quick shot of his right hand at all. It seemed to me that his fingernails were lacquered. Is it possible that he had some sort of added fingernail plectrums? I would appreciate any info on this.
Deigh

[Deleted]

Yes, a lot of the guys I know that play classic guitar use fake finger nails. They have them put on then shape them to how they want.

I even know a few blues players that finger pick that do the same thing.

They are acrylic nails. any beauty shop can put them on. They are better than your own finger nails because they are stronger and thicker. Thus better for shaping your feel.

I use to use them for a while. But have now gone back to using my pick and fingers without the long nails.
EB

[hoz]

Hmmm, guitar magazines at the nail salon?

[Deigh2]

Mar 3, 2015 6:31:07 GMT -6 hoz said:

Hmmm, guitar magazines at the nail salon?

I wonder if it does happen? Just had a new local shop opened up doing nails and things, I might look in and ask questions. No, changed my mind, I'll get my wife to go in and ask them. Don't want to be seen by the local street corner yobs  to be entering a seriously feminine establishment.

Pick holding skills and finger strength are very slowly improving. I can now hold a plectrum for about two minutes playing and the thumb is able to do a little strumming. Not ready to take my place in a guitar lineup yet but it is reassuring to know that my hard work is paying off.

[deigh]

Was wondering why I was treated as a guest and then the penny dropped, I had not logged in!

[antares]

As a life long nail biter (I know, I know...) I have often wondered about falsies. As it has gone through my mind, I've come to the conclusion that it would not do to mention guitars to these establishments in case they get cold feet imagining you'd be back within 24 hours complaining that they'd fallen off!

Ironically, I smashed my right thumbnail recently whilst undertaking an aircraft galley trolley fit check (it's not a pretty sight just now!) and since then I have not bitten a single nail. Every cloud has a silver lining!

Good to hear that you're improving however slowly- onwards and upwards eh?


e&oe

[deigh]

Sorry to hear about your bashed thumb. Once I caught my thumb in a car door. Unbelievably painful and I was all day at a furniture show having to talk to customers. I had the hand behind me in a cup of ice but the ice didn't help and the blood trapped under the thumbnail got more and more painful. Eventually I gave up and drove myself to a local hospital. The head nurse opened up a metal paperclip, grabbed it with tapered pliers, held it over a Bunsen burner till it was red hot, and then to my horror plunged it into the nail. The burned hole allowed the blood to escape and also instantly cool the red hot paper clip. The pain relief was instantaneous! I've used this skill several times since with people having trapped blood under their nail and the main problem is getting them to allow me to operate!

Anyhow, back to plectrum holding.....I remember that acquiring the skill to hold a plectrum was a hard won victory when I first learned to play, but re-learning it is proving twice as difficult. I can't understand why, I can walk around the block with a 5cent coin held like a plectrum and not drop it. I have a plastic milk bottle half full of water (approx 1 kilo in weight)strung to an imitation plectrum and I hold this when I walk down the garden to pick up the mail. I spend best part of an hour every day doing finger exercises. According to theory I should have muscle strength in my hand like Frankenstein's monster, but the plectrum still falls out of my fingers after a short time playing. Somefink's wrong somewhere!
Deigh