Get Beautiful Tone with this Quick Trick!

This is a very old trick of how you can shape your nails for fingerpicking and classical guitar when you just can't find the right shape or angle. It's something my first teacher showed me around 15 years ago, and I keep seeing this trick being used all around the world.
All you need is a few sandpapers or sanding sheets that you can put on the guitar strings while you are picking on them, then smoothen the corners and edges, make the surface mirror shiny with softer and softer sandpapers and you're ready to go :) This trick ALWAYS works for me!
Let me know what you tink in the comments, and feel free to share your tips with others!
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[@angelaskipping3110]

What a great tip. Than you so much.❤

[@RichardGutierrezRG]

Great tips, one of the biggest tricks I've used since coming back to the classical guitar is when I bought a cheap set of jewelers loops from Harbour Freight. They've about $7 US. When you find the right magnification loop for you, you will see how unclean and how imperfectly many players think is well filed or sanded. Using a loop, you can cut so much filing and sanding time from your prep. Hope people will try it, it's amazing what and how your nail grows...

[@beatrixguitar]

I normally use at least 2 but preferably 3 different sandpapers each time I shape my nails, one of each of these: - 1x between 1500-2500 grid - 1x between 3000-5000 grid - 1x between 8000-12000 grid If this was helpful, consider supporting my work on Patreon! www.patreon.com/beatrixguitar

[@ValentinKovshikMusic]

This is the micromesh grit system. For the sandpaper, an approximate conversion will be like this: 1500 ≈ 400 (USA) ≈ P800 (European) 1800 ≈ 600-800 (USA) ≈ P1200-P1500 (European) 3000 ≈ 1200 (USA) ≈ P2500 (European) Larger micromesh grits have no equivalent, maybe in US, you can find 1500 one. Personally, I use waterproof Klingspor PS 8A sandpaper sheets. P800, P1200, and P2500 for the final touch.

[@harkoffsband]

My friend and guitarist Indyk Vladislav learned me to use this method (with attaching the sandpaper to the string ) of finding the right form of the nail couple years ago. When I found this angle and form I just use the HB Nail buffer. Okay, it was not couple years ago. II counted so it was 5 or 6 years ago.

[@aspiringnormie9499]

Insanely talented. Clearly trained. Magnificent.

[@joedinatale1931]

This is a great method, thanks for sharing ❤

[@katanafourzeronine]

BeatrixManicure

[@ValentinKovshikMusic]

This is an absolute game-changer! I always spent so much time trying to make the nails smooth for playing. The plucking approach is much faster and much more reliable. So, thank you very much! However, I decided to wrap the sandpaper around the nail file's edge instead of the string to avoid getting all the dust inside the guitar.

[@c4arschfisch51]

Japp... i think Paco de Lucia did it this was too.. i try it and it helps to find the best spot to make a straight Line on the nail. It work super

[@brent_f]

I follow the same sandpaper sequence but finish with a “4 in 1” nail buffer, for the final polish. The one I use is the “Revlon Shape N Buff,” but other manufacturers make a similar product.

[@HESOMADBRO]

Great tips, thanks a lot :) I use fine glass/buffer nail files instead of sanding paper, but it works great too. I have weirdly shaped fingernails and it's really tough to make every finger sound the same on every string so I do your routine on all of them, working myself up to those pesky wound E-A-D strings making sure they are not scratchy. Turns out what I thought was the ideal shape for me, wasn't quite perfect :D

[@RockFahim007]

Beautifull

[@medmen1230]

Thank you!

[@aalb1970]

I use this method and it works great

[@GuitarBySamMartinez]

What did the string say to the nail.........Don't pick on me....Seriously, thank you for you advise.

[@timwhite7127]

With my playing ability I might as well use a 4 inch DeWalt grinder...

[@HandyL]

Huh? Very interesting. Never seen that before but it makes so much sense.

[@jrsobrado]

This is like the method of nail filing Sakari Heikkila mentioned in his book...

[@Rookblunder]

When installing the sandpaper on the string which piece should we play ? 🤔 I usually start with the diamond nail file and I just recently bought a 3000 grit circular sand paper to finish off.

[@vagamorneval8451]

Thanks.

[@rgkafk5djsk291]

Anyone else fallin in love with Betty ?

[@libertypastor1307]

Off topic, but do you compose music? Have you written any melodies for classical guitar?

[@user-eh8jv2em2o]

Did you know that you can also sand the STRINGS (nylon bottoms, not wound ones). Strings aren't slippery anymore, completely different feel, you play more with fignertips/flesh not so much nail. For nails, I think a good diamond nail file is enough if you know what you're doing.

[@dominikprauseguitar]

After my gel nails broke off, and my normal nails rolled/flipped backwards during daily life activity e.g. soft scratching, because they were too long (and they were really short already) I have enough. No nails for me anymore.

[@cswalder7675]

Sorry if you've gone over this one or more times but what guitars do you primarily use?

[@riskerin]

Do they measure grit differently in Europe than in the US? The finest grit I’ve ever used for myself is 500 that I get from GSP

[@Kiaulen]

Based purely on visual, I don't think so. You can definitely get 2k+ stateside. I wouldn't want to use lower grits like 220, it'd take too much off too quickly

[@oromani1842]

Look in hobby shops. They have it there

[@DanDoroshDetroitMusic]

I'm in the states and buy this exact product in the same grits. I get them from a company called strings by mail. The product is called micro mesh and the grits are as she mentioned.

[@ValentinKovshikMusic]

That is the micromesh system, the sandpaper has different system

[@gjoseph1628]

Interesting. But one may question the durability of the result. Some guitar players coat their nails with nail polish to protect the nails from frequent aggressive hard-hitting the strings.

[@beatrixguitar]

I have gel nails, very strong ones, it’s never been an issue 😁

[@acpmedeiros]

I never used this.

[@puddle5]

Is it wrong to pluck the strings with your fingertips instead of your nails? I have such fat flabby fingertip pads and poor dexterity. My nails are short and I seem to be unable to play with my nails when they are long.

[@beatrixguitar]

It’s okay Emma, it’s only a matter of playing style. Brandon Acker talks a lot about playing without nails, he even made a course for people who played with no nails. I just teach this style because this is what I got used to and learned to control the best. Don’t worry about it 😊

[@DonnySath]

My nails curves down like eagle beak as they grow out.

[@md.nawajishislam7796]

Are you Polish ma'am?

[@tonygonzales948]

She’s Hungarian

[@corsys666]

I always use an angle grinder. Are you telling me my method is wrong?

[@Koga-Ed]

Whatever works for you is okay.