Guitarist Nails - how to

Here's how I do my nails! For fingerstyle guitar players! Haha! Such a weird topic!

[@aforestforthestrings]

Been filing my nails for years and never even thought about folding the sandpaper on the string! Thank you, Antoine!

[@chrisphobia]

Cheers man. That was class. I've been using those little glue dot things for the last 2 years or so. I basically 1 Clean the nail with isopropyl 2 Get a transparent acrylic nail (not the ABS shit) 3 Sand the real nail left to right and the fake nail up and down, (keys them) 4 Stick the nail sticker on my real nail and the fake on top 5 Sand the top of the real nail and the inside of a second one 6 Super glue the second fake on top of the first fake one and hold tight 7 Cut and finish Using just one nail, it's stuck to the curvature of itself and the only thing holding it down is the glue on your own nail but by sticking a second on top with glue between the two and holding means you've made one thicker nail that holds the exact curve of your real nail. I've had amazing success with this method and the nail stays on for about 2 weeks. It doesn't fly off in the middle of a concert (like my old nail glue ones used to) but in stead you just feel the glue go a little bit softer (slightly more movement) You can just simply pull it off when your ready and twist the old glue sticker off, put a new one on and away you go. I have kept the same nails for a few months before having to make new ones and my real nails have stayed clean of all glue residue and pitting. I know no-one asked for this feckin' essay but, I get really excited about guitar nails. I've literally (the real sense of the word) tried everything. From the cheapest to the mentally expensive. I've done the nail salon thing with all the options. This is what has worked for me. But in all fairness, I'm no Antoine Dufour!

[@clarkmakes]

So glad you made this video. I've wondered for years. Srsly. Grateful for *all* your killer content!

[@reboooot]

damn this is smart! thanks for sharing, and thanks for inspiring me to play guitar when I was a kid!

[@robertwilson6144]

Nice tips. BTW, your English has greatly improved since you camped with us at Winfield in 2006!

[@JOELIOUS]

Thanks master!

[@TheNuclearMantis]

Thanks man!

[@floriangrobety]

I've used those exact same nails for a year and it's a bit of a vicious circle because it makes your real nails weak so they'll break unless you use fake ones. In the end I took a long break and grew back the whole nails and now they're much stronger than before. Also, I don't know if it really changed anything but MackaB said that cucumba is good for the nails, and since I've started eating cucumber everyday they really are strong. Plus my sound got better, clearer, because of the sound difference between plastic and real nail.

[@smandez2023]

Is cucumba only available in upstate New York or New Jersey? 😊

[@rp-lopez]

Very helpful. Would have never thought to simply use fake nails to compliment the thickness of your natural nails. Don't know why, but I always thought it one way or another, not both...

[@deur3108]

master!

[@trewq398]

hm, I have played without nails so far but always thought about trying fake nails. Maybe I'm gonna try it now. Thanks for the tutorial!

[@Allsystemsaredown]

Could you use a cyanoacrylate activator to speed up the cure time when you apply the Kleenex paper and glue? It may save all the waiting.

[@JobraKai]

Curious if the angular filing is done naturally by playing the string covered by the sandpaper? I always wondered why some guitarists file them at an angle and wonder if I should as well.

[@smandez2023]

Just try it. You get a more musical, fuller and rounded note. Look up rest strokes and string plucking by classical players to get an idea.

[@JobraKai]

@@smandez2023 Thanks I will give that a try! I do find that just standard acrylic nails have a very aggressive feel akin to using a heavy pick. Not my favorite on feeling so maybe this way AD shows is the way to go.

[@smandez2023]

@@JobraKai he doesn’t mention the material, but I assume they are acrylic. One thing to note is that he has done this for years and his nails are relatively healthy. I think he is smart to not choke out the nail’s ability to “breathe” and leaving much of the nail exposed and doing just the tips. I’ve always just played with either my fingers (very short nails) or AlasKa Piks. The AlasKa Piks do have a great tone and are comfortable, but I’m would never feel confident that they would hold up to aggressive playing.

[@Quasifractoid]

😂 i destroyed my nails trying to do this years ago

[@allanjr1]

huh...I always wondered..btw my wife does nails, she could hook u up :)