NAIL CARE for Classical Guitarists - (Guitar Tutorials #14)

[@corneliusfriedel5579]

So here we are. Started playing guitar to impress the girls, now discussing the shape and care for our nails. 😅😂❤

[@cognoscenticycles4351]

The greatest nail care tool that I have discovered in 50 years of playing finger style guitar with steel strings is a glass file. I have found that the use of a glass file is the very best way to keep your nails in perfect condition and nothing else is required. Emery boards and any type of sand paper actually damage the surface of the nail on a micro level. In contrast, the glass nail file both shapes and effectively polishes the nail at the same time. And here's a great tip that I do daily. After you are finished playing guitar for the day, go over your nails with the glass file and remove only a few thousands of an inch to clean up the surface so that the nail will be encouraged to grow. You also won't catch anything on the nail ends because the surface will be so smooth. This will reduce the likelihood of causing any unnecessary damage to your nails while you are away from the guitar.

[@AndrewKeeping]

Great tips, and yes i too use a glass nail file more recently. Lovely and smooth!

[@dalesparks9570]

The small piece of sandpaper on the string to get the right nail angle is brilliant. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, much appreciated

[@AndrewKeeping]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johnnyflyy5873]

That’s a Paco De Lucia trick RIP

[@johnnyflyy5873]

Great advice. I think the glove on right hand trick if you can stay consistent is huge. It just takes one wrong move. Daily nail care is vital but if you hit it hard enough it’s gonna break. It’s the biggest challenge. I also play bass and electric all with my fingers so this has always been my Achilles so to speak, I agree with the fake nails it just destroys the real nail. I’ve done that when recording an album but I always prefer my real nail -both sound AND feel. Some guys put nail glue on the tips. That can help but it’s always a challenge.

[@AndrewKeeping]

Glad it helps. Good luck!

[@KofiNateDogg]

As a Marimbula player this was also just the advice I needed as my instrument is even more reliant on good strong nails.

[@AndrewKeeping]

That's really interesting. Glad it was helpful Nathan.

[@XAVargasX0206]

Diatomaceous earth is supposed to make your nails stronger, it's a powder form and you can put it in your drink and consume it

[@rawseed2973]

I just love you man 🤝

[@AndrewKeeping]

Ah bless you. made my day!

[@julinho218]

Andrew Keeping your nails in a good condition

[@AndrewKeeping]

At the moment they are. Very little DIY at home. Might be different in the coming months!!

[@saino-d]

When you break your nail one day before playing at a concert *PANICKING GUITARIST NOISES*

[@AndrewKeeping]

Indeed!!

[@eb2424]

Cool I have an upright bass in my room too! Trying to figure out how to play that, the guitar, piano, and percussion

[@AndrewKeeping]

Cool!

[@johnmolina3365]

7:15 Starts the information, thank me later

[@shivanirajput4571]

Thank you

[@FBI_agent_4859]

FOR REAL

[@bisu4554]

you literally saved ma life

[@winm382]

Fantastic advice, thanks for your dedication!

[@AndrewKeeping]

You are welcome. Good luck!

[@Diegoyoutube24]

Great vid! Thanks.

[@AndrewKeeping]

Glad you liked it!

[@hni7458]

So intelligent and right summary Andrew. This is a universe. To apply gels might be tempting, but, as you say, they ruin the nail surface and prolong the healing process - they stick darn-tight in the middle, but get loose after a while at the edges, three weeks max and studios take up to 50 quid for four fingers - you get into a nasty, expensive, downwards spiral, be-effin'-ware! You cannot pull it off w/o destroying the nail completely. I've had problems now still 1.5 years after me quitting gels, only the m still to heal now. Suggestion: never go touring w/o Indian/Chinese silk, a good pair of scissors and a tube of super glue. Much better than ping pong. Does the trick always, three layers in 30 minutes, and never ruins the nails. You need to replace it after one to two weeks depending on how often you need to do the dishes. The only downside is the chemicals, but the nail studios use them all day - we only after an accident. Speaking of accidents; another risk is losing a stiff, glued, silky, thumb nail into the lasagna when you are having guests - yuck; bugger of an almond in the porridge... So better be using rubber gloves on those occasions. Being a guitarist means carrying a two-stone grindstone around your neck 24-7, but you knew that already.

[@AndrewKeeping]

I love this. Thank you for your feedback and good tips.

[@littlebluehannah]

I play the piano but I like this subtle roast. :))

[@AndrewKeeping]

Nice one.

[@fuffy442]

Any excuse to eat Jelly Babies is ok by me! Now, I just need to find a way to justify cheesecake.

[@AndrewKeeping]

Exactly!!

[@justakram7788]

XD underated comment !

[@j.f.a.5395]

Thank you so much, sir! This helped a lot😀

[@AndrewKeeping]

Most welcome!

[@ToastandJam52]

Very interesting. Sadly, I am getting too close to 70 and my nails, especially the angular is a lot thinner than it used to be. The resulting sound is very thin, almost scratchy quality. I have tried reshaping them, different lengths, still no good. I have tried the Tommy Emmanuel approach of having no nails but that didn't work for me either. Thinking of trying some sort of finger picks.

[@lucasetienne6573]

ToastandJam52 if you’ve tried the Tommy Emmanuel approach then you haven’t tried hard enough I’m sorry.

[@지미권]

Try rico guitar nails sir they work amazing and you can even reshape them!

[@AndrewKeeping]

I have used acrylic nails, and if your nails are that poor this can be an excellent option to get you playing. If you need any other advice just let me know. Good luck and let me know how you get on.

[@doracetera5418]

Castor oil before to bed .Warm 2 -3drops Between the hands Keep overnight . Very effective Have a good time musique

[@19duke_silver95]

Hi, is the lick you played at 1:57 from a song? it sounds so familiar but I can't pin a song to it.

[@AndrewKeeping]

That is the Adagio from Rodrigo's Concerto D'Aranjuez.

[@riccardoirilli5676]

​@@AndrewKeepinga good one

[@bradleycarnell5426]

Thank you so much!

[@AndrewKeeping]

You're welcome!

[@niklas5396]

The song in the intro (right before it cuts to your student), which piece is that?

[@AndrewKeeping]

That is a recording i did of 3 Songs from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein arranged by Jorge Morel. Available on open.spotify.com/album/6Sf3z0BIcRZuoHRSqQLswp?si=3AepA_7fSRiF_CekvaQfDw

[@niklas5396]

@@AndrewKeeping thanks mate!

[@Gabriel-yd2ss]

great! who's at 4:45, have a video ?

[@AndrewKeeping]

This is the Vida Guitar Quartet. Amazing musicians and dear friends from Royal Academy of Music days.

[@pakman5542]

I know nails aren’t necessary, but I wanted to try what they were like. First month I go on vacation and get a giant crack on my index finger nail. Videos like these really help

[@viangallifrancois2568]

Cut them, and play with flesh, like Sor, Tàrrega, Pujol, etc. ! No problems anymore with polishing them all day long 😅

[@AndrewKeeping]

It is an option, but i just don't like the tone by comparison.

[@saino-d]

mine always breaks

[@kikojavier3804]

sir what was the name of the song. my grandfather loves that song but i cant remember the name

[@dlafen]

concierto de aranjuez

[@AndrewKeeping]

It is the second movement from Rodrigo's Concerto D'Aranjuez.

[@Agerskiold]

Thanks a lot 👍🏼

[@AndrewKeeping]

You're welcome!

[@afterlife3502]

Can you teach me guitar , I can pay for it

[@AndrewKeeping]

i do online lessons of you are interested www.keepingguitar.co.uk contact page

[@sergius28]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@AndrewKeeping]

Thanks for the thumbs up.

[@LimeTheOneAndOnly]

damn, you look like an older version of Colin Furze

[@AndrewKeeping]

ha ha. Thanks I guess!!

[@joebovovitch7803]

You can wear finger tip covers lol

[@AndrewKeeping]

ha ha. It has been known!

[@grarglejobber7941]

>cinderblock room >painted white >tons of instruments jammed in there >tweed jacket You sir are a collegiate-level strings instructor, or maybe just guitar and mandolin and maybe a dab or two of violin.

[@AndrewKeeping]

You are very observant, and not far from the truth!!

[@quarlmephystodot2201]

this whole vid is completely wrong omg

[@AndrewKeeping]

please explain. I am always willing to learn.

[@kanker5256]

@@AndrewKeeping i will give u an overview in a few hours

[@riccardoirilli5676]

​@@quarlmephystodot2201now tell me when did you see squared nails☠️

[@quarlmephystodot2201]

@@AndrewKeeping i can show you in person. i ll give you an email or give you one of mine if you want. i want to make sure you pay attention to what i l show you, this is why i wont type dozens of lines of text here on ytube

[@danejones9865]

My nails are extremely soft and tear easily. Also they curl inward toward my palm once they grow past the flesh of my fingertips…..SO FRUSTRATING!!!!!