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View Full Version : Do longer finger nails make pizz. sound different?


Richard Prowse
08-28-2009, 03:47 AM
I've grown my nails slightly because I need to play guitar at work (I teach music to classes of adolescents). The nails are not good for bass guitar playing, but I really like the sound I get with pizz. on the big fiddle. The nails aren't actually brushing the strings but, somehow, they seem to give a bit more attack to the sound. They give a sort of NHOP sound and I like it. Any thoughts?

Anselm Hauke
08-28-2009, 07:33 AM
Any thoughts?

you now have a new unique selling proposition

Richard Prowse
08-28-2009, 05:04 PM
you now have a new unique selling proposition
what? I should sell my fingernails?

Tomas Bouda
11-14-2009, 11:42 PM
i think that fingernails always get in the way on the bass. they have their place: on classical guitars and chalkboards!

Richard Prowse
11-16-2009, 03:26 PM
i think that fingernails always get in the way on the bass. they have their place: on classical guitars and chalkboards!
Chalkboards? I thought it was all whiteboards these days.
When I mentioned finger nails, I didn't really mean ones long enought to play classical guitar - I was more thinking of finger reinforcement. There's a length that seems to make your finger tips a little more rigid (no pun on my Christian name intended).

Tomas Bouda
11-19-2009, 01:30 PM
i'm still not sure about finger re-enforcement. i mean, pizz should be played more with the entire finger - not just the tip. that's how ray brown got his massive sound out. finger tips are too weak on their own and i don't think that any nail length will fix that problem. still, its my opinion that fingernails of all lengths get in the way. i keep mine as short as possible at all times!:eek:

Richard Prowse
11-19-2009, 03:49 PM
i'm still not sure about finger re-enforcement. i mean, pizz should be played more with the entire finger - not just the tip. that's how ray brown got his massive sound out. finger tips are too weak on their own and i don't think that any nail length will fix that problem. still, its my opinion that fingernails of all lengths get in the way. i keep mine as short as possible at all times!:eek:
Yes, there are certainly times to play with the whole finger. I use three fingers and the nail part is not the whole equation. However it does reinforce behind the pad that is the end of the finger. Though, to be honest, I haven't thought much about pizz. lately as my practice has been almost entirely arco; and I haven't had any gigs for a few weeks.

Paul Warburton
01-20-2010, 07:22 PM
I can't imagine playing with the inside edges of fingernails.
One thing I do do (that voodoo that you do so well) ;) is something I copped from my mentor Red Mitchell. When I want a different color during a solo I will use the back (or, the surface) of my index finger nail to get a more intense kind of ""zing" on a particular note for color. That attack makes a note stick out real nice now and then.

Richard Prowse
01-21-2010, 04:25 AM
I can't imagine playing with the inside edges of fingernails.
One thing I do do (the voodoo that I do do so well) ;) is something I copped from my mentor Red Mitchell. When I want a different color during a solo I will use the back (or, the surface) of my index finger nail to get a more intense kind of ""zing" on a particular note for color. That attack makes a note stick out real nice now and then.
Interesting.
I've actually got way past the finger nail thing, though I was only thinking of the nail as a finger stiffener (I don't think I spelt that right), not something to actually strike the string with.

Charles A Thomas
03-07-2010, 12:50 PM
I have always found the useing the meaty part of either index finger or index and middle fingers together produces the most fat sound.