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Is using flesh okay?


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As title says, when I was doing the fingerstyle chapter I sort of learnt playing with flesh without realising. I use an electric guitar mind you so I don't exactly struggle with volume, though I do realise that using the whole part nail part flesh gives a brighter sound. 

I am finding it sort of do-able to learn to use the corner of my thumb (where skin meets nail) but would find it very tricky to learn with the fingers. Would it matter much if I were to stick to using flesh? 

 

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@flobadob, like you, I find myself being in very much the same situation. Long fingernails are out of the question since I spend most of my time doing renovations but I would like to play more fingerstyle songs. I have tried most of the nail slip-ons which feel terrible but I have had some success with the thumb pick.

So in answer to your question, nothing wrong with playing flesh but I would suggest the thumb pick for a stronger base line response.

Henk

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Great question.  Using flesh is fine.

Nails will add volume and give you some tonal options you wouldn't otherwise have.  But, if having nails is impractical for you then don't worry about it.  Just use your fingers.  The technique is the same either way.

Hope this helps!

The main thing is to keep learning.

- Steve

 

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I use flesh and it works just fine. In my experience though it is harder to do fast tremolo picking with flesh. Nails just slide off the strings faster.

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I'm in the same boat. I can't grow my nails because it's impractical, but one of my friends is a professional classical guitarist and he has amazing nails. So I guess it boils down to what you expect from the guitar. If you want to perform in public and a bright tone is important, or if you're just playing for your own pleasure. (That's me.)

One possible solution may be to play without nails but use an amplified acoustic if you need some projection? 

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5 hours ago, Eduardo said:

I'm in the same boat. I can't grow my nails because it's impractical, but one of my friends is a professional classical guitarist and he has amazing nails. So I guess it boils down to what you expect from the guitar. If you want to perform in public and a bright tone is important, or if you're just playing for your own pleasure. (That's me.)

One possible solution may be to play without nails but use an amplified acoustic if you need some projection? 

After playing with nails for about 5 years and trying not to break them, I decided some months ago to experiment with flesh and I am actually happy with the tone and volume that I am getting now. It is definitely a different tone, but it is suitable for fingerstyle blues playing . I have also experimented with thumb picks, but now I am playing bare thumb as well.

Wim.

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Nothing wrong with flesh only. Experiment with your attack and you'll find you can get actually get some pretty bright tone. If you play a lot, your fingertips will toughen up a little and give you more options. 

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