You'll find that as your nails grow from being cut cleanly and pristinely, they tend to get this overgrown "ROUNDED" look to them. Sometimes they get so long you have to "cut them, before you cut them". Then it's onto the Emory Board or "nail file". The way I've found that best works for me if this happens you'll want to "shape" your nails straight across. From the longest point; basically at the tip or middle of the end of your nail. It should look like a line. You might find yourself in a similar circumstance if you're just starting out or getting used to this semi-frequent clipping schedule for keeping on top of your healthy nails. It's perfectly okay. Even i forget to trim my nails a handful of times per year. But don't get me wrong, you'll notice the difference as soon as you cut them. The reason being, and I'm always asking why about everything music or otherwise, is that to "form" some chord shapes, your nails will bend and weaken, dragging on the fretboard's wood. It's actually healthier for your nails to be properly trimmed than to have extremely long nails. And honestly, that's not really a reality that a male OR a female guitarist has to be worries about. There are plenty of cool, cute, healthy "things" you can "do" to and for your nails to "liven them up" and help them out too!
GO HERE TO FIND OUT THE EXACT INFO TO HELP YOUR FINGERS CALLUS UP QUICKLY AND TO KEEP YOUR SKIN HEALTHY!:http://guitar-hands.com/science.htm1) You can set a reminder on your cell phone (every Monday after work/grade school/college classes let out for instance).
2) You can send a quirky "mass text" to some of your other guitarist (or stringed instrument) friends helping them remember also!
3) You can clip your nails in the shower and not have to worry about them hitting you in the face! haha!!! (Serious Note: some high end clippers have a way to not make it so much like a slingshot the moment your nail is clipped).
4) Your nails should be cut no shorter than the thickness of a dime.
5) Your nails should be no longer than the thickness of a nickel.
6) If you fret any note, the tip of your finger should be able to depress the string all the way down without your nail "tapping" the wood portion of the fretboard. (frets are the metal lines going vertical as you hold your guitar). 7) You should be looking towards cutting your nails once every 8-20 days.
8) When you do "bends" starting on a note & go up a tone/note or two, make sure your nails don't get "caught" on the natural wood grain of your fretboard.9) When preparing your left hand for a "pre-bend", this will take precise quickness; don't take the chance of letting your nails go another day/practice/session. 10) Buy 3 or 4 large nail clippers.
11) At the very least, put one in your main guitar case. This should be for emergencies.
12) After you cut your nails, it wouldn't hurt to help your cuticles out by raising them with one of these tools and then using some lotion.
13) Sometimes after gigs lasting around 1-4 hours, I've noticed that the skin above my cuticle, of my index finger on my right hand (long description, sorry)...it's bleeding from strumming so much. Sometimes, I just get into the songs. haha! Honestly, this might be an area where i can improve in; I need to have more delicate control and deliberacy on my downstrokes and strumming patterns. 14) ANOTHER HELPFUL HINT IS: you can use this time before and after cutting your nails to stretch the muscles and everything else going on in those hands of your too!
15) Put your palms together. Now bring them towards your chest. Push them firmly against one another & bring your wrists in front of you. You can even bring the tips of your fingers up under your chin to help them stay put while you do this relaxing exercise. Obviously, you'll feel your elbows bow out on the sides. This is normal. :o)
Well, i know you guys are doing great things and adding more and more songs to your coverbook as the months go by. Make sure you're writing in your Musical Journals. They're the continuity for your inner songwriter and future self. Something so simple as keeping your nails clipped seem trivial and small but in the long run, it will help you to do those little things in life. As always, it's the attention to detail that will get you noticed on the stage, in recitals, on the streets, in coffee houses, and yes even at a stadium gig! Never pass up the chance to grow your dreams bigger and better. Always write down what you want to achieve and give your mini- goals a "timestamp" and a "finish-by date". It'll help you get to that huge goal that seems so far away. And all in all, ALWAYS TALK TO OTHERS ABOUT YOUR DREAMS. DON'T JUST COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE, CONNECT!!!!!
Ask questions and find what everyone around you has in their hearts from when they were a kid. Dreams never die, they just go dormant. Attention is the most basic form of love. Think of every failure you come across as a sad little thing that just doesn't understand your reality and love. Others that "down your dreams and dedication" usually are just upset that they're not still chasing THEIR beloved dreams. That's all. Just remember that fact. Show them love - and help them get out the shovel & "re-dig" their dreams out of the hole they buried them in long ago. If we're still alive, then we still have time.
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