Do you need nails?

by Anon
(Canada)

I am a grade 10 piano student and am just now trying to learn classical guitar. Your site looks fabulous; I look forward to learning the songs on it.

Just one question: How big of a deal is it to have long nails when playing the guitar? Having long nails drives me absolutely nuts when playing the piano.

Would I be okay just using my fingers to pluck the strings?

Hi,

The short answer to your question is yes, you can play without nails. I myself couldn't do it though I did do it for a while when I was involved in my teaching degree and was also learning piano for a while.

I know what you mean by having nails and trying to play a piano. Your nails make a loud clicking noise and slip and slide all over the place so it wasn't much fun.

Reluctantly, my piano teacher convinced me to cut off my nails and use glue on nails when playing the guitar. This was only partially successful though and not much fun.

You may be different on the other hand (no pun intended) and could play guitar without nails. The trade off is a lack of volume and tone color.

If that doesn't bother you then by all means go ahead.

Hope this has been of some help.

Kind regards,
Trevor M.