Thumb finger nail pain after string plucking, if not normal then how should i play guitar?

Question

i strum and pluck with the right hand and i've been using the end of my thumb nail to pluck the strings. Recently i'm feelng this strong pain in the thumb nail. My question is, if i'm getting pain this way, then am i not donig it correctly? am i suppose to pluck with the flesh of the tip of the thumb and not the nail?

how do you use a guitar pick.. i can't even land on the strng i want.. it's difficult

Answer 1

i study classical guitar and fingerpicking. try using the left side of the thumb close to the edge of the nail to strum. try only using the thumb to pick notes on the 4th, 5th, and 6th strings. use fingers 1 2 and 3 to pick on the 3rd, 2nd and 1st strings. this will save your thumb a little. I get pain, but usually from doing extended stretches on the fretboard. eventually your thumb nail will toughen up- don't worry!

Answer 2

We're talking about your fretting hand, right? The basic answer would be NO - your finger tip has to contact the string and the fret board to get a clean sound. Even a slightly long nail ends up digging into the fret board. However, I have seen some ladies hold their fingers flat to avoid the nails - they can't play well, but they can play some basic chords. I think that's what Dolly does.

Answer 3

Yeah, I've been playing for 20 years plus. I remember my fingers twigging out. Now they don't. Your fingers will toughen up over time. Quit plucking and use a pick till your thumb settles down... You might be plucking wrong. Take a look at a classical guitarist and try to mimic his form more...

Answer 4

the added strain isnt good for the nail bed. I just used the tip of my thumb.

Answer 5

Why not get a guitar pick?

Answer 6

Don't u have a guitar pick?

Answer 7

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