Can you play Guitar with long finger nails?

Question

I have long nails..and I was wondering can you play guitar with long nails....Dolly Parton (who is my fav singer)...plays the guitar with her long nails?....how does she do it?? can it be done??

Answer 1

Dolly and other artists having long fingernails on their left hand play by tuning the guitar into a chord, usually, G major. They then barre the frets which produce the major chords needed for their songs. Obtaining dominant 7ths, diminished 7ths, major 6ths, and minor chords would be difficult.

I keep the nails of my left hand moderately short, but do use them occasionally to pluck additional notes as I use my right hand, getting a different sound from the strings at the nut.

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

if you're using your left hand to fret the guitar (push down the string, whatever) then you can't have really long nails, if they go over your finger then I think they;re too long, you see you push the string down and if your nail is longer than you finger when you try to push the string down then I guess you'll be using your nail or you'll bend the nail against the neck or the nail will keep your finger from pushing the string down..... so yeah, your right hand however(or left if you strum with the left hand, can be as long as you want, so long as you use the "proper" way to hold the pick. But just remember that if you want to use your nails to actually pick the guitar you'll need longer nails and you'll probably want them trimmed. I knew a teach who had special nails done just to play the guitar.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

well there was an interview with DOLLY Parton years ago where she was just strumming her guitar and the interviewer asked how she played with long nails,
she promptly replied
" well i just take em off "
so i think that answers your question on both accounts!!

Answer 6

It would be difficult but not impossible. Hard to get a good clear sound with long nails on the fret board.

Answer 7

call me weird, but my nails on the left hand are always shorter than the ones on the right. i keep my nails long on the strumming side because i don't really like picks and it's easier to pluck when they're longer. (=

Answer 8

Can be done, but it's far harder. Yet if you practice enough, like Dolly, then you should grow acustomed to it and play just as well! On the down side you will be far more likely to scratch the plate : ( , but yes it can be done!

Answer 9

It's normal to have long nails on your right hand when you play the guitar,it's actually easier...but you can't have on your left hand ;)

Answer 10

It would be pretty hard on the fret board. Pick one up, press on finger down on a string, and play it. And you'll see why. Would be good for picking the stings though.