paco nails

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paco nails

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12850bd

Posts: 148
Joined: Nov. 9 2006
From: australia

paco nails

After having read many discussions on nails shaping and filing and there
seems to be various opinions about whether they should follow the shape of the finger or be files straight across with more white on the sides than the middle. The latter being how paco does it.
However I noticed a pic of paco in an interview and here is a pic on his right hand. Note the index finger its quite a clear shot....not straight across by any stretch of the imagination....very ramped.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 10 2018 23:38:16

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: paco nails (in reply to 12850bd)

Good to know, that's how I've been doing mine.
Although, now I can't blame it on my nails..........

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 11 2018 0:18:55

12850bd

Posts: 148
Joined: Nov. 9 2006
From: australia

RE: paco nails (in reply to 12850bd)

At least you know what his nail shape really is. There are many guitarists such as Nino de Pura and Tomatito who do file flat but others who have oval and round shape such as Fyty Carrilo, Paco Lara and Ramon jimenez . ...and they all get a great sound very similar. I guess it goes to show that it depends what suits the individual.
PS Santiago who is Paco Laras younger brother has one of the fastest picados I have heard and he uses mamama for it ..check out his videos...I would find that very cumbersome because the tendon ties those two fingers
together.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 11 2018 3:59:46

rombsix

Posts: 7813
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: paco nails (in reply to 12850bd)

quote:

PS Santiago who is Paco Laras younger brother has one of the fastest picados I have heard and he uses mamama for it ..check out his videos...I would find that very cumbersome because the tendon ties those two fingers
together.

Looks like i-a picado, not m-a picado.

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 11 2018 4:17:57

12850bd

Posts: 148
Joined: Nov. 9 2006
From: australia

RE: paco nails (in reply to 12850bd)

Yes you are correct he is using a and i ...but what about in this for example ...it looks like a-m ?
https://www.facebook.com/santiago.lara.90/videos/1607891402637283/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 11 2018 4:36:59

rombsix

Posts: 7813
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: paco nails (in reply to 12850bd)

quote:

Yes you are correct he is using a and i ...but what about in this for example ...it looks like a-m ?

I guess you're correct. At least based off of the comments to that video and Santiago's reactions.

More clearly seen here:

https://www.facebook.com/santiago.lara.90/videos/vb.100002493153530/1588955351197555/?type=3

Wow, this is insane...

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 11 2018 5:39:57

Ricardo

Posts: 14822
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: paco nails (in reply to 12850bd)

quote:

ORIGINAL: 12850bd

After having read many discussions on nails shaping and filing and there
seems to be various opinions about whether they should follow the shape of the finger or be files straight across with more white on the sides than the middle. The latter being how paco does it.
However I noticed a pic of paco in an interview and here is a pic on his right hand. Note the index finger its quite a clear shot....not straight across by any stretch of the imagination....very ramped.

The straight edge is not visible from above the nail, you file from underneath and you can ONLY visualize the straight line from the angle exactly that you filed at. You need a 3D video. In any case the ring finger shows it more clearly how he might seat the nail on the string due to filing flat. Finally, we have no idea if his nails are ready to go at the time of this photo...he might have to get a file on em right away...as he explains in La Busqueda and and it shows with dozens of nail files lying around....”a micromilimeter off with your nails will mess up your playing”. Or something like that. It’s much more noticeable when filing in a string line each day than when simply contouring for length, where the player can let nails grow for days.

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 11 2018 15:38:09

Filip

Posts: 405
Joined: Apr. 23 2006
From: Paris

RE: paco nails (in reply to 12850bd)

I used to file along the shape of the finger, then maybe a year ago after reading some threads here I started to shape my nails more straight. Basically I now file the straight line more or less perpendicular to the finger, with reducing the straight angle just a bit on the sides.
I am not sure which is better, maybe now I have less problems in finding the right length (and shape), but sometimes also I have the feeling that it's worse than before, and also depends on which technique I play I guess.
Additional problem with my nails and finger tips is that they are I think quite deformed (I was biting until 16 or 17 years of age when I started playing the guitar). For example, on the m finger the left side of my nail is lower than the right side (imagine a stick bended in the middle).

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 13 2018 21:47:39