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Nails   You are logged in as Guest
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Steven Campoli

Posts: 30
Joined: Dec. 29 2020
From: Montréal (Québec, Canada)

Nails 

Hi, my nails are a bit curved because of the angle of attack, I wanna ask if you share the same nail shapes. I’ve tried others but get stuck in in the string. I’ve uploaded a pic just to be sure I’m
Not doing something wrong.

Attachment (1)

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Steven Campoli
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Feb. 8 2026 1:42:02
 
Steven Campoli

Posts: 30
Joined: Dec. 29 2020
From: Montréal (Québec, Canada)

RE: Nails (in reply to Steven Campoli

Pic 2

Attachment (1)

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Steven Campoli
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Feb. 8 2026 1:53:44
 
Arash

Posts: 4798
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: Nails (in reply to Steven Campoli

Nail shape and length are very individual imo, depending on your hand anatomy, technique details, whether you hit the strings more or less parallel to them or angled, etc. You just have to find out what works best for you and refine the details over time until you are happy.
I have seen all sorts of shapes and lengths work for different pro players. I don't believe in copying other people's nails. Some let the sides (left and right) grow more and have a more straight nail which probably requires more precise movements. Some file them individually with different angles, etc. There is no right or wrong as long as you are not stuck all the time.
My nails are much shorter than yours, almost similar shape but sides a tiny bit longer and thumb nail a bit longer than the rest

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Feb. 8 2026 2:27:07
 
devilhand

 

Posts: 1918
Joined: Oct. 15 2019
 

RE: Nails (in reply to Steven Campoli

You have a ramp going up very high. As arash mentioned let the sides grow. But not too much. Both sides must be low and round.
Flat and straight nail shape for all 3 fingers solved my problem. In 2D it looks like there's almost no ramp. But in 3D there's a ramp for all finger nails.
I attack strings at a 70-80 degree angle. Even if it's 90, my nails don't get caught. So it seems to be working as well.
After finding your optimal nail shape, try different nail lenghts. To me the shorter the better.
Thumb nail is another matter and needs to be examined differently.

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Say No to Fuera de Compás!!!
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Feb. 8 2026 10:55:07
 
Ricardo

Posts: 16255
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Nails (in reply to Steven Campoli

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steven Campoli

Hi, my nails are a bit curved because of the angle of attack, I wanna ask if you share the same nail shapes. I’ve tried others but get stuck in in the string. I’ve uploaded a pic just to be sure I’m
Not doing something wrong.



No man, this is not going to work. File flat side to side ONLY, the center part will have less white than the sides after they grow out (you are filing the sides down in a curve or "contoured" as they say). Here is a video and discussion:



This is where the “ramp” idea comes in. You need to keep the long thumb side edge, but due to the attack angle of the ring finger, ramp downward toward the pinky and then take off any left over edge pinky side. I do the opposite on the index due to changing angle for pulgar.



Just to add about applying glue. If the glue is not old and kept sealed in a ziplock bag or equivalent, then you should not be wearing it off faster than a week or so. You should need only apply once a WEEK. If it wears in a day, it is expired and the bottle should be discarded.

long discussion here:
http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=350273&mpage=1&p=&tmode=1&smode=1&key=nail%2Cshape

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

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CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Feb. 8 2026 15:01:12
 
Steven Campoli

Posts: 30
Joined: Dec. 29 2020
From: Montréal (Québec, Canada)

RE: Nails (in reply to Ricardo

Thank you all for the replies. I’m taking all your advice. I tried to salvage the ramp I have going on,
Ricardo thank you I followed your video and also by seeing the pic, I flattened more side to side… now the sides just had to grow to have an even flatness. It already feels much better.

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Steven Campoli
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Feb. 8 2026 22:11:14
 
Ricardo

Posts: 16255
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Nails (in reply to Steven Campoli

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steven Campoli

Thank you all for the replies. I’m taking all your advice. I tried to salvage the ramp I have going on,
Ricardo thank you I followed your video and also by seeing the pic, I flattened more side to side… now the sides just had to grow to have an even flatness. It already feels much better.


Great. that makes 4 converts, 2,996 to go!

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CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Feb. 9 2026 11:56:21
 
Arash

Posts: 4798
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: Nails (in reply to Steven Campoli

Let's see if it works. This shape never worked for me, always felt weird when I tried it.
I need a little bit of curve from left to right.



Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (1)

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Feb. 9 2026 12:07:01
 
Arash

Posts: 4798
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: Nails (in reply to Arash

I guess mine are very short, as they don't protrude the flesh part infront at all as well



Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (1)

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Feb. 9 2026 12:19:44
 
Ricardo

Posts: 16255
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Nails (in reply to Arash

that's called "no nails"

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CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Feb. 9 2026 16:30:09
 
zendalex

Posts: 147
Joined: Sep. 4 2010
From: New York area

RE: Nails (in reply to Ricardo

Hi Ricardo,

Thanks for the pic. The red outlining lines (which actually do not match the contour of your nail) - what do they mean? Another possibility to shape?
I think the nail shape must very much depend on the angle of the attack. Do I understand correctly that you essentially pluck totally perpendicular to the string?
I know for example, that Grisha rotates his wrist slightly towards the rosette. I think in the latter case the shape you have would not work.


quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricardo

No man, this is not going to work. File flat side to side ONLY, the center part will have less white than the sides after they grow out (you are filing the sides down in a curve or "contoured" as they say). Here is a video and discussion:


This is where the “ramp” idea comes in. You need to keep the long thumb side edge, but due to the attack angle of the ring finger, ramp downward toward the pinky and then take off any left over edge pinky side. I do the opposite on the index due to changing angle for pulgar.

  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Feb. 9 2026 22:56:53
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