Ricardo -> RE: Real nails and fake nails (Mar. 6 2007 16:24:35)
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Man, if you're blessed with naturally round thick strong nails you're the lucky guy for sure. Others may have nails which are thin, hooked, flat, brittle, weak, etc. then you have to come up with some methods to make up your not-so-good nails. Mine are not so good. I've experiment millions different ways to improve my playing. If you check out the Pumping Nylon Vid, he deals with the different types of nail shapes that people have growing, and a good way to file them. it solves the problem of hooks and what not. I personally find putting glue on the entire nail changes it's shape, making it more curved on the edges, more ideal for playing. But you have to experiment with filing, there is no one and only "blessed" nail shape. About acrylics. I think depending on the situation you should start with the easiest thing first, and if is not working for you, start to build it up. First natural. If you learning and practicing rasgueados a lot, your natural nail won't last. If you are past that stage, you might get away with it for just solo playing. If you get into accompanying for baile and have to play hard rasgueados, you will probably need to try some protection. First nail polish. If it rubs off try Hard as nails. If any of those products rub off (they do for me) then try some sort of nail glue or krazy glue, anything with Cyanoacrilate. That is what I use. It lasts for a week under normal playing. Hard playing, I can make it through the gig or concert if it is all new glue. Couple of coats if I can. I think rumba should be played real strong, the rhythm guitar. If I do that for 3 hrs all night, only rhythm guitar, most of the glue will rub off. Most of the rumberos I know use acrylics, there is no other way, especially if you work a lot. A lot of dance accompanyists too. I have broken or chipped nails because of extensive rehearsals (hours and hours), and not enough time to touch up my nails before the show or in between numbers rehearsed. Luckily I only find myself in that situation occasionally. Fake nails, meaning glue on plastic, I don't really recommend because they often come off and take chunks of your nail with it. Better to go with acrylics if the glue is not working for you. Ricardo
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