Fingernails vs two-handed tapping - how to get these two along? (to Chris)

[brain_47]

I need advice on this matter. I play both the classical and the electric guitar and I love'em both. To produce a nice clean sound on the classical you gotta have longer fingernails on your right hand. The problem is, that when I play my electric guitar I use the two-handed tapping technique and it is reeeeeeeally hard to tap while having long fingernails. How to get these two along? Can you help, Chris?

 

[Chris_Broderick]

I need advice on this matter. I play both the classical and the electric guitar and I love'em both. To produce a nice clean sound on the classical you gotta have longer fingernails on your right hand. The problem is, that when I play my electric guitar I use the two-handed tapping technique and it is reeeeeeeally hard to tap while having long fingernails. How to get these two along? Can you help, Chris?

Hey Brain_47,

this has been a question I have tried to tackle for some time. Until recently I would just keep my nails just long enough to get a decent tone to practice classical while also practice my tapping. I would trim my nails when recording my tapping or grow then when recording the classical (all very hard to manage). Lately I have been using Alaska piks for my classical and it has been very liberating. There is a lot involved in shaping them correctly but once you get it they are set and the tone is great. here is the link:

http://www.alaskapik.com/

I don't use one for my thumb that is still nail.

hope this helps.
Chris.

 

[brain_47]

Hey Chris,

Thanks for the hint. I sure am going to try these piks. Peace.

 

[progmetaldan]

I have this problem as well... I'm keeping my nails long this year, because I'm doing a classical diploma at uni, but once I finish that, I'm gonna trim them to just long enough for classical, but short enough for tapping...

 

[Mr.Sister]

Has anyone ever tried tapping on a scalloped fretboard??? Isn't the problem then solved, since the fingernails are not digging into the wood? At least for eight-finger tapping the right hand is positioned in an angle, which could actually let this work. So any experiences here? Never played a scalloped neck myself, just had this idea yesterday and am curious now

 

[Chris_Broderick]

unfortunately it won't.

the nails still hit the strings damaging them and making them useless on the classical.

Take care, Chris.

 

[Mr.Sister]

unfortunately it won't.

the nails still hit the strings damaging them and making them useless on the classical.

Take care, Chris.

I wish I would have read that, before I fucked up my fretboard yesterday, trying to scallop it myself haha. Anyway, Chris is right (of course). It really doesn't work. But I've learned something new: scalloped Fretboards are awesome!