Question for Chris about Nails

[Matt Lee]

Hey, I saw the two clips from the upcoming DVD courtesy of a link on the Nevermore forum, and they sound great. I especially liked the Legnani piece and would love to learn a piece like that for school (except my right hand would need some work), as I'm finishing up a BA in Guitar Performance.

But I actually had a very specific question for Chris as someone who enjoys classical guitar but also plays in Metal bands and has fantastic electric/picking technique. I'm in a band as well as studying classical and I have a hard time finding a compromise between decent enough fingernail length for classical and nails getting in the way of my picking on electric. One edge of my nail always seems to get shredded. I have fairly clean/efficient picking technique too, but I do use dunlop Jazz III picks which are fairly small. I was wondering Chris, if you trim your nails more when you're touring with a band or how you reconcile the two.

 

[Chris_Broderick]

Hey, I saw the two clips from the upcoming DVD courtesy of a link on the Nevermore forum, and they sound great. I especially liked the Legnani piece and would love to learn a piece like that for school (except my right hand would need some work), as I'm finishing up a BA in Guitar Performance.

But I actually had a very specific question for Chris as someone who enjoys classical guitar but also plays in Metal bands and has fantastic electric/picking technique. I'm in a band as well as studying classical and I have a hard time finding a compromise between decent enough fingernail length for classical and nails getting in the way of my picking on electric. One edge of my nail always seems to get shredded. I have fairly clean/efficient picking technique too, but I do use dunlop Jazz III picks which are fairly small. I was wondering Chris, if you trim your nails more when you're touring with a band or how you reconcile the two.

Hey Matt,
Having to have nails to play a guitar absolutely sucks!!! However if you want decent tone on the classical guitar you need them. The length of your nail really depends on how your fingers are built, but I would say I keep them on the short side, even when I play classical guitar (maybe an eighth of an inch long). The one thing I do to help keep my nails when I play electric is to put a calcium protecting polish on end of my nails because when I play electric it wears away my index nail, making it thin and weak.
Hope this helps, Chris.

 

[Kohlrabihaus]

Hi Chris, Hi Matt...i swear, i was thinking to ask the same question, when i woke up this morning!!!

btw does the lenght change, when you practise 2- hand tapping? for me it always seems to be the problem, i have to use a righthand position, which is really not relaxing (while tapping), to overcome the nail- dilemma!
thanks for the videos (´bout the DVD: will they be bonus meterial or will you teach ´em?)

 

[Chris_Broderick]

Hi Chris, Hi Matt...i swear, i was thinking to ask the same question, when i woke up this morning!!!

btw does the lenght change, when you practise 2- hand tapping? for me it always seems to be the problem, i have to use a righthand position, which is really not relaxing (while tapping), to overcome the nail- dilemma!
thanks for the videos (´bout the DVD: will they be bonus meterial or will you teach ´em?)

Hey Kohlrabihaus,
I have an even bigger problem with the 2 handed tapping concerning nail length, but I still keep them the same because I practice all types of guitar in my practice schedule. The Classical pieces will be bonus material because classical guitar would deserve it's own DVD.
Take Care, Chris.

 

[Kohlrabihaus]

then you have a detailed masterplan, when you practise? after watching petrucci´s dvd i made a plan with these categories:

1. linear picking
2. arp. picking
3. legato playing
4. classial guitar (mainly playing pieces)

5. is additional and changes between sweep picking and tapping.

do you think i could optimise my plan...because i have not the time to do all the things i want, like concentrating on 2- hand tapping (though i would love to learn it) and regular sweep exercises...
thank you for hanging with us on the net!!!! see you on the BANG YOUR HEAD

 

[Chris_Broderick]

then you have a detailed masterplan, when you practise? after watching petrucci´s dvd i made a plan with these categories:

1. linear picking
2. arp. picking
3. legato playing
4. classial guitar (mainly playing pieces)

5. is additional and changes between sweep picking and tapping.

do you think i could optimise my plan...because i have not the time to do all the things i want, like concentrating on 2- hand tapping (though i would love to learn it) and regular sweep exercises...
thank you for hanging with us on the net!!!! see you on the BANG YOUR HEAD

Hey

 

[Chris_Broderick]

then you have a detailed masterplan, when you practise? after watching petrucci´s dvd i made a plan with these categories:

1. linear picking
2. arp. picking
3. legato playing
4. classial guitar (mainly playing pieces)

5. is additional and changes between sweep picking and tapping.

do you think i could optimise my plan...because i have not the time to do all the things i want, like concentrating on 2- hand tapping (though i would love to learn it) and regular sweep exercises...
thank you for hanging with us on the net!!!! see you on the BANG YOUR HEAD

Hey Kohlrabihaus,
I have changed my practice schedule many times over the course of my playing, but I tend to organize it similar to yours. One bit of knowledge that I recently found out that has helped me immensely, is that in general, the most beneficial number of repetitions of a phrase of piece, is 5 to 7. After that you get diminishing returns. I do make exceptions if I feel like I am benefiting from the extra reps, but this knowledge has changed me from spending an hour and a half on one little phrase to taking on a lot more in the same amount of time, which seems to work.
See ya at Bang your Head, Chris.

 

[Matt Lee]

Thanks for the response, Chris! I'll see if I can get a good balance working this semester, and maybe try the protective polish as well. Its especially good to know that a reasonable compromise can be found.