Grateful Dead Music Forum

I have been growing my nails out to try, and while I like the sound of my nails on the strings I HATE living with them on my hand.
Who uses fingertips and who uses their nails? Just curious.

Ha, since Bill posted about West LA, I have been finger picking a bunch, actually learning the version from his reference...

I am a finger tip kinda guy, since every time I grow them, I either chew them off in a moment of nervousness, or they tear playing, which happens whenever I get them good. I just can't bring myself to give myself manicures. I wonder though if fake nails would do the trick well? I am sure they would pop off at the worst time, but gorilla glue those suckers on there and wala!

I rarely play with a pick outside of the band (and palm it a lot when I am playing with the band) ... I use the face of my index and middle finger nails as a pick, and the tip of my thumb and index, middle and ring to finger pick or "pinch" certain notes in groups of two or three. Rarely have a problem with breaking a nail if I keep them trimmed.

See what James Taylor does to strengthen his nails ...

I grew out my nails for finger picking. A few tips:

Dietary changes: Jello is good for the nails, and Biotin pills also work. It grows them stronger and hence a stronger sound.

I grew them on my right hand: I trimmed the thumb to the left, and then trimmed the other three fingers (left out the picky) to the right. Grow them out and experiment. I also recommend buying a nail filer.

Anyone know any cool dead songs to fingerpick? Mountains of the Moon, Rosemary, Friend of the Devil (slow version, although Hunter does a faster finger picking version on his Jack O' Roses album), Ripple, Attics, Stella Blue, Eyes can be cool, I've been experimenting with Jack Straw as a finger picking song, Fire might also work, as you could probably travis-pick a similar main riff. Any other ideas?

I use bare fingers for finger picking on Guitar, but I use a plastic thumb pick and metal finger picks for Banjo and Pedal Steel.

Octal wrote: ...Fire might also work, as you could probably travis-pick a similar main riff. Any other ideas?

Speaking of "Travis style"... here's one I did on Pedal Steel with that kinda Travis/Atkins type thing.

I cut my fingernails short on both hands and fingerpick with just the bare fingers and thumb. Sometimes I might strum down and use the outside of my fingernails.

JonnyBoy wrote:I just can't bring myself to give myself manicures. I wonder though if fake nails would do the trick well? I am sure they would pop off at the worst time, but gorilla glue those suckers on there and wala!

Look at what JT does. He has the official JT manicure road kit.

playingdead wrote: I use the face of my index and middle finger nails as a pick, and the tip of my thumb and index, middle and ring to finger pick or "pinch" certain notes in groups of two or three.

Sounds kind of like how Mark Knopfler plays? What kind of music are you exploring outside the band these days Vic?

Pete B. wrote:Speaking of "Travis style"... here's one I did on Pedal Steel with that kinda Travis/Atkins type thing.

Nice playing...thats if Dorthy was from Nashville and not Kansas.

I've given up on finger nails - mine are flimsy ass, even with 3 coats of hardener - just using fingertips now

Real nice playing there Pete!
Don't forget Stagger Lee!

NashvilleMike wrote:

playingdead wrote: I use the face of my index and middle finger nails as a pick, and the tip of my thumb and index, middle and ring to finger pick or "pinch" certain notes in groups of two or three.

Sounds kind of like how Mark Knopfler plays? What kind of music are you exploring outside the band these days Vic?

I think Knopfler does play like that. I picked it up from playing a lot of acoustic lately.

I've been writing songs, have 20 or so finished. Want to take it into a studio here in Austin and put a band together around it instead of the Dead tribute thing. It's not particularly Dead-like, though. I'd like to play mostly acoustic on a lot of it, a little electric, have a bassist, drummer and organ player.

Sent you a PM with a few rough samples, not sure I'm ready to unleash 'em to the masses just yet ... LOL

Sweet playing guys. I am especially amazed at the pedal steel Pete. That instrument just amazes me. You really have the knack for it too! I can't do that many things at once, that is why I chose guitar over piano and drums as a kid.

I finger pick much like Vic describes, and like Bill I can't get nails to grow well. I use the fingers and edges of nails, my fingers are not as soft as a surgeons though... that may help.... But the tone/volume is softer and smooth than using picks or nails. I believe that is much like Jerry too. His finger picking was not bright like having "picks" on his fingers, from what I hear. I do love the sound of an overdriven Tele and steel finger picking, that is some cool and raunchy sounds....


Also Deal and Crazy Fingers are some good finger pickers....

Billbbill wrote:I've given up on finger nails - mine are flimsy ass, even with 3 coats of hardener - just using fingertips now

Real nice playing there Pete!

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Anyone know any cool dead songs to fingerpick?

Don't forget Stagger Lee!

Bill, your voice sounds great!

Thanks nick! Working on it -a bit flat here and there but for me anyway singing and playing this one is no joke! Repetition, repetition, repetition! Kinda gotta get to where I'm not thinking very much about what I'm playing so I do the vox justice!

Jer fingerpicks Dear Prudence on the Shoreline DVD (avail on Netflix, BTW).

I think also when playing slide on thr Truckin' up to Buffalo DVD (I think on Walkin' Blues).

I think Mark and David Knopfler were Flamenco-trained.

Well, probably the best way to learn fingerstyle playing is to listen to the classical guitarists. You don't have to be quite as strict as we are, but it certainly provides a good basis for that style. When playing classical we spend a ridiculous amount of time on our nails: shape and smoothness. Works great for nylon strings, but steel string will pretty much tear them up. I have to file them a bit shorter for the steel string and I can't play quite as fast.

One key to fingerstyle is planting your fingers on the strings. It's about half skin and half nail touching the string. You can develop good feel for the strings that ends up making you faster down the road.

Here a link that's the first in a whole series in classical technique, starting with nail shape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFpLo2HtE5A

Here the intro to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGILkAzgJLw

I don't know of any Dead tunes that were played finger style, but Jerry did several covers of tunes from Mississippi John Hurt, specifically Louis Collins and Casey Jones. Here's a link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYUtTuxf5LU