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My nails tend to chip and crack when playing steel-string acoustic guitar. Cracking and ripping can be kept partially in-check by keeping my nails well-trimmed. However, a far worse problem is that the nail on my right index finger (that's my strumming hand) tends to wear down over time when I'm playing a lot. It's never worn away completely, but it gets uncomfortably thin.

Part of the problem is that I use fairly heavy strings--.013's. Another factor is undoubtedly my heavy right-hand technique when strumming.

Question: Is there any way I can prevent my nail from being shaved away, short of wearing gloves while playing?

I've seen stuff you can paint on your nails that's supposed to reinforce the nail, but it doesn't work very well. More calcium in my diet? (I already ingest a lot.) Is humidity a factor? Impure thoughts?

Clarification: This is happening when I use a pick.

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hahaha, impure thoughts^^ Well humidity could be a factor, but I don't think you can do much about this problem, except to don't use your fingers and use some sorta pick... But I doubt you'd change your style because of this problem. – Markus Schwalbe Jun 16 '11 at 8:37
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You mention "nail strengthener," have you tried clear nail polish thickly applied? – horatio Jun 16 '11 at 14:36
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thanks for the clarification. It seems that you need to work on your technique. For example, I mainly use picks and I hold them really thight. It always says that it should show 2-3 millimeters of the tip of the pick, in my case it's only about one mm. I have a rather strong picking style too, but I don't have the problem you have. So, maybe you should work out on your precision, to prevent your nail from dissolving. edit: maybe it's the way you're holding the pick? I checked my grip, and It's not possible (under normal conditions) for my index finger to even touch the strings! – Markus Schwalbe Jun 17 '11 at 7:07
Perhaps in the near-term, a larger pick is in order. – neilfein Jun 17 '11 at 16:35
You mention "calcium", but if it's straight tablets, they may not do you much good without Vitamin D to activate it. Whole-milk Lattes will do more. And prefer a multivitamin to calcium tablets. – luser droog Nov 13 '11 at 5:26

3 Answers

up vote 9 down vote accepted

You say in your update this happens despite using a pick - in which case I would say the most appropriate solution is a slight change of technique.

Using a pick, my nails never come into contact with the strings, despite using a fairly short amount of pick beyond my thumb/fingers. For songs where I want to use my thumb to create pinch harmonics I pull the plectrum even closer, and for loud strumming I use more of the plectrum beyond my fingers but the difference is only a matter of 2 or 3 mm.

Have you tried to keep your fingers further away from the strings?

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+1 if this is happening, your technique is wrong! – yossarian Jun 16 '11 at 20:10
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Screw you, world, you couldn't have told me this two decades ago? :) Seriously, yeah, this is it. Gotta work on how I hold the pick. Until then, a small band-aid or maybe a fingerpick will hold me over for rehearsals and gigs. – neilfein Jun 17 '11 at 22:54
A combination of holding the pick with more of it exposed as well as clear nail polish on my index finger nail seems to be doing the trick. The trick is to put the nail polish on in several layers, with the intent of it wearing away slowly over a few hours. – neilfein Jul 15 '11 at 21:24
up vote 2 down vote

If you are doing fairly heavy strumming, a pick would be your best bet. You could also get finger picks for a number of your right-hand digits, if you want to actually retain the use of use of your index finger.

There should absolutely be no nail above the flesh on your left-hand digits. You really do not want to have nail problems with your left hand. I use medium-tension strings, and my fingers get sore on occasion from playing too hard, but I'm only building my calluses. Once you feel your nails getting in the way, it's time to get them cut!

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1  
+1 for finger picks. I think this is the best solution here. – awe Jun 16 '11 at 12:57
I'm mostly fixing this through changing how I hold the pick, but I'll also try a small finger pick on my right index finger and see if it helps any. Having many tools for the same problem is a great thing, IMO. – neilfein May 17 '12 at 15:21
up vote 3 down vote

I play fingerstyle and flatpick as well on steel string and don't have the problem... I take it that as the guys above say you're holding the pick too close to the tip, thus the index nail is hitting the strings on the downstroke. Expose a bit more pick and the problem should go away.

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