Acoustic guitar: How to stop right index finger nail from wearing away?

Question

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?

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Clarification: This is happening when I use a pick.

Answer 1

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?

Answer 2

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.

Answer 3

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!

Answer 4

This always happened to me back when I was gigging a lot, one of my teachers called it "funk nail" (oh yeah!); although for me personally, it was more "Soca/Calypso/Reggae/Ska nail" (I just wanted to throw in my two cents). Regardless, the above answers were effective, (multiple coats of clear protectant/polish), if you're playing hours of rhythm guitar a day it wears your nails thin, and then they get brittle, and then crack and break. There are a couple of manicurists who work in the L.A. area who are known for doing acrylics for some professional guitarists as well (one of my past teachers was a client… different one than mentioned above); you'll find a slight difference in tonality though with acrylics, the increased nail thickness also changes the feel/attack (or so I've heard from those who've gone that route).

The trick in my experience was to stay ahead of the game by applying new coats of polish all the time (make sure to give them time to dry before playing). Different picks are for different styles in my opinion (whatever that's worth), I like medium tortoise shell fenders for steel string acoustic strumming, and 2.0mm stubbies (small… of course) for everything else, call me crazy (people have).

Answer 5

I too suffer from the effects of using a finger for strumming and flat picking. I use a fingernail polish strengthener, not polish. Apply two coats and let it dry for a whole day. It stands up for about a week, the other option my wife had me do was go to the manicure place with her. She had them build me an acrylic finger nail, like one of those french nails the girls get. It worked great for about 2 weeks - real hard and feels like your own nail. However, your real nail tends to get soft underneath the phony nail. The fake nail will fall off eventually.

Answer 6

I want to add that I also suffer from this same condition but it doesn't stop with my index finger also my middle and ring finger nails are wearing down and chipping I have tried hardener though hardener is acrylic the strings are much harder, I have glued false nails over my nails this helps though the false nails wear out and replacing them can cause your nails damage, I think some answers are good my technique is self taught and probably not a technique practiced by anyone but me, I think I will try buying some mylar and trimming and gluing in place,

Answer 7

I play with 0.6 mm to 1.0 mm guitar picks on electric and acoustic guitars. My right index fingernail obviously takes some incidental damage while strumming or chugging (the metal) to the point where it wears thin. It's thin enough that it actually starts bending upwards in the overgrowth! It's certainly annoying that it is thin, to the point that my search for help led me here... but I guess not annoying enough to actually do something about it like put nail polish/hardener or an acrylic nail on it, because I have thought about it.

Answer 8

I have just watched a YouTube video and the guy used a build gel and 9 watt UV Lamp as he was allergic to the acrylic...he swore by it.

Answer 9

I got the same problem mate.

I've Been playing professionally for 20 years. It's not your style. It's not your pick. It's just the way it is.

Get a fake nail put on, it works a treat.They're Only like 5 bucks, and take about a month to wear down If you're gigging 3-5 times a week.

When it's gone, don't get another till your real nail wears down, just before the point of pain or sensitivity to help the nail thicken back up, then do it again. You can have the nail chick glue 2 or three together. It will be way strong. Keep rocking bro.