Chet's right hand nails
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 7:42 pm
I'm pretty sure it's been discussed before, but I need to talk about nails.
In videos, I've gotten a close look at Chet's right hand, (even got to shake it once in person!) but they appeared very white, as if he had enforced his nails with artificial nails. Wish I knew for sure. I remember reading on the back of an album cover decades ago, that he said his nails were quite soft, and steel strings were quite hard on them.
I have been having MAJOR problems with mine. And it's been going on for YEARS, and I am DETERMINED to whip the problem. See, it always starts the same way. A small, horizontal hairline split forms in the nail, then by the time it grows to the outer part of the nail, I end up having to clip it, and then my practicing falls two or three weeks behind while I wait for the dern thing to grow back out! Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrgggghhh!!
While it's growing, I try to focus on developing my left hand, (scales) but it's still a MAJOR inconvenience.
I have tried artificial nails, and they don't work for me. Ping pong balls, nail hardening applications and all that guff. I just can't deal with it. Even tried a product called "Player's Nails", once, designed for classical guitarists, (and I am extremely HEAVY on classical pieces and studies), but man, I just want my REAL nails, and I want them intact! Enough is enough. To quote Popeye, "I've stood all I can stands, and I can't stands no more!"
So I am now heavily into action to solve the problem once and for all. I started taking Knox Gelatine for nails, (internally) plus soaking my fingers in a jar of it for ten minute stretches in the morning and evening. I also have been rubbing the nails with olive oil and vitamin E cream. And I am going to do an Internet search for a product called "Hoof Flex", which is an equine product, but I hear it works miracles on human nails, too.
I know all of this sounds like overkill, but the last time I had to clip a nail (about three weeks ago) was the proverbial last straw; the living end. I simply can no longer tolerate having to delay my right hand practice (arpeggios, tremolos,,etc, for two or three weeks at a time. So I'm into massive action to solve the problem once and for all.
Any tips will be appreciated.
In videos, I've gotten a close look at Chet's right hand, (even got to shake it once in person!) but they appeared very white, as if he had enforced his nails with artificial nails. Wish I knew for sure. I remember reading on the back of an album cover decades ago, that he said his nails were quite soft, and steel strings were quite hard on them.
I have been having MAJOR problems with mine. And it's been going on for YEARS, and I am DETERMINED to whip the problem. See, it always starts the same way. A small, horizontal hairline split forms in the nail, then by the time it grows to the outer part of the nail, I end up having to clip it, and then my practicing falls two or three weeks behind while I wait for the dern thing to grow back out! Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrgggghhh!!
While it's growing, I try to focus on developing my left hand, (scales) but it's still a MAJOR inconvenience.
I have tried artificial nails, and they don't work for me. Ping pong balls, nail hardening applications and all that guff. I just can't deal with it. Even tried a product called "Player's Nails", once, designed for classical guitarists, (and I am extremely HEAVY on classical pieces and studies), but man, I just want my REAL nails, and I want them intact! Enough is enough. To quote Popeye, "I've stood all I can stands, and I can't stands no more!"
So I am now heavily into action to solve the problem once and for all. I started taking Knox Gelatine for nails, (internally) plus soaking my fingers in a jar of it for ten minute stretches in the morning and evening. I also have been rubbing the nails with olive oil and vitamin E cream. And I am going to do an Internet search for a product called "Hoof Flex", which is an equine product, but I hear it works miracles on human nails, too.
I know all of this sounds like overkill, but the last time I had to clip a nail (about three weeks ago) was the proverbial last straw; the living end. I simply can no longer tolerate having to delay my right hand practice (arpeggios, tremolos,,etc, for two or three weeks at a time. So I'm into massive action to solve the problem once and for all.
Any tips will be appreciated.