Thumbs up - calling all fingerpickers - show us your picking hand thumb nail

[michelew]

Hi everyone. I hope you're having a great weekend. I've been doing some handiwoman things around the house, which is not so good for my fingerpicking nails. Yep you guessed it, I've broken my thumb nail again. It was getting pretty long, too long I think.

So I've been wondering how you all find the right balance between your thumb nail being long enough to hit bass strings with while still being practical for life. I've added my thumb nail as it is now, which is the best salvage job I could do, but it's now working too well.

I'd love to see the shape and length of your thumb nails and the rest of your picking hand nails if you're up for it. Am I the only one walking around with weird/scary lookin', girly nails?

[Chasplaya]

Hi Michele , Interesting topic, and today I reshaped my picking finger nails. I scanned the palm and the back. The palm shows the length of the nail protruding beyond the tips and the back gives an idea of the actual shape, note the slight angle on the left of the nail. The thumb nail is fairly long still and is essentially just rounded although I have experimented in angling the side that strikes the strings. I also take care to file the underside of the nail so its smooth and doesn't catch the strings.

[AndyT]

A week ago I had some really impressive nails. I had to do a complete new installation of chemical dispensers for a store and in the process I pretty much destroyed them. I only have my thumb left.

I have to cut my thumb nail at the opposite angle that you have going Michelle. otherwise it snags the string and we know how bad that can be. The rest of my fingers are a bit shorter than yours but about the same shape.

I only have nails on my right hand. On my fretting hand they are back quite a ways from the fingertip.

[michelew]

Thanks Chas. I appreciate you taking the time to do that. Interesting.

[michelew]

Thanks Andy. Our responses passed int the ether. I stop the thumb nail snagging by taking the under edge off it like Chas described.

[AndyT]

I just snapped this pic of my thumb. I drew a line to show where it normally grows so you can see the angle I had to cut it at to make sure it doesn't snag. It looks dirty but its just the way the light is shining on it. Its very clean. Thats the line of my quick.

[willem]

Hey Michele,,great thread and just curious in how many hands we gonna watch,,thumb up!!

[michelew]

Thanks guys I'm curious too.

[tovo]

Mmmmm. I shun the entire nails thing. Don't need them. Chas...is that your hand or your wife's? (I'm hoping as a Scottish Kiwi you will see I am ribbing you). Still....very girly hand I must say.

[willem]

mY FRETTING hand..