Author Topic: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation (Read 6178 times)

antigoon · « **on:** July 25, 2010, 06:49:34 PM »

So I was playing real hard today; practicing some blues tunes and I separated the skin from the fingernail on my left ring finger. This has happened before and it's a real pain in the ass because it hurts like a bitch and I can't really play on that finger until it heals. I've heard using Krazy Glue under the fingernail works but I'm worried about how safe that is.

Anyone have experience with this or liquid adhesive/bandage type stuff? I play with 11s on my Strat 'cause I like the way they sound but if this keeps happening I'm gonna have to start using 10s.

73109 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 25, 2010, 07:34:56 PM »

That has never happened to me. I've formed blisters on my fingertips but never have I fucked up my nail. I remember one time, my blisters got so bad, I tried to pull a Tony Iommi and form fingertips out of band aides. It didn't work.

antigoon · « **Reply #2 on:** July 25, 2010, 07:52:23 PM »

I can't even imagine doing that! I bought new-skin. Will apply after I'm done restringing, though I won't play until tomorrow.

73109 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 25, 2010, 08:59:29 PM »

new skin?

antigoon · « **Reply #4 on:** July 25, 2010, 09:01:56 PM »

I put two coats on and I don't feel a thing anymore. Don't know how it's gonna hold up to heavy bending though. If it doesn't work I'm off to the store to buy some Krazy Glue

73109 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 25, 2010, 09:06:17 PM »

Ah, I thought it was a callus inducer...I got excited for a second.

antigoon · « **Reply #6 on:** July 25, 2010, 09:12:50 PM »

..a callus inducer?

73109 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 25, 2010, 09:23:58 PM »

My fingers don't callus and it leads to really painful playing sometimes.

antigoon · « **Reply #8 on:** July 25, 2010, 09:25:36 PM »

excuse the meme, but

how does that work? ... No, really, how does that work? Your fingers are raw every time you play?

73109 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 25, 2010, 09:28:42 PM »

They get a little hard (

) but they never fully callus to get an intense session in without pain, and if I keep going then they blister.

antigoon · « **Reply #10 on:** July 25, 2010, 09:30:47 PM »

You could always make like Stevie and put some Krazy Glue on your forearm, stick your fingertips on, wait for it to dry, and rip your fingers off, leaving you fresh skin to wear down!

What a crazy man.

73109 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 25, 2010, 09:35:15 PM »

ouch

antigoon · « **Reply #12 on:** July 25, 2010, 09:39:04 PM »

Anybody else experience this? Coz? I get the impression you play a ton with your band.

cthrubuoy · « **Reply #13 on:** July 26, 2010, 06:54:58 AM »

Quote from: 73109 on July 25, 2010, 09:28:42 PM

They get a little hard ( ) but they never fully callus to get an intense session in without pain, and if I keep going then they blister.

How long have you been playing? Callouses/Calli (?) can take a very long time to form, and you need to give your fingers time in between playing in order for the skin to heal slightly.

With regards to OP's question, I play through the pain. I'm a real man.
I don't really, it's one of those things you just have to deal with. I usually use it as time away from guitar to reflect on songs I've written or play Xbox or something.

73109 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 26, 2010, 10:40:19 AM »

a year and some. Definitely enough time to callus.

cthrubuoy · « **Reply #15 on:** July 26, 2010, 11:44:52 AM »

Not if you're Wolverine.

73109 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 26, 2010, 12:10:46 PM »

Oh god. Maybe I am!!!

kirbywelch92 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 26, 2010, 04:29:18 PM »

Quote from: 73109 on July 26, 2010, 10:40:19 AM

a year and some. Definitely enough time to callus.

Not really, especially if you're playing acoustic. It took at least two for my callous to properly set in (and just on my left hand at that). If you've got an acoustic guitar I urge you to play it instead, forms callous faster and more effectively and makes fretting easier on an electric.

sneakyblueberry · « **Reply #18 on:** July 26, 2010, 05:38:19 PM »

Quote from: kirbywelch92 on July 26, 2010, 04:29:18 PM

Quote from: 73109 on July 26, 2010, 10:40:19 AM
a year and some. Definitely enough time to callus.

Not really, especially if you're playing acoustic. It took at least two for my callous to properly set in (and just on my left hand at that). If you've got an acoustic guitar I urge you to play it instead, forms callous faster and more effectively and makes fretting easier on an electric.

Not entirely true, depends on the gauge.

My nails are getting so rooted from playing the guitar. I think you're on the right track with the gluey/adhesive stuff. Another good thing to do (I've been told) is to paint your nails with some nail hardening product that womangs use. My wife suggested this as it seems my problem is more to do with my fingernails being quite weak.

BRGM · « **Reply #19 on:** July 26, 2010, 06:35:13 PM »

What the heck's Callus?!

ScioPath · « **Reply #20 on:** July 26, 2010, 07:15:15 PM »

when the flesh on your fingertips harden.

antigoon · « **Reply #21 on:** July 26, 2010, 08:21:24 PM »

Quote from: sneakyblueberry on July 26, 2010, 05:38:19 PM

Quote from: kirbywelch92 on July 26, 2010, 04:29:18 PM
Quote from: 73109 on July 26, 2010, 10:40:19 AM
a year and some. Definitely enough time to callus.

Not really, especially if you're playing acoustic. It took at least two for my callous to properly set in (and just on my left hand at that). If you've got an acoustic guitar I urge you to play it instead, forms callous faster and more effectively and makes fretting easier on an electric.

Not entirely true, depends on the gauge.

My nails are getting so rooted from playing the guitar. I think you're on the right track with the gluey/adhesive stuff. Another good thing to do (I've been told) is to paint your nails with some nail hardening product that womangs use. My wife suggested this as it seems my problem is more to do with my fingernails being quite weak.

The stuff is definitely working. It comes off from my fingertips pretty quickly but all I need it to do is stay in the nail bed where I separated the nail. Doesn't adversely affect my playing at all. I don't think a nail hardener would help me...my nail isn't separating from itself, my skin just split slightly from the nail.

sneakyblueberry · « **Reply #22 on:** July 26, 2010, 08:22:48 PM »

Do you mean that the nail is actually lifting off of the nailbed? On your fretting hand? How does that even happen??

antigoon · « **Reply #23 on:** July 26, 2010, 08:30:26 PM »

Quote from: sneakyblueberry on July 26, 2010, 08:22:48 PM

Do you mean that the nail is actually lifting off of the nailbed? On your fretting hand? How does that even happen??

You can't see it or anything, it's more the very tip of my nailbed in one spot has been separated from the string catching in it from bending. It's a fairly common problem. And by common I mean I've seen people discuss it online before

73109 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 26, 2010, 08:34:27 PM »

Who bends like that is my question.

sneakyblueberry · « **Reply #25 on:** July 26, 2010, 08:39:08 PM »

Quote from: antigoon on July 26, 2010, 08:30:26 PM

Quote from: sneakyblueberry on July 26, 2010, 08:22:48 PM
Do you mean that the nail is actually lifting off of the nailbed? On your fretting hand? How does that even happen??

You can't see it or anything, it's more the very tip of my nailbed in one spot has been separated from the string catching in it from bending. It's a fairly common problem. And by common I mean I've seen people discuss it online before

Quote from: 73109 on July 26, 2010, 08:34:27 PM

Who bends like that is my question.

This, lol. It'd be interesting to see your technique?! Maybe I just have my action too high so my finger slips under the string. Either way, its a weird problem to have

73109 · « **Reply #26 on:** July 26, 2010, 08:43:26 PM »

If I was to ever bend wrong, my my string would slide under my finger. It wouldn't go over it and hit the space in between the finger and nail.

antigoon · « **Reply #27 on:** July 26, 2010, 08:51:17 PM »

https://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?t=2485887

I'm not the only one with this problem, I swear!

73109 · « **Reply #28 on:** July 26, 2010, 08:54:31 PM »

I think it is a question of action. If it is high, the string goes over. If it is low, it cuts up. I played me guitar teacher's strat for a bit and it had LOOOOOOOW action and my bends always ended up coming up on me.

antigoon · « **Reply #29 on:** July 26, 2010, 08:56:30 PM »

It's not that low. And this doesn't happen every time I bend or anything close to that, it's just once in a while.

BRGM · « **Reply #30 on:** July 27, 2010, 06:28:01 AM »

Quote from: ScioPath on July 26, 2010, 07:15:15 PM

when the flesh on your fingertips harden.

ahaaaa, my right ringfinger is transforming into a callus fingertip!

Tuneman · « **Reply #31 on:** July 29, 2010, 12:18:34 AM »

best is to keep the fingernails short, don't let them touch the string

Marvellous G · « **Reply #32 on:** July 29, 2010, 06:32:48 AM »

Or be a wimp and play 8s.

cthrubuoy · « **Reply #33 on:** July 29, 2010, 06:57:01 AM »

lol 8's

Be an man and use bass strings

antigoon · « **Reply #34 on:** July 29, 2010, 08:48:08 AM »

8's? You might as well play with fishing line!

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Author Topic: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation (Read 6178 times)