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General => Musicians => Topic started by: antigoon on July 25, 2010, 06:49:34 PM

Title: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: 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.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: 73109 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.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: antigoon on July 25, 2010, 07:52:23 PM
:lol 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.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: 73109 on July 25, 2010, 08:59:29 PM
new skin?
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: antigoon on July 25, 2010, 09:01:56 PM
(https://wildernessfirstresponder.org/Portals/348/ProductImages/newskin.jpg)

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 :lol
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: 73109 on July 25, 2010, 09:06:17 PM
Ah, I thought it was a callus inducer...I got excited for a second.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: antigoon on July 25, 2010, 09:12:50 PM
..a callus inducer?
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: 73109 on July 25, 2010, 09:23:58 PM
My fingers don't callus and it leads to really painful playing sometimes.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: antigoon 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?
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: 73109 on July 25, 2010, 09:28:42 PM
They get a little hard ( :neverusethis: ) but they never fully callus to get an intense session in without pain, and if I keep going then they blister.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: antigoon 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! :lol What a crazy man.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: 73109 on July 25, 2010, 09:35:15 PM
:| ouch
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: antigoon on July 25, 2010, 09:39:04 PM
:lol

Anybody else experience this? Coz? I get the impression you play a ton with your band.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: cthrubuoy on July 26, 2010, 06:54:58 AM
They get a little hard ( :neverusethis: ) 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.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: 73109 on July 26, 2010, 10:40:19 AM
a year and some. Definitely enough time to callus.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: cthrubuoy on July 26, 2010, 11:44:52 AM
Not if you're Wolverine.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: 73109 on July 26, 2010, 12:10:46 PM
:| Oh god. Maybe I am!!!
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: kirbywelch92 on July 26, 2010, 04:29:18 PM
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.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: sneakyblueberry on July 26, 2010, 05:38:19 PM
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.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: BRGM on July 26, 2010, 06:35:13 PM
What the heck's Callus?!
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: ScioPath on July 26, 2010, 07:15:15 PM
when the flesh on your fingertips harden.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: antigoon on July 26, 2010, 08:21:24 PM
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.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: 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??
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: antigoon on July 26, 2010, 08:30:26 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 :lol
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: 73109 on July 26, 2010, 08:34:27 PM
Who bends like that is my question.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: sneakyblueberry on July 26, 2010, 08:39:08 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 :lol

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 :lol
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: 73109 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.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: antigoon 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!
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: 73109 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.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: antigoon 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.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: BRGM on July 27, 2010, 06:28:01 AM
when the flesh on your fingertips harden.

ahaaaa, my right ringfinger is transforming into a callus fingertip!  :metal
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: Tuneman on July 29, 2010, 12:18:34 AM
best is to keep the fingernails short, don't let them touch the string
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: Marvellous G on July 29, 2010, 06:32:48 AM
Or be a wimp and play 8s.
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: cthrubuoy on July 29, 2010, 06:57:01 AM
lol 8's

Be an man and use bass strings
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: antigoon on July 29, 2010, 08:48:08 AM
8's? You might as well play with fishing line!
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: Marvellous G on July 29, 2010, 11:48:48 AM
*vehemently defends 8s*
Title: Re: Hey guitarists! A question of fingertips and nail separation
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on July 29, 2010, 10:34:53 PM
In 20 yrs, I cannot recall that happening to me.  Many things go into it obviously. Your style, how long you've played and how often, the guitar, the strings, etc. 11's generally work better on a shorter scale neck, like on a Les Paul. I've never used them on anything but my LP. On the LP, 11s feel like 10s. When you bend with your ring finger, do you reinforce the bend with your index and middle fingers?