How do other classical guitarists handle steel strings? Is it best to use a different fingerpicking technique, or a pick, and if so, what type of pick would be easiest for a novice pick-user?

Viohazard is off to school camp shortly, and his teacher was asking if he could accompany songs on guitar. This is a regularly recurring "problem", because when people thrust a guitar into his hands and tell him to play, it's normally a steel-stringed folk guitar, and his classical-length fingernails just can't take too much of it!

A medium light Dunlop plectrum for strumming, or a heavy one for picking.

I use my fingers on my steel string, and always have. I've never been able to get the hang of picks - I don't like the way that they feel or sound. Get him to try using the back of his fingernail (index finger) for downward strums - you can get quite a pleasing dramatic sound that way, particularly for the first downbeat of a bar - like a flicking motion. There's a lot of flexibility with what he can do with an acoustic for accompaniment - whatever sounds good to him really.

I tried this earlier, it does sound nice and it's good for simple, soft playing. Unfortunately it's hard to do complex or fast rhythms. I started to use my thumb for upbeat as well as fingernails for downbeat, that gives you a little more scope. I'm still firmly a plectrum man though (except for on bass guitar of course!).

yeah, i know what you mean - i wasn't really intending for it to be a suggestion for all accompanist playing all the time, but it is a nice sound for a bit more oompf, if you're playing without a plectrum. I do this nice stroke where I kind of flick my i m and a fingers down the strings too - sounds great.

Hello. Thank you for your replies. I've been wondering about picks, I've heard of picks shaped like thimble type of pick, but how are they to play with?

do you mean the type that you put on on a kind of ring, that look a bit like nails?

I find them awful, but I guess like with everything, if you persist, they'll feel ok for you eventually.

Have you tried putting that gel like nail protector on your fingers before playing the steel string? It looks like aq clear polish.

picks for Japanese zither are what Viohazard is thinking of, and he was fascinated to see similar guitar picks at a music shop.

Gel nail protector...but not actual nail polish? He does sometimes use a matte clear basecoat. I'll look into this - his nails have been awful this year, I suspect related to stress at the beginning of the year, and I'm getting apprehensive about growing some kind of nails before his guitar exam in October/November.

the other thing to try to build nails is some omega 3/6/9 oil - either from a seed base, if you're vege, or from fish oil (e.g. the old cod liver oil). This seems to strengthen them, making them more flexible.

Yes those are the nail thingummies I was thinking of. I don't actually know any guitarists who use them, though I've seen them in the shops.

Alaska piks were in the local shop, and as the other thumb picks were too small for Viohazard's jumbo paws, he came away with some of these. They actually look as if they might be easier for a classical player to get used to...

Got Dunlop picks too (not knowing just what might feel like "medium" - range from 0.78 to 1.0mm anyway), so into the backpack they go...

Just thinking that, of course, people who play acoustic finger style don't use picks at all - and while they spend a good bit of time on nail care, they nonetheless don't appear to trash their nails.

That's what I wondered - why does Viohazard break his nails on steel strings and they don't!
Anyway, he's back from camp so he'll no doubt comment later.

I was just thinking he might want to look up some relevant websites. There was a fingerstyle course going on alongside the classical one I've just come back from. They have some serious obsession with nails... I'd like to bet that acoustic fingerstyle sites have tons of nail care hints!

I had a chance to use the picks. I think it is better for melody playng...

Any updates on anyone using these Alaska type finger picks? Can you get used to them?

I would really love to try some finger-picking but cannot (will not) use my nails, ever!

Best regards,
Richard

Well well, it isn't much use (in my case) for strumming, but it is a lovely pick for plucking.
It did good work at my guitar concert, but if you don't have long enough nails, it falls off when you pluck the string.

OK, thanks.

Sounds like I had better wait for the next technological pick innovation!! Got short nails and prefer to keep em that way.

Back to my strumming then.

Richard

I teach classical and acoustic fingerstyle with nails on steel, however I have large strong nails which can take a beating I would suggest

The back of the fingernail is a good technique to develop as is Carter picking using the thumb to pick out bass notes and the index finger to brush the rest of the strings

Suggest looking at some basic flamenco techniques as well for really serious strumming

I use a Wegen gypsy pick on steel strings - they are 2.5m thick and really make some noise and are excellent for high speed single not playing as well

The Djangology website stocks them They are about £10 but worth it - a cheaper alternative are the Gibson H heavy pciks which are shield shaped 50p each