Hi,

As well as playing violin, I'm a classical guitarist, which means I need to have long nails on my right hand (to pluck the strings with). This poses a problem in one of new violin pieces I'm learning.
The pieces is somewhere between grade 1 -2 so it's not that hard, the problem is, for one bar I need to use pizzicato. To do this my teacher told me to keep hold of the bow, in the way I would if I was about to bow, and pluck with my first finger, but my finger nail keeps getting in the way and in keeping the bow so that it is pointed upwards, I'm finding it hard to use the side of my finger. I read somewhere that you should never use you finger nail to play pizzicato, is that true?

If so, does anyone have any tips, so I can get avoid using my nail?

Thanks in advance,

LG

You need to use more of the fleshy pad of the finger, I think. That's certainly the way I do cello pizz, and my guitarist nails don't get in the way.

hth

J

Maybe it's just somehting I have to get used to, the problem I'm having is getting to the fleshy part of my nails while holding the bow - if you don't have any problems, I guess it must just take practise!

How long do you wear your nails for your guitar lisa? Mine are just long enough (I keep them about 5-8 mm). Is it possible that they're longer than they need to be? Also how are they shaped for the guitar? If you shape them to the angle you play the guitar at, as they're supposed to be, you'll have a slightly shorter nail on the left side of the finger, and the weak part of the nail will be filed off. That should be sufficient to get your nails out of the way I think?

The other thing you might try is getting your finger slightly under the string for the pizz. It's a different finger shape and action from the guitar stroke.

My nails for I and M are rounded, for A the nails is sightly square, this is what my guitar teacher told me to do. This is to help it catch the string.
Do you think I should shape them so I and M are longer on one side as you said? I think it would help with playing pizzicato, as it's the nail that's getting in the way.
When it comes to the length of my nails, I tend to keep them silghtly longer than average, as I find I get a better tone from my guitar, plus it's easier to play.
I always thought the shape and length of the nails was something varied from player to player, depending on what the guitarist wants to achieve tone wise - is that wrong?

Sorry for all these questions, but I don't want to be shaping my nails wrong, not only as will effects my violin playing, but my guitar playing too!

Not sure, Lisa. My nails are shaped like fig 8 on this link. I do it by playing the guitar at my normal angle, holding that angle, then stroking the nail edge along the nail file as if I was playing. For me, this gives a better sound. It does definitely vary from person to person, but you needed to be guided by your finger stroke when playing, rather than some ideal view. I don't know many guitarists with nails much longer than 5mm though.

My nails are shaped like fig.7 on the link. When it comes to my nails length they aren't much longer than 5mm. My teacher looks at my nails every now and then to make sure there not too long or the wrong shape. I guess if I need to change he would tell me so.
I think, for now anyway, I'm going to stick with the shape I've always used, I have an exam soon and I don't want any breakages or anything like that before hand - *touch wood*
I think when it comes to violin, as with any inturment - practice, pratice and more pratice is what is
needed!

Thanks,

LG

Yes, true that you should never play pizzicato with the fingernail. The string must be plucked be the fleshy part of the fingertip.