Pros and Cons of Nails and Plastic Finger Picks

 As discussed in the previous article there may be times when nails are preferred over using finger picks, (Even with steel string guitars).  However, if you have learned to use finger picks and use them well, you will find that using finger picks is usually the best way to go because picks are better suited in most situations.  Let me explain why this is true.  There are several problems with bare fingers and nails.  First of all, finger nails are growing in the wrong direction as compared to the finger picks.  This makes it more difficult to pick the strings fast, smoothly and consistently.  The nails tend to want to 'bite' or 'grab' the strings making it difficult to get smooth consistent sounds.  Whereas the plastic finger pick is designed in such a way that the strings just simply roll off the picks tip creating a clean, clear sound.  Classical guitarists who always use only bare fingers and nails MUST have a completely different hand position in order to deal with this problem of the nails. 

Another problem is you cannot get the volume from nails that you can get with finger picks.  This is because nails are just not strong enough. This is especially important if you are a professional performer.  When you are performing it seems like more volume is something that's always desired and needed.  That's why people break their nails while performing finger style guitar because their nails just can't deliver the volume and still hold up.  Breaking a nail - now that is not a good thing when playing live!  Also, I've never seen anyone playing a steel string guitar that can pick as smoothly, consistently, loudly and as fast using nails as people do with finger picks.  It's been my experience that it just doesn't happen!

There is another problem with finger placement.  When using nails, your finger nail must hit the string just right to get that particular "desired" sound.  Don't get me wrong.  One of my favorite sounds is when using nails.  That sound is when the finger tip and the nail are both touching the string just before it's plucked.  This is a sweet sound, especially on a classical or Concert type (nylon strings) guitar.  You just cannot get "that sound" using plastic or any other kind of finger picks for that matter.  It is unique only to fingers and nails.  However, to get "that sound" consistently, you have to get your finger placement just right, just when you need it, and that means you must slow down.  Even then, at least for me it has always been a hit or miss proposition.  Sometimes you get "that sound", other times you miss and get a muffled, or even a muted, bass type thud. Still, using bare fingers and nails does have its appeal in certain situations and so it's something that should be learned.

In my experience I have found that finger picks are much more forgiving when it comes to consistent sound quality.  Also picks allow some margin for finger placement upon the strings before the strings are plucked as compared to having to get the bare finger and nails just right on the string. (For that particular desired sound)

There is another problem with using nails!  It is the nails themselves.  You will need to have them be a certain length, a certain shape and in a certain condition too. How long, and what particular shape is a personnel matter of taste, style and feel.  As to the condition they must be strong, stiff and yet somewhat pliable and never brittle.  The problem is that these things are always changing.  It’s not just the growing of the nails and the need to have them trimmed and filed to length and shape.  If you wash your hands the moisture affects their stiffness and strength.  What you eat affects them, and even the weather and humidity can change their condition too.  Again, finger picks eliminate all those problems and worries while playing finger style guitar.  If you're a professional who performs before audiences on a regular basis then you especially know how important constancy can be.  Again, for this, finger picks win over nails hands down. 

For beginners one of the appealing advantages of using bare fingers is that you can actually "feel the strings" as you play.  This can certainly be a desirable thing especially when you are first starting to learn how to finger pick guitar.  This is because you can "feel" your way around as you go.  It allows you to "know" by "feel" if you're on the string correctly or not.  This is not true with finger picks because it is the pick that touches the string and not any part of your finger tip and you are not actually "touching" the strings.  There are some types of metal picks out now that allows you to "touch" the strings as you play, but I don't recommend them for two reasons.  First because of the wound strings of the guitar doesn’t go well with metal.  Second, you don’t have to touch the strings to “know” where you are.  You can "know" where you are with standard plastic finger picks because the finger picks are tools.  Just like a carpenter "knows" or "feels" that he has hit the nail with his hammer (a tool) so too the guitarist can "feel" or "know" when he's on the strings of the guitar even though his fingers are not actually touching them.  When using plastic finger picks you also depend on your anchor for "knowing" where you are in relation to strings for finger placement.  This can very effectively be done, but it does take some practice.  (I explain about use of the anchor in the finger picking patterns and lessons pages as well as in the "Right Hand Position" page)

Another apparent advantage of bare fingers for beginners is this - if you're not attempting to get that "desired sound" we talked about earlier, you don't have to be quite as precise with your finger placement as when wearing picks.  This relative “freedom” is another reason why beginners many times prefer not to wear finger picks.  The problem here is they fall into the trap of developing a sloppy finger picking technique that needs to be "unlearned" later.  This happens because as they are learning to finger pick the tendency is to haphazardly put their fingers in there and just play anything.  For these reasons many beginners feel that they can learn finger picking guitar quicker without using finger picks, or that it is easier for them to learn!  Please do not fall into this thinking.  This approach to learning to finger pick definitely has its down falls. Namely, poor finger picking technique.  Please don't cut corners.   Learn good technique from the start by learning to finger pick guitar using plastic finger picks.    

Do you still say WHY?   Consider this fact!

This will demonstrate how the above things I’ve explained are true.  If you put plastic finger picks on someone who has already “learned” finger picking without finger picks, you will find that all of a sudden they can't finger pick anymore!   I have done this many, many times, and it's always the same!   Try it yourself sometime.  You'll find the same thing.  Why is that?  Well it's because they haven't really "learned the basic techniques" necessary for proper finger picking the way they should have.   They have done what was explained in the previous paragraphs.   They did what was "EASY” at the time they were learning and as a result they have now developed bad habits.  Now they have sloppy finger picking style that can actually hinder there music rather than improve it.   Now they complain that they don't like finger picks or that the picks just get in the way.  Well yeah....they "get in the way" all right!   They "get in the way" because their playing technique is so poor.

Can you see that the solution to this problem is very simple?  The solution is THIS!  Right from the start - learn finger picking while using plastic finger picks.  This is just another reason why I've told you that you should learn to finger pick from the beginning using plastic finger picks.

There is another advantage to using plastic finger picks when beginning.  This reason is related to the above things we just discussed.   Finger picks will "quickly bring to your attention" where you need to make improvements.  They will naturally do this in your hand and finger placement, your finger movements and your overall style of playing.  Basic techniques are always better learned while wearing finger picks because those wrong things have to be corrected right away when using the picks.  Without the picks you can "get away" with being sloppy.  While wearing finger picks you HAVE to make the needed corrections to go on.  Another plus is the sound quality will be better when using plastic finger picks and this makes for better and more motivation to keep trying to learn to finger pick.  Finally you should remember this!  If you learn how to finger pick guitar using finger picks you will have no problem at all adjusting to finger picking guitar when you take the picks off.  There are only slight changes that need to be made and I’ve never seen anyone have a problem making them.  After all – finger picking without finger picks is easier.  Isn’t that right?  So for those special songs when you want that "desired sound" that only bare fingers and nails delivers, just take your picks off and use bare fingers and nails!  SIMPLE!