Category: Jam Session
Ok so I am really loving the new Guitalele, it's got a really delicate action though maybe I can put some higher tension strings on it and get a tighter fit, as it were. Anyway, I have been over and over this with the uke too: I really do like the warmer sound produced by fingertips, and yet it seems everyone on the Interner proposes nails. I just can't use the nails, it seems: feel awkward most of the time. So what do you all use if you finger pick a guitar / ukulele?
I know when I was a bass player years ago, of course, I had no nails. Bass strings worked wonders on building up calluses on the right hand, which added projection and tone on an open body.
Anyway these nylon strings don't do much for the calluses. Any ideas for how to build that up? Of course the left hand ones are there, I'm talking on the right in order to get more depth. I do like the sound you get without nails though. I use the nails to strum but like the finger picked sound I guess.
My grandfather does the same thing on his guitar when he wants to get the sound you get when you strum with a pick and he doesn't have one available, or if he doesn't feel like rooting around for one. The majority of the time he just uses his fingers though. I know a ukulele sounds a lot different and I know nothing about playing one, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to post this.
Leo, I think Metal strings work best when it comes to building calluses on the fingers. Also I think that Nails can help when you don't have a peg, but if you wish to produce a warmer sound then your fingers do the job. :) ... I know the ukulele sounds different, I have one which by the way I already tuned and i'll get a read on the book you posted earlier.
I'm definitely sold on no nails, and using the rest stroke. i'm getting requinto strings to redo the Guitalele because they're thinner with higher tension. the classical guitar strings are just too low tension on this 17" scale.
Or you could use a fake fingernail. It worked for Paul McCartney.