Anyone else got a particularly long finger nail?

[Big J]

Odd question, but I’ve never found another bass player (in person) with the same thing. 
my middle finger on my plucking hand catches the strings. I have to keep it cut to the skin to avoid a clank noise on the string? 
do you guys get that? 

[LowB_FTW]

It's part of the reason I always use a plectrum (I use the Wedgie 5mm plectrums).

I once tried to get rid of that clanking nail but I had to cut the nails down so short it actually hurt my fingers, so I've never done that again.

I suppose I could have tried harder modifying my plucking technique, but I was young and impatient and so never did that.

 

Mark

Edited December 21, 2023 by LowB_FTW
Fat fingers

[M@23]

I almost religiously cut them before playing as I hate the sound of fingernails on strings!

[Big J]

4 minutes ago, LowB_FTW said:

It's part of the reason I always use a plectrum

Same. I play both pick and fingers and I think the only reason I play pick so much is that bloody finger nail

[Big J]

5 minutes ago, M@23 said:

I almost religiously cut them before playing as I hate the sound of fingernails on strings!

Yeah I cut them, but ones right to the skin or it catches

[neepheid]

It doesn't happen to me, so either I'm deformed, or you are

[Big J]

4 minutes ago, neepheid said:

It doesn't happen to me, so either I'm deformed, or you are

Probably the latter…

[GuyR]

Always cut mine right down or they catch.

[chris_b]

Maybe you could try altering your technique.

[JazzyJ]

Always keep nail clippers in the case. Never need to cut them right down though. 

[ahpook]

1 hour ago, GuyR said:

Always cut mine right down or they catch.

 

[tauzero]

I try to find a compromise length because I also play guitar a bit and I fingerpick, for which it's helpful to use nails. I err on the side of shorter though as playing bass strings with my nails sounds really harsh. Main bass plucking finger for me is my forefinger - a broken metacarpal which finished up giving me a slightly shorter and lower forefinger means I tend to stay with one finger rather than alternate.

[BreadBin]

7 hours ago, Big J said:

Odd question, but I’ve never found another bass player (in person) with the same thing. 
my middle finger on my plucking hand catches the strings. I have to keep it cut to the skin to avoid a clank noise on the string? 
do you guys get that? 

I do, have some expensive clippers and a diamond nail file to keep them tidy. The middle finger clank is something I really don't like

[Pauld]

I have the same problem. I broke my middle finger when I was a kid, and can't straighten my finger, so that nail catches. I have to keep my nails very short or get clank from my middle finger.

[Big J]

7 hours ago, chris_b said:

Maybe you could try altering your technique.

Tried for 35 years… so far failed 😂

[Franticsmurf]

Yes, although until reading this thread I thought it was the angle at which my middle finger strikes the string - i.e. my poor technique. I usually keep my nails short anyway, but the right middle fingernail tends to end up shorter.

[Oomo]

Same, my middle finger's nail extends further over the finger than others.

 

I solved the problem with a diamond nail file - it gives way more control than scissors, so easy to take down any long bits.

[Big J]

Sounds like I’m not a freak then…. Unless I’m on a forum full of freaks😳

[casapete]

I always keep my nails fairly short, not only because of the ‘plucking finger click’ thing but also

 because I can’t stand it when the nails on your fretting hand touch the fingerboard. 😖

[Baloney Balderdash]

Sure, there is a difference from finger to finger of where on the individual finger the nail starts to grow over.

 

However I do prefer am ever so slightly overhang of nail, just ever so slightly protruding above the edge of the finger, almost flush with it.

 

The way I pluck the strings I more so stroke the strings with the outmost tip of my finger, then gliding over the outmost tip of my nail, rather than really plucking, pulling and striking the strings, this gives the most full range sound, with a bit of attack added from the nail as well.

 

Also I combine this traditional regular 2, and sometimes 3 or just 1, finger plucking technique with classical acoustic style guitar finger picking technique and index and/or middle finger flamenco guitar style finger flicking technique, which do interchangeably pretty much all the time. 

 

This does require a quite specific nail length though, and as said varies slightly from finger to finger how much I need to cut to get the nail to just be ever so slightly above flush with the outmost tip of my fingers, to sound just right, neither too little, loosing attack, or too much, having the strings get caught on the nails.

 

But I got it pretty good down and know exactly how to cut my right hand finger nails by now to get it right.

 

Also the nails on my left hand fretting hand I always cut super short, as short as physically possible, that is basically all the way down.

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by Baloney Balderdash

[MichaelDean]

I spent years biting my nails too short, so they don't get that long before they start looking too long. Thankfully, I now use nail clippers, but it took far too long for me to start doing so. I also hate the noise of nail on string though, so I do still keep them tidy.

[Marky L]

Yeah. I need an angle grinder..

 

[BillyBass]

How the hell does Steve Harris do it?  It make me wince every time I think about it.  I clip my plucking hand nails constantly.

[Woodinblack]

I use either the flat of my fingers or my finger nails to play, depending on the style of the song. 

[Angel]

Never had a problem with nails on a bass, but I HATE playing piano when they get too long and click a bit.