I Have Nail Problems
 

Most of my playing these days is without a pick, both electric and acoustic. My right hand nails get worn down to nothing. I'm good at adapting to changes in the nails, but without nails, it's hard to play right. What do I do? I guess nail hardener stuff may help. I could always use all pick for a few weeks so they can grow. I don't know

Maybe nail hardener. That's a tough one bro

I have known guitarists to use fake nails. Metal finger picks? I usually use a fingertip/nail hybrid so have not had the problem.

Bah.. I use finger picks these days. I'm kind of poor, and don't laugh.. But I often have to wipe my arse with my fingers because I can't afford toilet roll. So I basically just play with picks otherwise I would get my strings covered in ****. Picks still need cleaning afterwards though..

Brittle nails can be a sign of an iron deficiency. Maybe you should start cooking with an iron skillet or maybe take some vitamin supplements. Be careful of taking Flintstones Vitamins since they contain "Aspartame." I heard you should increase your intake of Jello (or any other brand of gelatin) and orange juice for healthy and increased thickness of fingernails. I heard taking prenatal vitamins is also good for hair and nails.

Always carry a emery board with you. File any cracks or split you might incur. After you round your fingernails file underneath just the very tip of your fingernails at a 45 degree angle. This is done so the nail is beveled and the nail slides off the string. Always try to make contact with both the fleshy park of the fingertip and the fingernail. So the nail should maybe be a 1 mm or more to ensure proper technique. You might want to consider investing in a plectrum until your nails grow to proper length.

My nails aren't brittle. I just play really hard and wear then down. They don't break, they just get grinned down. I don't eat jello, but I have a healthy diet. OJ every morn

Maybe I should had ask if you are fingerpicker first.

Guitar players into Classical guitar music usually shape their nails which helps them articulate the string in a certain way when playing.

I have no nails to shape. I just can do the pick all the time. I tried

I can tell if I haven't practice in a while cause my fingernails need trimming. I think they can grow considerably fast if miss a couple of days and don't groom them. I always try to keep my left hand fingernails cut and filed very short, but I keep my right hand fingernails shaped like a classical guitar player would. My only problem is that my fingernails are thin and don't hold up too long they usually crack.

When I play without a pick I like to borrow the techniques from Flamenco players, even if I am playing an electric guitar.

Change the way your holding the guitar.. try and keep your fingers as vertical as you can ...