James TheDoctor Duncan shared... Some info if you think anybody might benefit: I very rarely use a pick. I HAVE been known to use one from time to time...however... I am also blessed (or cursed, depending on how you look at it,) with very strong, thick, fingernails, and I find that, just like classical and Flamenco guitar players, my nails can be used either by themselves, together WITH the fleshy part of my fingertips, or my fingertips alone with no fingernail at all, depending on the tone Im looking for at the moment. CONTRARY TO POPULAR belief, bass strings are NOT as hard on your fingernails as regular guitar strings! In fact, their much larger diameter and lower resistance to being plucked make them much EASIER on- and LESS damaging to- your fingernails, than smaller diameter, tighter, bass strings!!! If you also play guitar, think about this: while playing a number that requires a pick...say...for staccato notes, alternate picking, or even sweep picking, and it has a section for fingerpicking, or right-hand tapping, or any technique that requires you to either palm your pick, or even drop it, or toss it out to the crowd, etc...then, you have to retrieve the pick from its resting place in the joints of your fingers...or from your mic stand, guitar tape, or wherever...unless you never even NEED a pick when you want to SOUND LIKE you really ARE using one! Unless you have either brittle fingernails, or weak, paper-thin ones, you REALLY should try to develop and cultivate this technique - it adds SO much to your Bassist Bag O Tricks! And if your nails just arent heavy and strong enough, try having Jell-O for dessert after every meal, and taking pre-natal vitamins EVERY day!! Yeah, I know pre-natal vitamins are tailored for pregnant women, and that the rest of the Alpha Males in your band will tease you, but if thats all it takes to challenge your masculinity, then maybe you should forget about playing a manly instrument like the bass. Perhaps you can trade it for a flute at band camp... Why Jell-O for better fingernails? Well, because theres a lot of whats in your fingernails (AND your hair!) also in Jell-O. AND in Knox gelatin. And in ANY food gelatin! Its called keratin, and animal hooves are where the main ingredient for gelatins come from. Jell-O, Knox gelatin, AND pre-natal vitamins will ALL make your fingernails AND hair grow fast! If youre squeamish about the gelatin and too scared of the vitamins, they make gelatin capsules too.
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 22:56:24 +0000
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