No doubt, the Guitar is one of the musical instruments with lots of fans and lovers. However, for some guitar enthusiasts and players, the question “can you play guitar with gel nails?” seems to be one of the frequent questions usually asked.
The simple answer is yes, you can play Guitar with gel nails.
As a matter of fact, to learn how to play the guitar and enhance your playing skills, an ideal solution for you is to get your fingernails modified by fixing gel nails. Wondering why? It is simple! With gel nails, you can quickly learn to play your Guitar on different keys without worrying about your nails getting ripped off.
Having gel nails fixed can make you overcome some of the major challenges faced while playing the Guitar, including sore fingers, weakened nails, difficulty in changing chords, skipping strings, and difficulty in playing with uniform speed.
Well, in case you may begin to ask yourself, “how do I go about getting gel nails fixed?” Don’t worry, we got you covered. This article will walk you through some important points about fixing your gel nails.
Modified Nails May Enhance Your Playing Skills
Playing the guitar with your natural nails may be challenging and even hurt. It may cause your nails to become weak and begin to break off. For this reason, many players consider using a guitar pick that they can hold with their fingers while playing the Guitar.
However, having your fingernails modified will make it easier for you to play the Guitar and enhance your playing skills, enabling you to reach your goal as a professional guitar player.
You may modify your nails in several ways to enhance your guitar-playing ability. Two of the available choices of nail modifications are:
1. Acrylic nails
This is usually a mixture of a powder and a resin, mixed and applied to the nail. The combination forms a paste bonded to the natural nail and hardens. It can then be given the desired shape after it sets. However, the acrylic paste usually dries out the original nails, and it’s prone to chipping off in a few days.
2. Gel nails
As the name suggests, a product in the form of gel is applied to your nails. You then place your hand under UV light which causes the gel to harden quickly. The benefits of gel nails relative to acrylic nails include their durability and shaping. Gel nails can be shaped and polished to different ranges of smoothness to suit your desired specification.
Why You Should Consider Fixing Gel Nails to Play Your Guitar
Although guitar picks are one of the most valuable accessories for guitar players (especially beginners), yet a guitar pick won’t make you a professional guitar player faster. It may only enhance your ability to play the guitar as a beginner.
As mentioned earlier, both acrylic nails and gel nails can be used to play Guitar. However, gel nails are much better than acrylic nails since they offer some benefits. Some of the benefits of gel nails over acrylic nails are:
1. Gel nails are easy to fix
Relative to acrylic nails, gel nails are easier to fix. In fact, fixing gel nails can be done in the comfort of your home by yourself. You do not need to be a manicured professional or go to a salon before getting it fixed. By following the proper steps, you can easily fix suitable gel nails for playing your Guitar.
2. Gel nails are more durable
The acrylic paste used in fixing acrylic nails usually dries out the original nails so much that it makes the nails lose their flexibility. This means that it will be difficult for you to bend the nails; doing so will cause the acrylic nails to start chipping off.
However, gel polish used for fixing gel nails is not that harsh and will maintain the flexibility of your original nails. This makes gel nails last longer and is loved by many guitarists.
3. Shaping gel nails is easier
Gel nails can be easily trimmed into shapes that suit the tone you want from your Guitar. Just by picking up a suitable nail file and gently putting your gel nails into the right shape, you can play your Guitar severally without worrying about your gel nails going out of shape or wearing out.
How to Play Guitar With Acrylic Nails
Acrylic nails are a common accessory for women. They are typically used to enhance the appearance of a natural nail or to cover up a damaged nail. When using acrylic nails in order to play guitar, however, it is important to make some adjustments. The first step is to choose the length of your nails with care. Longer nails will not be able to grip the strings as effectively as shorter nails.
You should also choose your shape carefully. A square-shaped nail will allow more space between the tip of the nail and the guitar fretboard, helping you achieve greater string separation. This may be useful for playing chords but will cause more problems when attempting quick note changes because there is less space between each string of your fretboard.
It is important to keep in mind that while acrylic nails can protect fingers from injury when playing guitar, they can also pose some drawbacks. The biggest concern involves changing strings, some players feel that changing strings with acrylic nails makes them more likely to break than usual since there is more surface area within which friction can occur.
This is why you should tune your guitar to open tuning so that you can change cords as easily as possible.
Steps on How to Fix Gel Nails
Getting a professional gel nail at a salon can be awesome, but the cost may also be expensive. However, fixing your gel nail is not as difficult as you may think.
With the simple steps below, you can fix your gel nails that suit the tone you want from your Guitar.
- Buff the entire nail with a buffing block or a nail file.
- Level the edges of your nail in order to create an even base for the gel to be applied.
- Apply a base coat or gel bonder to the nail before applying the gel polish
- Allow the nail to air dry for 30 seconds.
- Apply the gel polish in thin layers, allowing one layer to dry before applying another one.
- Apply a UV gel top coat to seal the entire nail.
- When the topcoat is dry, wipe away any excess gel with alcohol or gel cleanser.
Subsequent Treatment of Your Gel Nails
Typically, the gel-coated nail lasts 2½ to 3 weeks. However, to maintain the gel nail in the best condition, consider the following process of treatment every three weeks.
- Remove the old gel from your nails.
- Slightly rough the nails to enhance adhesion.
- Soak the nails in clean water for 30 seconds.
- Apply a layer of base coat.
- Apply a thin layer of gel.
- Apply one coat of the hardener.
- Buff the entire nail and allow it to air-dry.
Common Mistakes You Should Avoid While Fixing Your Gel Nails
Fixing gel nails can enhance your guitar playing skills. Nevertheless, getting it done in the wrong way may be more awful than not fixing it at all. One of the reasons why many people consider getting their gel nails fixed by a professional at a salon is because doing it by oneself is prone to mistakes.
So, in case you are considering taking the steering by yourself. here are top mistakes you should avoid while fixing your gel nails
1. Wet nails
When fixing your Gel nails, you should make sure your natural nails are dehydrated.
Fixing a gel nail on wet nails will prevent the base coat or gel bonder from adhering tightly to the nails. This means that your gel nails will be weak and easily chip off.
2. Applying excessive gel bonder
Although gel bonder, which acts as a base coat, plays a huge role in binding the gel polish to your natural nail, applying too much of it will cause your gel nails to become too hard and stiff. A thin layer of the base coat is enough to adhere to the gel polish.
3. Drying the gel nails under sunlight
Many people do this because they can’t just wait for the nails to air-dry. However, drying the gel nails under sunlight is too harsh for the components of the gel polish and will eventually make your gel nails too hard and inflexible. If you cannot wait to air-dry the gel nails, you may preferably dry them under UV light.
4. Starting on the same day
Using your newly fixed gel nails to play Guitar on that same day may weaken it. Usually, you should wait for two to three days before starting to use the gel nails to play your Guitar. Do not be too eager to use your nails, or you will reduce their durability.
Can I Play Guitar With Acrylic Nails
Acrylic nails can be used in various ways, but their durability and strength make them ideal for guitar playing. The nails can provide a firm grip while strumming your instrument, and they won't bend or buckle over time. If you're thinking of using acrylic nails to play your guitar, feel free to go for it.
Can You Play Acoustic Guitar With Nails?
It may come as a surprise, but yes, you can play the acoustic guitar with nails. This isn't to say that playing an acoustic guitar with nails is easy, it takes a lot of practice and careful technique.
Can You Play Guitar With Fake Nails?
Yes, you can play guitar with fake nails. However, there are some things you should know before you proceed. There are so many things to consider when wearing fake nails on your fingers as a guitarist, but there are also ways to make them work for you in your music-making endeavors. The most important thing to keep in mind is that any time you switch from one type of nail to another, it will take some time for your body to adjust and get used to the new nails.
Is It Possible to Play Guitar With Long Nails?
Yes, it is possible to play guitar with long nails. In fact, many professional guitarists choose to play with long nails. However, using long nails does affect your technique and tone. Many guitarists who choose to play with long nails tend to use finger-style techniques to compensate for the lack of a fingernail that provides extra attack when you pick a note.
Is It Hard to Play Guitar With Long Nails?
If you have long fingernails and want to learn how to play the guitar, there are some things that you will have to deal with. Long nails can sometimes get in the way of playing. However, it is not impossible to learn how to play even with long nails.
Conclusion
Playing Guitar with your natural nail may hurt, weaken the nail and cause the nail to break off. Using guitar picks may be fantastic but will not make you a professional guitar player faster.
If you want to reach your goal as a professional guitar player as fast as possible, you should consider having a gel nail fixed. Gel nails can be shaped and polished to different ranges of smoothness that suit the particular tone you want from your Guitar.
