taylor_gin - Posted - 01/23/2024:  06:17:16

I'm curious to know what more seasoned clawhammer banjo players have found to work for improving nail strength. I switched from finger picking to clawhammer a little over a year ago, and every time my index nail gets to the perfect length, it breaks. I purchased a Fred Kelly finger pick for my index finger as a hold-over until I figure out how to improve my nail strength. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Joel Hooks - Posted - 01/23/2024:  06:31:10

Knox ran a long lived advertisement campaign claiming that their gelatin would harden fingernails. It was a lie and has never been supported by data or studies. The theory being that eating stuff similar to fingernails= fingernails. And by that rule, eating brains= getting smarter. Logic.



Every time this subject comes up, someone will post about gelatin, a lie that people still believe. There is always anecdotal accounts of individuals experience who are convinced that it works. It does not.



Additionally, you might get recommendations for magic silver water or other such holistic panaceas. For the same effect, take a $100, put in glass of water, stir, pour in toilet, flush.



Eat healthy, exercise, and use moisturizer (just not when you are playing banjo as it will gum stuff up).



As far as any magic potions or supplements, always look on the label, they will say "These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." Translated: this product does nothing.

Edited by - Joel Hooks on 01/23/2024 06:33:34

Bob Buckingham - Posted - 01/23/2024:  07:06:32

I never had a problem with my fingernails in the first thirty some years of playing, but when I turned 50, about a quarter century ago, they started splitting. Eating right, living right and keeping those nails shorter have helped but then you could do like my old buddy Reed Martin did and play with your fingernails regardless of how long they are. Sure builds tough cuticles.

JimHenry - Posted - 01/23/2024:  07:49:32

Not a fingernail-strengthening solution, but some people use scotch tape on the fingernail. The smooth clear kind, in a narrow strip from the cuticle to the tip, making sure it covers the striking part of the nail at the tip.

This can last for a few hours or a day, but you will need to replace when it wears out. Still, it solves the problem and feels identical to the bare fingernail.

I read somewhere that Ken Perlman does this. I do it. There are also ClingPro picks and many others... I've tried several and actually like the tape solution.

I think the tape is best, _ IF_ you don't mind replacing it periodically.

onionhoney - Posted - 01/23/2024:  08:06:49

I've had a lot of trouble with my nails too - here are some things that have helped me:

Prevention - be gentle to your nails whenever you can:
1. Force - when you can (solo practice, etc) play quietly and don't hit the strings very hard
2. Nylon strings - a thousand times more gentle on your nails. If it's not the sound you need all the time, great for a practice banjo.

Protection - cover them up:
3. Picks or thimbles - I use them primarily when I need volume for jams or gigs, or if I'm going somewhere where I'll be playing a lot every day. It took some getting used to (and I still prefer nails-only when I can), but I really like the tone of Hooks' Brass Thimbles and they don't get in the way of each other when I wear two (index and middle) the way some of the plastic models do.
4. Acrylic nails - a very similar feel and sound to natural nails. There are a million threads about them here and elsewhere. The time/money investment can be worth it, and I used them for a while - but they can damage your natural nails too, especially if you're not vigilant about upkeep or try to cut corners. No one likes a nail fungus.

Treatment:
5. Hoof cream - I put it on my nails and cuticles if they're looking/feeling particularly beaten up. A decent layer before bed for a week usually has them back in business.
6. Recovery time - if you have made Bad Nail Choices you've gotta pay the toll and give them a break/use gentler playing techniques (per above) for a while

Some folks swear by diet changes, too - eggs, etc. I eat a ton of eggs and my nails are still garbage, life is a rich tapestry.

amsweet - Posted - 01/23/2024:  08:09:47

If you get tired of the struggle, as I did, you can start playing with short nails. I was inspired by Reed Martin, who was mentioned above. The sound is obviously different and I've had to alter my hand position, but I'm happy with where I've landed. It just takes some tinkering.

restreet - Posted - 01/23/2024:  11:38:19

For me a fingerpick is preferable to sticking something on my nail and the Diamond Ti fingerpick is the best but its no longer made.

The next best is the Pro Pik Clawhammer fingerpick. I put a small curl in the tip of it.

pro-pik.com/collections/finger...ngerpicks

Joel Hooks' thimble is pretty good too.

banjothimble.com/banjo-thimbles

In my opinion, for a pick to emulate the bending of a fingernail, it needs a curl at the tip.

Edited by - restreet on 01/23/2024 11:42:51

Culloden - Posted - 01/23/2024:  13:38:13

Just remember, the original old time banjo players weren't professional musicians, they worked on farms and railroads, and in factories and coal mines. They couldn't keep their nails ideal for playing when they earned their living by manual labor. They made do with short nails and inspired the generations of banjo players that came after them.
Just something to think about.

Bill H - Posted - 01/24/2024:  02:19:25

I have found that taking a Biotin supplement has helped strengthen my nails significantly. They grow like heck too.

restreet - Posted - 01/24/2024:  03:32:53

Kyle Creed used a double sided pick. ClawJam makes a similar pick: clawjam.com/shop/ols/products/...ngle-pick
Here are some of my clawhammer picks:

Clawhammer picks 1

Clawhammer picks 2

taylor_gin - Posted - 01/24/2024:  06:49:11

Thanks all for these responses so far. Y'all have given me a lot to try and contemplate, and I really appreciate it.

JollyRogers - Posted - 01/24/2024:  18:22:38

I gave up. My middle finger nail splits in the middle with any length and has done so since my early 50’s. My index gives weak tone, but if I get it long enough it sounds good, and then I. break it on something.

I use a reversed fingerpick Riley Baugus style. Thinned, shaped, and shortened.

BrooksMT - Posted - 02/15/2024:  17:51:57

There are lots of BHO threads on nails. I searched for "stronger nails" using BHO's search box (click on Forums, and see box to the right).



I have used a couple herbal treatments suggested by Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D. He has a website with information. He suggests 3 oils: Evening Primrose, Black Currant, and Borage. He prefers the primrose and currant oils over the borage due to toxins sometimes present in borage.



My favorite fingernail strengthening oil is an Omega3 oil, Camelina oil, produced locally in Bozeman MT (Biomega3 brand). I found it at local food coop. Also online. Dr. Weil likes Omega3 oils.



Here is the Bozeman area website (I have no financial or other ties to this company).

biomega3.net/



Omega3 oils are also found in flax seed - I add ground flax seed to my morning cereal, has a nice flavor, sort of nutty, to me anyway.



It will take a couple weeks to a month to see a change in your nails if you take supplements.

If you are taking medicines that affect your blood coagulation, you should talk to your doctor before taking these supplements.



Hope this helps

Edited by - BrooksMT on 02/15/2024 17:54:38

taylor_gin - Posted - 02/16/2024:  10:49:27

Thank you! This is very helpful.

hbick2 - Posted - 02/18/2024:  13:52:20

I agree with Reed. Just play with what you've got. I use my index finger and have learned to play both with and without a nail. It's really not all that different. I do know that, if I let the nails on my right hand get too long, they will break, so I try to round them off before that happens. I have occasionally treated split nails with cyanoacrylate.

One thing that has bothered me over the years is finger splits, especially during the cold months. I've had two dermatologists tell me to treat them with cyanoacrylate. It works pretty well. The one thing I have found to prevent finger splits is to use bar soap and not liquid soap on my hands. Once I started doing that, I seldom ever have one.

taylor_gin - Posted - 02/19/2024:  05:47:58

I've tried out some of the picks, and it definitely seems like my finger is still the best option - nail or no nail. Great advice re the bar soap - an easy fix. Thanks so much!

OldPappy - Posted - 02/29/2024:  22:22:38

quote:

---

Originally posted by Culloden

Just remember, the original old time banjo players weren't professional musicians, they worked on farms and railroads, and in factories and coal mines. They couldn't keep their nails ideal for playing when they earned their living by manual labor. They made do with short nails and inspired the generations of banjo players that came after them.

Just something to think about.

That is right on the money. When I first started playing Clawhammer I too thought I needed a long, strong finger nail on my picking finger (index). I tried super glue, I tried fake plastic nails from the nail solons, and I tried finger picks. I liked finger picks best because with the work I have to do around my little farm I quickly learned that a long finger nail was just waiting to get ripped off and that hurts a plenty.

I learned a simple thing from watching Dwight Dillers son Caleb play banjo. He had close cut fingernails, and played wonderfully. What I noticed was he used a very steep angle of attack, almost 90 degrees straight at the string, striking it like the hammers of a piano. 

I learned how to play that way with a short finger nail. Do the same and you can stop worry over breaking a nail.

Edited by - OldPappy on 02/29/2024 22:25:33

wileypickett - Posted - 03/02/2024:  02:23:36

Every three weeks I go to a Vietnamese nail salon and get acrylic nails. (I learned about this from watching a documentary on flamenco guitar players, whose playing style also relies heavily on the backs of the nails. Apparently acrylic nails are employed by many flamenco players with weak nails.)



I figured I'd break nails often -- almost never happens. (I keep them fairly short.) They grow out in about three weeks and need replacing. Takes about a half hour to get three nails done (index, middle, ring -- you may not need the ring) and costs about 20 bucks.



It's made a huge difference in my playing. Wish I'd discovered it 40 years ago.

Edited by - wileypickett on 03/02/2024 02:25:29

CrazyCatLazy - Posted - 03/08/2024:  04:47:45

I tried potions, lotions, supplements and picks. My nails are paper thin garbage no matter what I do.

Now I get an acrylic dip nail done at a nail bar every three weeks. Total game changer, I can practice as much as I want, it sounds great and doesn't look particularly weird. I've read it can be bad for the health of my nail in the long run but what's the point in a "healthy" nail that splits if I play more than 15 minutes a day?