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lawnboss - Posted - 09/10/2025: 06:40:56
Hi All,
I've been playing clawhammer for a handful of years. Increasingly in the past few months, especially in jams when seating is tight and I have to hold the neck more upright, I have an extremely irritating development. While playing seemingly normally, out of the blue I will catch a fingernail on a string during the UP-stroke. The caught nail is usually the index or middle finger (by the way, I play with my index finger). The effect is a disturbingly loud PWANG (to the point where people will assume I have broken a string).
My nails are quite short (any shorter and I wouldn't make contact on the downstrokes), and I have a hard time reproducing the problem at home (it just emerges from its lair during jams). I can't detect anything obvious, and I have never heard anyone else produce this accidental PWANG. It's driving me crazy! Has anyone dealt with this? Any ideas of how to break out of it?
Thanks,
LB
pinenut - Posted - 09/10/2025: 09:58:26
Yes, I have had this happen; definitely a "whoopsie" moment.
One option is to cram into an an equivalent position and practice that way until time fixes the problem. 
Make some space at the jam; do what is necessary. Slide back or stand-up and strap-in.
Or, turn the full beaming glory of your little monster sideways into the innocent mandolin player who used to be your friend. 
Edited by - pinenut on 09/10/2025 10:14:34
SirenSong - Posted - 09/10/2025: 15:46:40
quote:
Originally posted by pinenut
Make some space at the jam; do what is necessary.
Very long day and I'm tired. First thing I thought of when I read this part is that a big pot of beans would help with that space issue...
