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| To Varnish or Not to Varnish? - Beginner Questions - Ukulele - Ukulele - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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RiemannFan Approved 
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Hi I want to grow the nails on my right hand to enhance fingerficking. The only clear varnish the I could get was one with a gloss finish. I have been practising clawhammer technique and I suspect that the back of my fingernail is slipping sligtly because of the gloss finish, hence making it difficult to play the the bum-ditty (as well as the melody). Am I simply imagining this: is more likely that I just need a few months more practice; or can would a matt varnish help? Does anybody know of nail varnishes that are made specifically for stringed intrument players? Regards Philip
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Yoik Approved 
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I would ask my wife for you, but one of the reasons I married her was that she was one of the few non-Amish, non-Hippy girls who didn't use warpaint. 8) But my painting experience suggests that a light buff with 200 grit might help. There are also deglossing solvents, but that might be a health hazard. 8(
____________________ __Ukulele Villian__ My other instrument is a pipe My homemade ceramic pipes A forum about simple flutes |
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banjo brad Super Moderator 
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It sounds to me more like an "angle of attack" problem than anything else. The sound in clawhammer comes as the tensioned string comes off the tip of the nail and vibrates. If you have your finger too closed, you are probably just "wiping" the string, not "picking" it. Make sure your nail is more perpendicular to the strings than parallel.
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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RiemannFan Approved
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Hi Brad Thanks for your response. I did spot this when I started a few weeks back. I noticed that as the angle between the line of my fingers and the line of the strings got cloer to 90 degrees the sound grew clearer and louder. Still................... the laws of physics are whispering to me that a shiney finger nail will tend to slip ever so slightly.  One other question while I have you in my sights: I started with my middle finger on clawhammer ukulele, but I'm now trying it with my index finger. There does seem to be an improvement in the quality of the note with the index finger. Which finger do you use? Ádh Mór  Philip
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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I don't think the slip causes much problem as long as you don't just slip, i.e. get the angle to low. I usually use my middle finger, that's how I started out. I do have to make sure I don't have it come down too much on the edge of the nail, but I like the sound better. If I want a more strident tone, I will sometimes use the index finger (or if I wear down or tear the middle nail too far into the quick). If you hold your picking hand out in front of you and look at the nail, you are aiming at hitting the string just left of center on the nail, if you understand what I'm trying to say. Oops! Everything I'm saying is based on my clawhammer banjo playing! I think the index finger probably works better on the uke (I really don't play a lot of uke), although I still tend to revert to the middle finger.
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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Smiler Approved 
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Philip, I see you are from Dublin originally, so just wanted to let you know Ukuhooley is Irelands first ukulele club and we meet on the second Saturday each month in Dunlaoire. If you are ever in Dublin and would like to join us or visit, you would be very welcome. Tony 
____________________ Play as though nobody's listening! |
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RiemannFan Approved
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Tony Thanks for the invite. I'll keep it in mind, though I probably won't be over before the New Year. Never mind though, ..................... as I'm getting my new solid mahogany Mele tomorrow! Ádh Mór Philip
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RiemannFan Approved
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Yep.................... the index finger definitely seems the better option on the uke. So only another three months of practising the bum-ditty before I can stumble through Oh Susana! Philip
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Smiler Approved
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Say that again Philip!
____________________ Play as though nobody's listening! |
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| ezFolk Forums > Ukulele > Beginner Questions - Ukulele > To Varnish or Not to Varnish? | |
