Can you play flamenco guitar without nails?

Question

I played the piano for about 12 years and then quit for a while. In the end I had to come back to my music otherwise I would have gone insane. I started playing the guitar about 3 years ago casually and then recently I just started playing flamenco guitar. I'm loving flamenco guitar and I want to work towards playing Bulerias rhythms. But I've always had it in the back of my mind that I want to go back to playing piano at the end of the year.

I've just started growing my nails and I haven't got to the stage where I do golpe or percussive music, I'm still learning how to play various rasgeados and other basic techniques. I've been having lessons for 2 weeks.

The point is I do eventually want to go back to playing the piano too (which really does require very short nails) but I don't want to give up the flamenco guitar. So I want to ask.

Is it possible to play flamenco guitar well with short nails?

Answer 1

you can play with short nails, but the sound will be fuller with longer nails. if you have short nails or bite your nails, get those finger picks for flamenco players. i've seen kaki king play with them and she sounded amazing. they probably take a little while to get used to, but it's worth it if you really wanna play. good luck!

Answer 2

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RE:

Can you play flamenco guitar without nails?

I played the piano for about 12 years and then quit for a while. In the end I had to come back to my music otherwise I would have gone insane. I started playing the guitar about 3 years ago casually and then recently I just started playing flamenco guitar. I'm loving flamenco guitar and I want...

Answer 3

The previous replies have good points to offer, but there should be a happy medium wherein you can grow your nails sufficient for Flamenco playing and continue with your piano playing as well. The nails should not be excessively long to play Flamenco and if you retain a 1/8" clearance of your nails you should do fine.



I'm no pianist, but I play Flamenco and rely upon my nails in my fingerstyle approach in all music that I play.

Answer 4

Since I've never met a fingernail that I didn't want to chew and since I can play flamenco guitar.. I would say that YES you can play flamenco with short nails.