What do you think about the differences? Which sound do you prefer? 😀 If you enjoyed the video, please consider to support my work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/beatrixguitar

No nails sounds so much more beautiful and has a lovely warmth to it. It's much more emotional playing.

No nails for me. I'm impressed that you had no trouble playing Recuerdo without your nails. Bravo.

I think I prefer the tone of no-nails, it's just very warm, cozy, and organic. I imagine it takes some getting used to.

Much better with no nails = lovely playing = Thank you ❤🎸

i think the sound of nylon strings sounds better without nails, soft warm and wonderful. Either way your playing is lovely.

My preference is "no nails"... softer, warmer, but I understand your preference as well, especially after so many years. Well done.

Over the years, I've tried both ways to some level of satisfaction and disappointment with both. Finally, I now try to keep my playing nails at only a few mm (2 or 3mm max) in length beyond my fingertips. This has several advantages: 1.) They are stronger now, than when they were longer. 2.) They don't break or chip as often. I don't coat my nails in any way, just natural growth. And, I save a lot of money on Crazy Glue! 3.) I very much enjoy the tactile control I achieve when I plant my fingertip before I pluck the string. My fingers feel "more intelligent". Thank you Beatrix.

I liked the sound without the fingernails, I really love it. Much softer, a bit vague, but so sentimental. Many thanks for the experience.

The tone of no nails just your fingertips is just beautiful, and as most guitarists play with "nails " it gives you a different approach and uniqueness.

i actually used to play with nails then i heard that Fransisco Tarrega my favorite composer used to play without nails so i cut them off at first it was really hard at first then i got used to it now i prefer it more than nails. Very good and high quality content btw

I already started to play without nails , You gave me motivation to continue without them,

Just found your channel. I could watch you play for hours!! Such a thing of beauty!! I’m new to classical guitar (3 yrs.), but I also play classical piano for which I’ve been playing for over 30 yrs. I’ve struggled with playing guitar because with my nails I’m not able to effectively play the piano anymore. I love both but due to the nail thing I’ve been forced to choose. After listening to you play I might have to cut my nails so I can enjoy both. I look forward to listening to all of your content!! Thank you for sharing your beautiful music!!!

Thank you ! You inspire people ! Your the Best

It's always a trade off between warmth vs clarity (and volume). Even our preference for spruce vs cedar boils down to the same general preference.

Ooooh, masterful demos of the tradecraft which sound so alluring and luv your informative notes about it. Bless!

superb video, liked the details and in-depth explanation and clarity of thoughts. Amazing.

My 50 years old dilemma! Studied classical with nails and then went to the lute without nails, leaving the classical guitar because I coudn't adapt. Then I played arch and baroque lute with nails again. When I became a 'pro' I switched to fingerpicking and electric with a pick. Even used nails while fingerpicking! I guess my nails are very strong. Now I'm retired and still only doing classical. I use nails but keep them very very short and use my r-thumb without nail, that sounds so sweetly. And ... having them short is very handy as a handyman.

Beautiful with all the details of the idea itself as well as your beauty. .

Another thing to remember. All the original composers/players, that liked 'no nails', all played on gut strings (not nylon). And prefered playing in a more intimate setting (smaller rooms). That might also have something to do with it. Today, power and volume are popular

I love your new sound, it’s darker and fuller! 👍👍👍👍👍

Very informative and helped me to keep going with no nail as due to my work, I cannot grow long nails. Thanks for your help

I recently found your channel and I have enjoyed it a lot. I play guitar but not classical. I am not much of a finger player however I really enjoy this experiment because I currently trying to use my hands more. I believe the sound of the short nails had more “bass tone” sound yet clear. I like it. I definitely understand why the nails are so important to classical guitar. I really enjoy watching this video. Thanks.

Both sound great!

Congrats!

Beautiful!

i love your playing thank you

Beautiful playing ❤

Ive never heard anyone play guitar like you... simply amazing

You nailed it 😁😁😁

So lovely🎉 I began playing no nails because my nails a very thin. Continued because it sounds wonderful.

I haven't watched the video yet (working now, keeping it in an open tab), but I came here to say I've just listened to your album - it's very fine

You play nicely. I have owned some classical guitars, but mostly have played steel string acoustic. But I really like playing on a classical because they sound so mellow and warm.

Your playing is wonderful throughout, but to me the sound with nails was much better. The notes had more articulation and the tone was more even. The difference was especially apparent on the Recuerdos piece -- and by the way, your tremolo is so beautiful! Wow. I think your idea about playing with shorter nails makes a lot of sense. For me I play with all kinds of nail lengths and I've found that I can get results with anything as long as there is some amount of nail, even just a couple mm. Great stuff and I enjoy your videos :)

i’ve played classical guitar since 15, i’m now 60 and from 35 years old i also started playing piano. having nails holds me back playing piano but i love having long nails for guitar.

I've played without nails for as long as I've done classical, and yes, you'll definitely improve your technique if you keep at it; you'll also develop calluses that will make the tone more consistent. I wouldn't fret about it! For a great example of non-nail guitar tone, I'd check out John Schneiderman playing Coste.

Hello Beatrix, thanks for this fascinating video and for all your hard work. I actually really liked your no nail performances. Maybe my imagination but I felt that your tone was warmer and more intimate. Anyway you sound fantastic with or without nails. Thanks again for your inspiring videos. Best wishes, David.

I agree with what you said about enjoying the contact with the strings. There may be some compromise with the brightness (especially of chords) when playing without nails, but for me it is more than rewarded with an improved sensuality of connection to the strings. Beautifully done, thank you for this video.

Hi Beatrix. Thanks for an interesting demo. I think you're on the right track by taking the middle path. If my nails are too long, they can get in the way. Too short, and I don't have quite as many options with tone. But what I'm most interested in is your use of gels. I suffered from decades with fragile, brittle nails. A week wouldn't go by without at least one nail being out of action. My nails would shatter like glass or tear like brittle plastic. Having endured one tissy fit too many over a broken nail, my wife sent me to her nail lady and had them done with acrylic, covered with a layer of gel on top to add strength and avoid yellowing from the sun. The results were awesome. My nails became a reliable tool for producing a very nice, consistent tone. The only thing I didn't like was that the nails seemed too thick and tended to make a slight scraping sound when I played. I then heard about taking biotin to strengthen the nails. I put myself on two Biotin tabs a day for about 3 months before taking the gels off the finger nails but leaving the thumb with gel (the thumb's natural nail was too narrow and didn't meet with the string properly without help from the gel). I also began applying Working Hands lotion to my nails morning and night to keep them hydrated. I'm now very happy with the strength and tone of the finger nails without gels. The thinner, natural nail produces a much more refined, pure sound and gives me much more flexibility with regard to tone. I wish I'd figured this out many years ago. May your journey come to a more satisfying solution without the decades of frustration I suffered. You're obviously an excellent classical guitarist!

it's important to remember that the sound which come from the guitar out is not the same that we ear in videos or audio recordings

I like such an honest video. Beautiful, beautiful :- )

I must admit that I am torn between ‘nails’ and ‘no nails’. You played beautifully! I’ll need to listen a few more times.

Rob Mackillop plays without nails and gets a stunning tone. I've been playing without nails ever since i saw him do it, but I'm also just a hobbyist, so it isn't a big deal either way

i used to play classical guitar and i thought i couldn't anymore, because i have switched completely to harp so i keep my nails trimmed short. your video gives me hope that i can still keep in touch with my classical guitar.

I really thought the fast stuff was gonna trip you up more than it did. Great job

Your tone is GODLY

This was a very interesting experiment. I started using shorter nails and on my last UKposts video, someone complimented the tone. I thought maybe it was because I used a new mic but now, I'm not so sure. At my level of ability, it was probably just lucky. I always enjoy your videos. Cheers, Will.

Hi Beatrix, thanks for sharing this. As a male player who has always struggled to grow long nails, due to weak and flatter nails, this is very interesting. Your sound with less nail, was lovely and I preferred it over the “all nail” sound. For me, the best result is produced by some flesh and finished with a smooth nail edge, however short. By the look of it, you nails were still in contact with the strings at the end of the stroke. It will be interesting to hear update.

I am impressed how readily you were able to even play the notes at speed. The difference in length and position of the finger "tip" is a lot to compensate for that quickly. That being said, your skills and technique have been developed with nails and are exquisitely refined. And I agree you have many more tonal and expressive options with them. However, with no nails the tone is warm and clear, though perhaps not as wide a range. Thanks for this demonstration.

Hello, I'm not a classical guitarist player. I do know sounds. I understand connection. Being connected to the strings as you pointed out brings one closer to the instrument and the feel of the tones. Enjoy your journey. Have a blessed day

As a flamenco player, we play with short nails. The nail should follow the same curvature of the tip of your finger. But thumb nail should be longer but not too long. Olé

I leave my nails just outside the tip of the fingers, except on the thumb which is a bit longer. For the type of music that I play this works very well. Thanks for the video!

Thanks for this! I started playing without nails about a year ago. What I have found is that the right hand needs to be in a slightly different position, just a little bit more under the string rather than gliding across the string that I did with nails. I find it a much more pleasant way to play since I have more contact with the string. If I recall correctly, Tarrega spent some months in perfecting his no-nails technique, so id does take time!

As a guitarist who also rock climbs quite a bit I have been forced into playing without good nails quite a few times 😅 it’s definitely something you can improve at and with some softer pieces I believe I sounds better without them.

This reminded me of Rob MacKillop who honestly gave me the courage of leaving nails behind (opening the doors to Bass, Keys...). What he says is that it takes a while for it to sound good. He also has a series of tips regarding how to approach this (he is an authority on Lutes and an established classical guitarist who plays without nails, among other things, maybe you guys could collab and make some interesting videos? Hopefully this will be a useful reference,. Glad to have found your channel, the more I explore the more I like what I see. The world needs smart and driven artists who're willing to push beyond their zone of comfort. Hopefully this experiment will open many doors otherwise not even considered.

It seems like no nails classical is starting to become a trend

I've been playing my classical, dreadnought and even electric guitars without long nails or pick for last 23 years. It took a couple of years to get some power and accuracy. It does open up your playing by mixing in fingerstyle. Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday.

I studied classical guitar and have been playing and performing for over 15 years. I used to play with no nail and for a few years I went back and forth but with nails is definitely my favorite. I have so much more diversity of sound tamber and dynamics. I’ve noticed many classical guitarist posting how they are going nail-less. I think it has a beautiful sound, but I don’t think everybody could pull it off. my fingers, even after a while of playing, could not get the sound, I desired or dynamics. It is a beautiful, flashy sound but my taste nails are better for me. I am very familiar with the history of guitar since I love reading about it and had to study it at University and yes, originally it was played without nail. Wonderful video. Love your work.

So talented

This reminds me of so many guitar comparison videos. There's rarely any noticable difference as it's played by the same person. It's often frustrating that the lovely gentle old guitar music is played on bright big guitars with nails. But your guitar sounds nice and pleasant even with nails.

when i switched to flesh-only a few years back i realized each finger has a different sound, that gives you some of the dynamics you lose lacking nails

At least you were not wrong in the execution of the musical pieces. Among the characteristics derived from playing with medium-length nails, the most important is the traction of the touch on the strings, then there is the volume level of the sound (I am not a professional but I have played melody chord for 50 years and I studied some classical guitar technique (of course, a study topic was the length of the fingernails of the right hand, as you say, it's a midpoint). I send you greetings from Mexico.

I tried no nails several years ago. I found that shorter nails are great, but no nails didn’t work for me either.

For those who plays both guitar and piano/keyboards...short or no nails really helps

I have nails, fake ones. I keep them short. I like muted organics of no nails. It really is the feeling and the hearing of the sound. I play with groups, nails help your projection. You did very well. Thanks for the video. Blessings.

50yrs(?) years ago, I friend of mine, went to a Emilio Pujol summer school in Spain, and was very impressed with the "nailless" sound that Emilio achieved.

I practice a lot of flamenco techniques and kinda like to play aggressive, which is where no nails failed me. But for warmer pieces its a lovely tone.

Hey! Without nails just seem so much cooler to me.. cool videos!

Not a classical player, just a beginner on steel string acoustic, but my first impression is that I like no nails better. The warmth is my favorite characteristic when I listen to classical. And professional "bad" is still inspiring!

When I was taking lessons years ago (I don't play any more) I was very frustrated by breaking my nails frequently. I wasn't doing any knid of manual work, I was just a college student, but at least one was broken all the time. My teacher suggested that I try playing "al carne". I did, and it worked out well for me. You play beautifully both ways. I have no doubt that with a little time to get used to the difference you will feel much more comfortable without nails.

I am so happy you tried this. With nails is definitely sharper. No nails is as beautiful in different way However I wonder what a week of playing without nails would do. I think you should give it a fair chance. I am glad you discovered the connection with the guitar by playing with your figures. This is common with a pick too. I tried strumming with my fingers, but they just hurt. So I gave up. Then I got much better, saw another video that recommended playing with your fingers and I too discovered how much closer I am to the guitar. I hope you give it more of a chance. This is the first video, but you play so beautifully with or without nails.

You are very courageous, performing such an experiment. I always feel sad when I break a nail and have to patiently let it grow back; until it gets as long as the others, the tones are not the same. I enjoyed your comments about the differences, and your conclusion to keep the nails, but maybe have them not quite so long,

I've played steel string with bare fingers for years and want to get into nylon, so this is reassuring!

I haven't finished watching or even got to the playing without nails, but I'm glad I watched just for the music. So beautiful. Thank you. AND AT THE END: unlike most commenters here, I agree with you: better with nails. But it's great you tried the other way and probably the middle way you plan to try will be the solution.

It is a challenge going from one extreme to another in a single video. I like your idea of finding a middle ground and working with that for awhile. I don't play classical and certainly not at your level, but do play a nylon flamenco guitar a lot and my nails are in various lengths as I play over the course of a year. I am not particular with them. However, in this particular video, I def heard better string articulation with your nails than without. Perhaps that could be improved with practice with shorter nails, it is hard to say. For sure Recuerdos seemed like the starkest difference between the two. Look forward to more future videos (YT recommended this one as I was looking at flamenco guitar reviews :) Yeah, algorithm!).

Sou apaixonado pelo seu trabalho, sigo voçê aqui é no seu istagram tbm..seus clássicos são maravilhosos seus dedilhados são perfeitos, parabéns vc é perfeita.Deus lhe abençôe sempre, sou Brasileiro ...

I agree with @StevenWatsonMusic, going without nails takes time. I've been doing it for a couple months now and using a steel-string guitar. Playing Barrios's "La Catedral: I Prelude - Saudade." The sound is weird and wonderful at times.

I play with longer nails too (no artficial because I have good solid nails) BUT I do find the sound of flesh and not only nail in this video better! especially in the tremolo of recuerdos! I remember seeing a master class video of Ana Vidovic and she told a guy that she thinks the sound of flesh and nail is the best for her. I think she also brought up a reference of another guitarist. But for sure you get a lot more treble and brilliance with longer nails. Thank you for this comparison video Beatrix! We love you 🥰🥰

Since I also play lute I need to play with very short nails in order to dig into the double stringing. Its also annoying to break nails so often. But I can't get the volume on tremolo and also the contrasting timbre of nail use. Your video is very enlightening and you demonstrate clearly you can play very well with nice tone without nails. Very nice job on the tremolo without nails

amazing content ! could you please tell me what guitar and strings do you use ? i'm looking for this particular sound for few times now.

Hi! Very interesting. I Thu in I prefer no-nails! And thankyou for the video!

Despite the wishes of my classical guitar instructor, I have always played with short nails...I prefer the sound, I have good volume, and its so easy!! You sounded great with shorter nails.

Have been in and out of no-nail technique, for years now, a few tips for everyone: you need sticky strings such as savarez nylon or gut, also have discovered that replacing the ring finger for the pinky finger gives clarity and brightness (maybe somewhere in the middle of no nail and nail)

Btw, you play beautifully with and without nails. I like the strength of tone with nails, but I like the mellowness of tone with no nails equally.

I have to say the tone of no nails is sweet. It also seems that you were getting better dynamics without nails.

You sound great playing both ways, but I prefer the tone you make playing with nails. Tried this same experiment myself last year with a similar result.

Hello. Love it the way you play and share your musical experience. About nails short or long, yes not, a great guitarist that I love, Dominic Miller, plays with fingertips, and his sound is amazing. But still, I'm an humble guitarist too, I prefer with longer nails. Just ... degustibus. Thank you for this interesting video.

It's so nice to see other guitarist trying the no nails technique without prejudices. As a guitarist myself I've been trying to learn the no nail playing for a couple of months checking Sor's method and re-learning elementary pieces. It was very hard at first to switch to this new way of approaching to the guitar, but it has really change my playing experience and they way I feel towards the instrument. I recommend to any guitarist just to give it a chance and leave aside dogmatic thoughts. ¡There are many ways to play the guitar, not just one! After all, if you don't like it, you can always grow your nails back at any moment. Thanks for making this video Beatrix!

It's like anything you do for the first time , the more you do it , the better you get . With the nails you get the "bite " you would like , more snap if you will . Without the nails, it takes your tone in a different direction . Some on this forum suggested that without your nails you got a warmer sound . Now it's down to the sound preference, but you would have to become proficient without nails to truly find that out . That took a lot of courage to try that ! I applaud your decision to try without the nails !

Interesting. Your guitar has a lovely tone - and you play it so well. Which model is it? All the best Per

I think tremelo sounds quite nice with no-nails. It feels more continuous and blended together to me. Of course, not having nails gives a very subtle timing difference that you will have to get used to. As a hobbyist, I was not able to justify the care necessary to keep my nails in proper condition for classical guitar. Additionally, I have some problem nails (hooked nail on index finger, middle finger nail always splits). Thus, I keep my nails short and got used to it. I found that I can still engage my nails when they are quite short when I want to. Of course, I am not a professional and don't need to fill a concert hall with the tone of my guitar.

I could tell within a few seconds of no-nail playing that you had more control over the micro-dynamics of each individual note. As a former classical guitarist (I still play but not classical) I prefer the sound of no nails. I always struggled with nail care too because I refused to stop being active and always broke the damn things. Lovely playing too! Who were/are your teachers?

When I experimented with no nails, I had to file off the white part completely and go slightly beyond (ouch) to stop the nails from making slight contact with the strings. I prefer the tone of no nails, it's less contrasty and can make musical ideas easier to follow, but other pieces work better with more contrast.

I mostly play rock, jazz and country. The tone is always going to be different between nails or no nails. As far as volume though, you can get more volume from going nailess once you get used to it and get better at your dynamic control. The pads of your fingers can really bite into the strings a lot more than your nails can and you can comfortably maintain that for long sections of the piece. It is all about levers, biomechanics, and friction. Nailess is a shorter lever, which means easier to hold the same tension. With the pads of your fingertips, you can put several pounds of pressure on the string and release it with precision. I used to tear up my nails with the pops and really dynamic lines I love to play, such as anything by Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits. Sultans of Swing is a great example. In that song you can hear Mark really dig into the strings for a sharp attack in some sections that almost sounds picked with a plectrum and then the next bar he is back to a warm sound as he arpeggiates chords and then back to a high attack and even popping the strings on some chord substitutions work. While it is a different genre, that level of dynamic control and range of tone is quite admirable. He is getting four distinct tones from one guitar setup.

I got enrolled in the Piano Class for the beginners at our local community college. I left the nails on my right hand because I play classical guitar. Now I know what to do. I'll cut the nails and play comfortably both,- piano and classical guitar. Thank You for this video. In any case, the nails will grow again if I want them to.

I play without nails most of the time because they break often, due to my job. It just doesn't work to have 3 out of 4, or 2 out of 4 nails ready to go. Then there is always the issue of explaining to people, why on of your hands has finger nails and the other does not.

I play without nails, and enjoy the soft sound very much. I personally think nails sound a bit harsh. Fernando Sor said as much, and even Tarrega played without nails later in life. There's a guy on youtube called Rob MacKillop who I'd call the authority on modern no nails technique. Nailless requires an entirely different technique of plucking, you almost have to curl your fingers under the strings and pull them up. Sor showed a diagram where you push the strings down and kind of pull them to the side, basically another way to achieve the same thing. Also Rob tunes his guitar down an entire step, 392hz I believe, to make it easier to play without nails. Low tension strings are probably a plus too. I current play a whole step down, and honestly prefer the sound of it. Rob said that a lot of nail players will try no nails, but not change their technique, and end up disliking it

I don’t play a ton of finger style, but when I do I enjoy the feel of the stings on my fingers. I have no nails and play steel guitar but I enjoy it

The attack is the main difference, nails bring a bity, midrangy attack that really picks notes apart from each other, tips let the sound blend in and flow being less intrusive. Both super cool and valid, and obviously nails will win simply cuz it's also louder (like pics are louder to fingerstyle) but it comes down to style and preference. P.s. Hey, if you still have them short great opportunity to take on samba and bossa nova guitar. Absolutely amazing bass melodies (specially with a 7 string) and definetly calls for NO NAILS.

It was hard for me to cut my nails, but I never regreted it. Basically the only technique not possible without nails is tremolo (at least a nice one). But I got a wide variety of new sounds in exchange, especially if you study Sor's school Amazing that you managed tremolo! I fail on that without nails.