Worship Guitar Class

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5 Helpful Hints for Perfect Guitar Nails

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Guitar Nails - How Long?Guitar Nails: How Long?

One of the Worship Guitar Class students asked how to get a clear sound when holding down guitar chords. I decided to make a video for everyone about guitar nails and what’s a good length for guitar fingernails. If your guitar nails are too long, it’s near impossible to get a clear clean chord.

On the hand that holds down chords, your fingernails should be very short. Only the pads of your fingers should be touching the strings. You want to come directly down on the strings so no other string is damped.

The guitar nails of the hand plucking the strings are best, in my opinion, when they are quite short. Watch the short video below for closeup shots of my favorite lengths for guitar nails. You can hear the difference when tapping your fingers on an object, like the music stand in the video. You should not hear the  nail sound on the hand that holds down strings.

 

5 Helpful Tips For Perfect Guitar Nails

In summary:

  1. Your left-hand nails should be short. When tapping them, only the pads of your fingers should touch the table, etc.
  2. Your right-hand nails are best when they are short, but slightly protruding over the finger pads. Watch the video above to see how to find the perfect length.
  3. Use a good emery board to smooth the ends of your guitar playing hand so there are no rough edges that can snag on the strings.
  4. In my opinion, the perfect length for the hand playing the strings, is when you tap on a object your fingers touch both the pad and nail.
  5. When plucking a string, it sounds richest to use the pad and nail at the same time. Especially on classical guitars, the sound is much fuller then only using your nails to play.

For step-by-step lessons:

JW Worship Guitar Class Lessons

Step-by-step guitar lessons for learning to play worship songs on your guitar. Click here to Learn More

5 Steps to Blossoming People

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How to Blossom People

5 Steps To Blossoming People

A number of years ago, I took a class at my church that was for all of the Sunday School Teachers. It was how to teach anything to anyone based around a book by Bruce Wilkinson called The 7 Laws of the Learner: How To Teach Almost Anything to Practically Anyone. He is such a fine Bible Teacher and writer! You may have read his books The Prayer of Jabez or Secrets of the Vine.

Probably my favorite Chapter was on how to blossom people. Bruce shares 5 steps in his book. I’ve consciously thought about them and have seen what a huge impact they make!

For example, I had a teenage guitar student that wasn’t practicing. I caught him doing something well, and went through the 5 steps. The following week he came back prepared to learn. It was like night and day. People need to know that you  care and that you believe in them.

Here are the 5 Steps

  1. Notice when people do good things.
  2. Tell them what they did.
  3. Tell them how you feel about what they did. (You were proud, excited, etc.)
  4. Take it out to the future. Paint a picture of what they are becoming.
  5. Seal it with a hug, a touch, or even a nod. Whatever is appropriate.

The first step just involves being aware of when someone does something that is helpful or when they have a breakthrough. An example for teachers would be to notice when a student plays something well.

Step two is to tell them what they did. For example, “Your chord changes are getting much faster!”

Step three is to tell them how that makes you feel. “I’m so proud of how you are progressing.”

Step four is to give them a future vision. “I bet you’ll be a fine worship leader some day!”

Step five is to end with a hug, touch, or big smile. What ever is appropriate.

Try blossoming the people around you today!

JW Worship Guitar Class for Kids

Step-by-step guitar lessons for kids. Click here to Learn More

Difference between Right and Left-handed ErgoPlay Guitar Supports

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The ErgoPlay Tappert Guitar Support is my current favorite guitar support. Not long ago I was asked if there was a difference between the left-handed and right-handed support. There is a difference so I put together this short video to show people how the support is different and also tips on how to adjust this classical guitar support.

There are also left-handed Ergoplay Guitar Supports for the Troster model. The ErgoPlay Troster Guitar Support is built for taller guitarists. I’ve posted an article and video comparing the Tappert and Troster Guitar Supports. It’s here: Difference Between ErgoPlay Tappert and Troster Guitar Supports

In addition to these sizes, there is a new ErgoPlay Guitar Support for Kids. It looks like a scaled down Tappert Guitar Support. I’ve posted an article and video about the Kids size here – ErgoPlay Guitar Support for Kids.

These supports do help you play the guitar with much better posture. We now carry all of the various sizes and they are available in our Store and also on a special page.

ErgoPlay Guitar Supports

If you are new to playing the guitar and are ‘left-handed’, I’ve always recommended that left-handed people try to learn the same as a right-handed player. Both hands need to learn new skills and if you start from the beginning you’ll be able to play anyone’s guitar.

A left-handed guitar is restrung and played with the neck facing the opposite direction. In college, a dear friend of mine was left-handed for everything except playing the guitar. He’s currently a University guitar instructor and performer and a very fine player. Meeting him opened my eyes to the fact that it’s very possible for left-handed folks to learn the same as a right-handed person.

In the beginning everything will probably feel quite awkward, but as you practice it gets easier and easier. Why not learn with a right-handed guitar so you can easily play anyone’s instrument.

Difference Between ErgoPlay Tappert and Troster Guitar Supports

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The difference between and ErgoPlay Tappert and Troster support is that they are built for guitar players of different sizes. I personally play the ErgoPlay Tappert Guitar Support. Sometimes seeing a picture is worth 1000 words, as they say. Hence, here is a short video showing how these two popular guitar supports are different.

Most guitar players are right-handed or play with a right-handed guitar. If you do play with a left-handed guitar, it’s much better to use the support specifically made for that instrument. There is an article with a video that you can check out here – Right-Handed vs. Left-Handed Ergoplay Guitar Supports.

If you are very short and play a smaller guitar, you may want to check out the ErgoPlay Tappert Guitar Support for Kids. This classical guitar support fits 3/4 size and smaller guitars. There is a short video at the link in the first sentence of this paragraph that has a video showing you the difference between the adult and ‘kid’ guitar support,

For years I used the A-frame guitar support. It was the best in the marketplace and helped tremendously. Without it, I used to get sore shoulders and my lower back hurt from long hours of performing. With a good classical guitar support, I no longer needed a footstool which helped my lower back plus with the guitar elevated, my shoulders no longer hurt.

The problem I found with the A-frame support is that the suction cups often popped off. The ErgoPlay is much more secure and I really like that is so adjustable.

If you would like to see how to assemble them and also view the various types we have for sale. They are in our ‘store’ under ‘Accessories’ and also listed on this page with the video. You can find it here:

ErgoPlay Guitar Supports

 

 

Contact

Jean Welles Worship Guitar
2355 Westwood Blvd. # 812
Los Angeles, CA 90064

Ph: 800-391-5412
Fax: 800-391-5412