Perhaps one reason nails are used on modern classical guitars is the very thick soundboard and high tension strings. On my 19th century Lacote guitar copy, no-nails sounds perfect and full. The sound of nails on plastic strings is sometimes grating to me. On the other hand, for me growing nails is less trouble than playing without as it takes more upkeep to keep them short enough... Sterling On Tuesday, December 10, 2013 12:42 PM, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote: I like nails, the sound of nails. I like nylon strings. Who knows what they would have used if they had modern strings, 600 sandpaper, and diamond files, not to mention super glue. I always think the point is to make pleasing music and have fun. It doesn't matter to me how anyone plays. Do what makes you happy and have fun. Allan -----Original Message----- >From: "Mayes, Joseph" <[1][email protected]> >Sent: Dec 10, 2013 11:23 AM >To: Bruno Correia <[2][email protected]>, List LUTELIST <[3][email protected]> >Subject: [LUTE] Re: Bream Collection... I just noticed > >I play the lute, archlute and vihuela with nails for the same reason that I >play the classical guitar with nails: because it sounds better! >Of course, by that I mean it sounds better to me. Nails give the attack a >precision that flesh does not. It also comes closer, IMHO to the sound >usually described in historical sources as desirable on lute - silvery, >tinkling, etc. >Many sources tell us not to use nails - which they wouldn't have bothered to >do if people were not doing it that way. >I don't play with flesh, I don't ride my horse to the gig, and I don't >attend any bear-bating. > > >My $.02 > >Joseph mayes > > >On 12/10/13 11:05 AM, "Bruno Correia" <[4][email protected]> wrote: > >> Here we go again with the nails issue. There are many sources >> describing the use of flesh as the best way to sound upon the lute, >> however, the use of nails was certainly a possibility. But only because >> three cats used it doesn't mean it was the general taste of those >> times. Just because Jimi Hendrix played with his teeth doesn't >> mean that everyone does it today. I could only justify the nails if I >> still played the classical guitar, otherwise what benefit would it >> bring? >> 2013/12/10 Martin Shepherd <[1][5][email protected]> >> >> Well, there's Piccinini, who recommends playing with nails, and >> Mace, who says that some people do it and think it's the best way, >> but he says it might be OK in an ensemble but doesn't like it for >> solo playing. There may be others - Weiss? Vihuela references? I'm >> sure others can help. >> Martin >> >> -- >> >> References >> >> 1. mailto:[6][email protected] >> >> >> To get on or off this list see list information at >> [7]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > > > >
-- References 1. mailto:[email protected] 2. mailto:[email protected] 3. mailto:[email protected] 4. mailto:[email protected] 5. mailto:[email protected] 6. mailto:[email protected] 7. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
