How can I get my fingernails short enough to play the cello easily?

Nail it with shorter nail beds

9/16/2016

It's no secret that you need to have short nails to play the cello effectively. But I have found that "short" has different meanings for different people. What exactly is short enough?

Not even close.

No.

Nope.

...still no.

Make the Cut!

The following video is the only tutorial I could find on the subject of cellists' nail length. Near the end, RealCelloGuy explains that you should cut your nails as short as you can "without hurting yourself."

The Long and Short of it...

Great. Cut my nails. Got it.

But what if your nail beds themselves --not your actual nails--are so long that they interfere with your playing?

What can you do when can't cut your nails any shorter?

Nails are gone, but they're still too long...

First of all, let's clarify what I mean by "nail bed." A picture is worth a thousand words:

So now that we have the terminology solidified, grab your equipment (nail clipper and file) and watch my video:

These are my "long" nails. Usually there's NO white!

Make sense?

This is exactly what Martha recommended to me many years ago, and now the tips of my left hand fingers are super meaty, perfect for easy cello playing--even when my nails are "long."

Need more proof?

Thanks, Erica!

One of my wonderful students graciously allowed me to take a picture of the progress she has made with her nail bed recession efforts. The nail on the left has been filed (in the way I describe in the video) for many weeks now, and the nail on the right has been trimmed normally.

The difference she has created is obvious!

Need equipment?

Okay, it's time to get to work! Here's what I recommend you use:

KlipIt is the best!

I own two sets of these. I have never found a more substantial and effective nail clipper--and I have gone through quite a few!

buy Klipit

Filing in style

A file is the most important weapon in the fight to shrink your nail beds. This one is highly rated on Amazon, reusable and high quality!

Buy file

I'm a cello-file. Heh. Get it?

Maybe you want something that will explain to the outsiders why you are filing your nails so much.

This file says it all.

buy cello file

Feel free to leave questions and comments below. Happy filing!

11 Comments

Stefan Bradley link

7/2/2019 12:02:09 pm

It is interesting that you can shrink your nail beds by clipping and filing your nails regularly. My wife is interested in playing the cello and wanted to make sure that her nails wouldn't get in the way. I will look for a good nail file and clippers so that she can play her instrument without and discomfort.

David Teague

9/30/2019 11:09:10 am

I found "Klipit", and the glass nail file on Amazon "Halloween store," but the "cello file" wasn't found. Won't most good quality emery boards should work? I mean except for the inscription?

Nan link

10/2/2019 11:36:44 am

Yes, emery boards work great. That one was really only notable because of the decoration...

rohit aggarwal link

11/11/2019 03:16:33 am

thanks for the information

Chris K

6/14/2020 08:50:49 pm

Super advice, and your nails...totally rock! Don't tolerate any "Bullies".

anmol

10/22/2020 02:24:14 pm

i was looking for exactly "something just like this"

Charles

2/9/2021 12:39:36 am

I’m born with long nail beds, but i love cello so i learn playing.
You just put ur fingers a little flat on fingerboard, it works,
Don’t worry.

Eric

5/30/2021 01:39:28 pm

This is a big deal.
I quit piano university studies because of unrelated immigration status issue more than a decade ago. But one reason i did not return to complete my music degree it after my visa status was resolved, is i was unhappy with my playing ability which was greatly impeded by my nails hitting the keys when finger curvature and the score left no other option. The problem is much worse for pianists than for cellists since the intensity of the sound is directly related to the speed and force of the fingers hitting the keyboard. It makes it impossible to develop a good tactile memory in advanced pieces.
I was aware of the problem and cut my nail short only to hurt myself and having to stop practicing. I later realized the problem also exists for stringed instrument with a fingerboard. This is the first time i see this major issue correctly described and a solution for it. I wished that someone would have told this to me 20 years ago.

5/31/2021 08:42:36 am

This is a heartbreaking story. I am so sorry you had to quit. I hope you can still play for fun these days!

5/31/2021 10:30:46 am

Thank you, unfortunately my current living situation would not allow the sound level of a piano. I will buy a piano as soon as I own a house. I haven't played for a decade. When i hear performing pianists on the radio, i think i was far from a world stage level of pianism, and my goal was not piano teacher either which makes me feel better about it.

10/5/2022 12:23:50 pm

i'm a guitar player with a disproportionately long nail bed on my left index finger. it doesn't prevent me from playing but i noticed it hindering my ability to fret cleanly in some situations. i've routinely searched the web for a solution from other guitar players without finding anything haha. today in my search i learned that you can shrink a dog's quicks -- cue a bunch of google searches on if it could be done on a human, which led me here. you're a livesaver, thanks for putting this out!!

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Nail it with shorter nail beds

Make the Cut!

The Long and Short of it...

Need more proof?

Need equipment?

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