The same goes for all other types of guitarists who are playing before an audience. They don’t want to look like a fool in front of others. But black fingernails are just a part of paint that professional lead guitarists use for various reasons.
If you haven’t noticed already, the nails on lead guitarists are different than those of other guitarists. They are shaped differently, and they are also black instead of white.
There are some lead guitarists who do not even paint their fingernails at all. Some even go so far as to trim them to match the rest of their fingernails. They don’t do this because they don’t think it looks right. No, they do it because they don’t want anyone else to be able to see their black fingernails!
So why do lead guitarists paint their fingernails black? It’s actually very simple: it makes them look more “cool”. It gives them a mysterious quality, as if they are hiding behind the guitar and whispering sweet nothings into the ears of the audience. It makes them seem much more in-tune with their instrument.
What Does Black Fingernail Polish Mean On A Lead Guitar Player?
What does black fingernail polish mean on a lead guitar player? On the lead guitar player it means that you use your fingernails to pluck and strum the strings of the lead guitar.
Many times you will notice that when you watch a lead guitarist, they do not pluck the strings at the beginning of the song and they keep the strings in their hand till the end.
The reason behind this is because they are using their fingernails to paint the strings as they go up and down the fret board.
So, if you are wondering what does black fingernail polish mean on a lead guitar player, it means that you use your black fingernails to paint the strings and once you are done with it, you will not have to worry about it falling off anytime soon.
You see, when you use a fingernail to paint a string, you might be tempted to use your pinky or your middle finger to play it. However, you cannot do that because only the tips of these fingers can pluck the strings and once you use these three fingers, there is a big chance for your nails to come off.
Therefore, what you need to do is make sure that you do not use your fingernail until the very end when you are playing the guitar solo.
Do Fingernails Effect Guitar Playing?
Can fingernails effect guitar playing? As a lead guitarist, have you ever wondered how much better you would play if your fingernails were black? Do fingernails affect the way you see the guitar, or are they just a cosmetic inconvenience? Do fingernails affect your tone or are they part of your overall musical vision?
It seems that fingernail color has more to do with appearance than it does with ability. Some very famous guitarists such as Les Claypool and John Entwistle were fingernails themselves, rather than having their nails clipped.
This was probably due to their image as hard-working musicians, rather than black fingernails. John Entwistle’s fingernails had the look of a pig’s tail, while Les Claypool’s were long and spiky. However, when he played live, his fingernails were pale, unlike his famous white fingernails.
In a similar vein, if you watch some modern rock musicians, they don’t really care about their fingernails at all. Eric Clapton nails are short, his hair is black, and he plays loud and aggressive music.
If you take away his fingernails, his ability to hear the guitar would be severely impaired, and therefore playing lead guitar would be more difficult than it needs to be.
Do All Lead Guitarists Prefer Black Nail Polish?
Many of the best guitarists in history have publicly claimed that they prefer black fingernails. When I was a young guitar player, I used to think that it was completely ridiculous for any lead guitar player to claim that they didn’t like black fingernails.
But after seeing numerous great guitar players, from Paul McCartney to Eric Clapton to Steve Vai to Eddie Van Halen to Stevie Ray Vaughan, all agree on the fact that black fingernails are essential for a professional lead guitar player.
So what is it about black nail polish that is so important for a lead guitar player? It’s simple: it gives the music a professional touch.
Think about it. When you look at professional musicians with black fingernails, you can’t help but notice how polished and slick their fingers are and how clean and unspotted they are. It looks almost effortless for them.
That same sense of fluidity and ease comes across to the instrument as well. And it shows on the music too, which is why black nail polish is a big favorite amongst professional musicians.
Another reason that black nail polish is a must for lead guitarists is because it allows them to play notes better. If you’re playing a solo on your acoustic guitar, or if you’re even sitting down to play lead solos, then you’ve probably heard a guy playing something on his nylon string acoustic and the strings are sounding great.
What Color Besides Black Do Lead Guitar Players Use to Paint Their Nails?
There is a question I get asked often from novice lead guitar players about what color fingernails they use for playing lead guitar. Most of them are not really aware that lead guitar players have different color fingernails than traditional guitarists.
Actually it all started in the late sixties when a group of guitarists from the United States called The Yardbirds changed the way we play guitar by deciding to change the color of their fingernails.
Since black fingernails were considered to be very bad luck for guitarists, the group had all their fingernails painted black. So you could imagine how big a hit this was and even to this day it is still a big hit with a lot of lead guitar players.
So what other color besides black do lead guitar players use to paint their fingernails? You can find fingernail paint colors as light as black, navy blue, light gray, chestnut, dark blue and chocolate brown.
Of course it depends on what part of your hand you are playing the guitar on because each part of the hand has its own unique color. For example, a plectrum on the right hand may have a different color from one you play on the left hand and so on.
So if you want to be different from the rest of the pack, then change your fingernails. But you should keep in mind that your nails should stay white at all times or it will just look like you have black fingernails.
Why Do Lead Guitar Players Paint Their Fingers Black?
Have you ever wondered why the lead guitar player of a popular band paints his or her fingernails black? The reason is because this is the standard practice for all guitarists who aspire to be like their heroes.
Although you may never think about it this way, actually, painting your fingernails black goes back to when mankind first started playing an instrument – the lute.
Back then, the strings were very thin and could be damaged easily if they were not properly played, hence the need to paint them with some sort of varnish or oil to prevent any damage.
As time progressed, black was painted with other colors and was eventually made into fingernail polish. In today’s world, black nails are often seen on singers like Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.
It seems that there is no end in sight for the crazy fashion trends that we have seen go from season to season. So, why do lead guitar players continue to play with their fingernails black and look as hip as possible?
Conclusion
In fact, some even go so far as to get artificial black fingernails so that they can “live up” to the black fingernails of their idols. This would make sense because black is supposed to be evil, right? But in the world of lead guitar playing, black is considered to be a cool color.
Some guitar players like to go all out and get black fingernails so that people will think they are taking their music a little bit serious. Whatever the reason, you can be assured that if your fingernails are black, you are definitely making a statement.
