Playing with long fingernails

[faa2010]

Is it possible to play with long fingernails?, why or why not?

How long do fingernails need to be so one can play piano?

[dave_clifford]

I think playing piano with long fingernail is not a good idea, I found the clashing sound of the nails annoying. Just try to imagine tak tak tak when you are playing a piece, and why not cut your fingernail short?

[dave_clifford]

*ignore this*

[stephenv]

Abosultely NOT!  Get out the ruler and smack that hand

seriously...your finger tips are extremely important in playing the piano. You feel the weight of the key and all kinds of input that you need to judge how to produce certain effects such as staccato, portamento, etc.  Legato.  Your finger tips first touch the key in that moment you and the piano become connected.

I am not saying that it's impossible to play the piano with long fingernails its just that when you do...you sacrifice the ability to play sensitively with maximum expression and beauty. 

[sucom]

One reason I can think of for not having long fingernails while playing the piano is the thought of catching a nail as you move around the black notes.  Not a pleasant experience!  Playing smoothly and quickly in keys which involve many black keys is also tricky, if not impossible.  Long nails would really annoy you because they get in the way so much.

Try playing the first five notes of the E flat major scale with your thumb starting on E flat, and your fifth finger on B flat.  Having long nails makes this uncomfortable and playing the notes more difficult.  The fingers really do need to be rounded to play this position comfortably, with long nails making this impossible.

These are the most obvious reasons without going into detail about touch, smooth and fast playing, general agility around the keyboard, etc.  But I'll just quickly mention that if you have long nails, it becomes extremely difficult to strengthen the first knuckle of the fingers (nearest the nail) if the fingernails are long.  Being unable to put the fingertip on the keys means that it becomes impossible to round the first knuckle, which will effectively stop it from strengthening.

[nataliethepianist]

I always found it strange that my teacher wanted me to cut my finger nails (when I was around 7), but now that I am learning difficult pieces with demanding cadences I am like "Got to cut my nails! Got to cut my nails!". If I don't, my fingernails slide against the key, sometimes get stuck, but I don't realize as I am playing and suddenly I yanked my fingernail from between two key. Not a pleasant experience! They need to be short! Plus, I find it annoying when I am listening to a performance and a wonderfully played piece is accompanied by clicking.

[jaggens]

Hi,

Long fingernails force the fingers to be in an uneffective position for playing the piano.

How do I negotiate with my students about this issue:

Usually I say:" You can also try playing this way if you really like."
And all of them have cut the long fingernails soon.
I never force. If girl-students with long fingernails love the piano enough and value the lessons, the fingernails will be cut with no bad feelings or pressure by my experience.

GL
Jaak

[werq34ac]

I've broken nails because I was too lazy to cut them.

The above replies are all correct. You want to cut your nails because you may break them like I did. Your nails get stuck between keys and like everyone said, it sucks.
Your fingers can't get a good grip on the keys and it sorta feels like you're playing with tape over your fingers. Plus one feels afraid to play forte since you're afraid to damage your nails (because it does hurt). Also, playing with ones nails you lose the sensitivity of articulation, dynamics, tone, etc.

[jollisg]

I had long finger nails before (I was really interested in nail art), but I filed them down because it was too hard to play with my finger tips. When you have long nails, you tend to flatten out the finger.
From the moment I filed my nails down, I've played faster, clearer and soooo much better.

File down your nails everybody! 

[arctic_mama]

Heck no!  I love having long nails, but playing with them actually makes my fingers ache - the tapping and clacking on the tips of my fingers makes my nailbed sore in short order, all obnoxious noise aside.  Why someone would want to play with long nails is beyond me - I'm about as vain as the next girl, but that's downright impractical.

[pianoplayjl]

My finger nails are really short. If they are long then they interfere with what you're playing and it becomes a case of whethere your listening to the piano or the tapping of the fingernails.

[sunshine_keys]

I think playing piano with long fingernail is not a good idea, I found the clashing sound of the nails annoying. Just try to imagine tak tak tak when you are playing a piece, and why not cut your fingernail short?

lol Can I like this??

I don't like playing with long fingernails because for one,  the noise. It drives me insane. And if you are trying to play a fast piece it can mess you up. Plus.. I think it can make your fingers slip.

[bleicher]

If you don't like the look of your nails short, remember you can still wear nail varnish!

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

I can't play piano if my nails are long. It just bothers me like crazy! If I didn't play piano I'd probably be too lazy to clip my nails, but piano makes sure my nails are always short!

[pianoplayjl]

You might even chip your nails while playing a fast passage. I've copped it before.