Fingernails - Trim or grow

[Charangaman]

Good afternoon gents,

So I was watching a Giovanni dvd the other day and the man had nails like, well - a womans... Now he was playing fine cascara on the Conga head with the nails but his fat hands looked like Chickens feet.. I could never envisage growing mine in such a fashion... Any of you great Conguero's ever play with the nails?

Or is it as I imagine completley extraneous to conventional playing..

[captainquinto]

Cheers Charangaman!

I've seen that before, too - not just on Gio either.

Seems impractical to me ... but I do a lot more than just drumming with my hands! :laugh:

Peace,

CQ

[zaragemca]

Saludos Charangaman,a few congeros were doing that kind of shows in Cuba by the mid 60's,(after the incorporation of the microphone),Tabaquito,Tata-Guines, Nico,(Pello el Afrocan's lead congero),were doing that stuff,etc..Dr. Zaragemca



Edited By zaragemca on 1134508356

[Tone]

my housemate walked in the room the other day as I was watching a Giovanni's video. She freaked! She thought the guy was an alien!

[Charangaman]

:laugh:

Saludos Tone,

His playing is certainly from another planet! I find myself depressed when watching his effortlessness and relaxation at incredible speeds.. But also humbled and inspired..

Well, at least I don't have Womens nails.. :laugh:

[onile]

Alafia Abures!
May you all be in the festive spirit and have plenty of libations to keep you that way! :p

I have some old VHS tapes where Tata Guines is playing, and yes, it is important to note as Zaragemca did, that this was used when the microphone came into play. Well Tata uses his nails to produce yet another sound/manoteo effect. In fact, his technique is one that has been copied by several drummers...."la mano secreta", but I digress. His nails are like miniature drum sticks, and he uses them as such in creating the effect of "redobles"/"rolls". Quite effective. Tata's nails look much better however than Giovanni's, no disrepect intended. Giovanni's hands are much smaller and flacid....oooops, sorry to use that term around so much Testosterone! :p :angry:

I personally can't get used to the feel of my nails being longer than the tip of the finger they are on. In anycase, you can still work the same technique of the 'redobles' with the tips of your fingers without the nails, sounds different, but still effective as another tool in your personal aresenal of "manoteo."!

Suave!
Onile!



Edited By onile on 1134581754

[Ecuarumba]

I've known a few congueros with their nails like that and according to them it helps with postion/placement of the fingers to produce a better tone....I don't know if there's any truth to that since I'm also a guitarist and can't have my nails that long so I haven't tried it, but I'd be interested to know what you all think of that.

[onile]

Alafia Ecuarumba!
Espero que todo este bien contigo!

You know, that's another great point of the long nails, if you consider that you won't be able to "comfortably" cup your hand to get the "tapao" slap, it forces you to use the "bata" slap instead! Same principle with your tones and other "manoteo" techniques.

Great point my brother!

Suave!
Onile!



Edited By onile on 1134584741

[franc]

charangaman,
my best . really they look awful with all the respect he deserve. not only they look long but also conditioned,clear nail hardener. he used them mainly for the cascara. that is the only reason i think of. he doesn't used them much when ''castigando los cueros''!! hitting the drums. happy holydays all in the forum!!! mucho rumba, aaaahiiii!!!! áche , franc

[davidpenalosa]

Over twenty years ago one of my early teachers told me that fingernails are used in bonko (abakua lead) technique. I have a vague memory of seeing or hearing this, but can't remember where. Sorry I can't back this up with a recorded example.

-David

[rumbaman]

Hey all my blessings to all . I saw giovani live here in miami when he was at the guitar center some years back and he used that technique. It was impressive to hear and see b'cause his hands were moving so fast . Personaly i can't see myself growing them that long .

rumbaman

[yoni]

Hi all,

When I met Giovanni years ago I did notice his fingernails. They didn't look too long to me but I DID notice that they were filed to points. I tried it myself and found that filing them to points somehow strengthened them - they did not break as easily when shaped so. So I don't know how long Gio grows them lately or what they look like, but shaping my own to points did seem to help their durability.

All the best,

Yonatan Bar Rashi