[HANASHIR:13057] Re: Finger picking

[NBudin <NBudin...>]

I have always used my nails for strumming and picking. I like the sound and the 
versatility it provides.

My nails used to break often. But I started taking gelatin capsules and that 
did wonders. Now I take a product I found at Wild Oats, a natural foods grocery 
store, called "Hair, Skin, and Nails." It looks like a vitamin C caplet. My 
nails are stronger and grow faster than ever. I rarely break a nail and never 
break strings.(OK, I've broken one sting once in the last ten years or so in 
performance. I've broken a few while re-stringing -- but that's a different 
issue.)

On a somewhat but not exactly related issue...I've started using a product 
called "Dr. Duck's Axe Wax" to clean my stings AND polish the wood. I love this 
stuff. It enhances the life of the stings. When I'm performing a lot (several 
gigs/week, incl. services, etc.)I change my strings about once a week anyway. 
But during the slower times, Dr. Duck keeps the stings nice and clean and 
bright.

Noah Budin
Singer/Song Writer
Actor/Storyteller
Cleveland, OH
NBudin (at) aol(dot)com

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