July 18, 2006
Thumb Nails

Your nails are your picks. Grow your nails with care. I keep mine about 1/8 inch long. If they get much longer, they are liable to break. If they do break and get shorter, I find that doing glissandos becomes difficult.

Children younger than about 6 or 7 have very tender thin nails. They can use an Alaska thumb pick, though some children don't like the pick pinching their thumbs. Older children's nails start to toughen up nicely. Alaskan thumb pics are available at the Kalimba Shop.

 

 

 

 

 

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