How to Shape Your Nail with a Hot Spoon for Classical Guitar

Shaping your nail with a hot spoon for classical guitar, or how to correct the curvature of the nail by bending it with a spoon.

My nail on my i finger has a bend it in and I’ve been using the hot spoon method to correct the shape and bend it into a nicer curve. The bend causes the string to catch and although I’ve been playing with the bend for years I recently tried this method out and the result was good. I have better tone with that nail and it doesn’t catch on the string anymore. I use a lighter, a spoon, and a piece of metal for protection between my skin and the hot spoon. It only takes a minute and lasts between 12-48 hours depending on your pickiness. Maybe it only lasts a few hours. But you don’t have to do it every time you pick up the guitar. Here’s my YouTube link if you want to watch it there.

You might also want to see my full article on shaping your nails with a nail file.

Disclaimer! Don’t try this, don’t do this…but if you do, it’s at your own risk. Hot stuff can burn you causing harm or burn your house down causing lots of harm.

Chapters

  • 0:00 Introduction
  • 0:35 Why would I bend into a curve?
  • 1:12 Disclaimer: At your own risk!
  • 2:22 How to bend your nail with a spoon plus protection
  • 7:07 How long does it last and Final Thoughts

Pictures

The bend in my 'i' fingernail
The bend in my ‘i’ fingernail
Hot Spoon Nail Protection
Hot Spoon Nail Protection
Heating up the spoon
Heating up the spoon (shady!)
Shaping the nail with a hot spoon
Shaping the nail with a hot spoon

Mathew McAllister’s Video

Mathew McAllister’s hot spoon video via his YouTube channel (go subscribe).

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