Finger picking but it's tricky

[newpedals]

Recently I saw a youtuber finger pick on an electric guitar. She is amazing. This got me thinking.

I have always had trimmed fingernails, because I never liked maintaining longer nails. I didn't do it because I was rebelling against beauty standards lol

If you don't have long fingernails, can you still somehow finger pick?

I am guessing those with trimmed nails like me maybe using a combination of finger picking and using a guitar pick to do it.

It would be helpful to point me to a video on youtube, specially if it's about finger picking on electrics and doesn't involve use of a guitar pick. Thank you.

 

[woody]

Sure you can do fingerpicking without nails.
There are no rules.
Just do it!

 

[norminal]

If you don't have long fingernails, can you still somehow finger pick?

Check out Andy McKee. Not sure if he still does, but the two times I saw him perform live, he only used the fingernail on his thumb for the bass notes. His other fingernails were clipped down.

Personally, I like fingerpicking with nails on every finger, as it gives more of a picked tone. Especially on an acoustic guitar. At the end of the day, there aren’t any rules.