Isla Bennett
Dolly Parton is known for her long acrylic nails, which are a part of her signature look, along with her hair and makeup. In an interview on The Graham Norton Show, she revealed that she is able to play the guitar with her long nails by using open tunings and barring every chord or fretting exclusively low-string notes with the open strings. She also mentioned that she uses her nails as percussion, famously using them to create the iconic typewriter sound in her hit song '9 to 5'.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plays guitar with long nails | Yes |
| How she does it | Plays in open tunings and barres every chord, or fret low-string notes with open strings |
| Nails as percussion | Used her nails to create beats and write lyrics for the song "9 to 5" |
| Nails as picks | Uses her right-hand nails as picks |
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What You'll Learn
Dolly Parton uses open tunings to play guitar with long nails
Country music star Dolly Parton is known for her long acrylic nails, which she has even used as percussion instruments in songs like "9 to 5". But how does she play the guitar with such long nails?
Parton has revealed that she uses open tunings when playing the guitar with her long nails. Open tunings allow her to barre each chord or fret exclusively low-string notes with the open strings. This technique enables her to play with her trademark long nails, as she can avoid fretting complex chords that require the use of the upper frets.
In an interview on The Graham Norton Show, Parton explained that she sometimes files her nails down when she's "serious about [her] songwriting." However, she has learned to adapt her playing style to accommodate her long nails, stating, "I've learned to do open tuning, mostly, when I'm writing and stuff. But if I'm really serious about it, I just have to saw 'em down."
Parton's use of open tunings limits her ability to play advanced chordal colourings, such as 7ths or 9ths. However, this doesn't seem to bother the country star, as she has managed to create her own unique style and sound using this technique.
The country star's ability to play the guitar with long nails has intrigued many fans and guitarists alike. Her technique of using open tunings and barring chords or fretting low-string notes showcases her adaptability and ingenuity as a musician.
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She also uses her right-hand nails as picks
Dolly Parton is a world-renowned country music singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. She is also an accomplished guitarist, known for her ability to play with long nails. In fact, her nails have become such an integral part of her image that they have even received a credit on her famous song "9 to 5".
Parton revealed in an interview on "The Graham Norton Show" that she used her acrylic nails to create the beat and write the lyrics for "9 to 5". She explained that the sound of her nails clicking together reminded her of a typewriter, and so she incorporated that sound into the song.
> When I'm serious about my songwriting, I take these off and file 'em down. But I've learned to work them – these [right hand] work great as picks, there's no problem with this hand – but these [left hand] are the ones I have a problem with.
Indeed, Parton has learned to play guitar using mostly open tunings, which allows her to fret exclusively low-string notes with the open strings. This technique, however, limits any advanced chordal colouring. Nonetheless, Parton has mastered this style of playing, allowing her to effortlessly play the guitar with her trademark long nails.
In addition to using her nails as percussion, Parton has also used them as a substitute for guitar picks. This skill, honed over her many years in the music industry, is a testament to her creativity and dedication to her craft.
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She files down her left-hand nails when songwriting
Dolly Parton is a world-renowned country music singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. She is known for her vibrant acrylic nails, big hair, and outgoing personality. Parton's nails are so iconic that they have their own credit in one of her most famous songs, "9 to 5".
In an interview on The Graham Norton Show, Parton revealed that she used her nails as percussion while writing "9 to 5" on the set of the 1980 movie of the same name. She clacked her acrylic nails together to create beats and write lyrics between takes. She also mentioned that she often tames her nails when she's writing. "When I'm serious about my songwriting, I take these off and file 'em down," she said.
Parton further explained that her right-hand nails work great as picks, but her left-hand nails are the ones she has a problem with. So, she files down her left-hand nails when she's really serious about songwriting. This allows her to play with open tunings and barre chords, which she can do without much effort to produce beautiful music.
In another interview, Parton shared that she started playing the guitar with her fingernails because she didn't want to damage her manicure. This allowed her to keep her nails long and polished, which is one of her signature looks. She has mastered the skill of playing the guitar with her fingernails over her many years in the music industry, making it look effortless.
Parton's use of her nails as an instrument showcases her creativity and musical talent. Her ability to play the guitar with long nails has intrigued fans and musicians alike, adding to her impressive stage presence and unique style.
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Her nails were used as percussion in the song '9 to 5'
Dolly Parton is renowned for her long acrylic nails, which have become one of her beauty signatures. Parton revealed that she used her nails as percussion when writing and recording her hit song "9 to 5". The song was written for the 1980 comedy film of the same name, starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Parton herself in her film debut.
Parton explained in an interview on The Graham Norton Show that she created beats and wrote lyrics for the song by clacking her acrylic nails together between takes on set. She also mentioned that her nails produced a sound reminiscent of a typewriter, which can be heard in the song's infectious baseline. Furthermore, her nails received an official credit on the record, with "Nails by Dolly" printed on the album.
In addition to their role in the songwriting process, Parton's nails have also been used as a musical instrument in other instances. In a duet with Patti LaBelle on her TV show in 1987, the pair created percussion solely by using their acrylic nails. Parton also hinted in other interviews that she might one day release an entire album featuring her singing along to the sounds of her nails.
Parton's ability to play guitar with her long nails has also been a topic of fascination. She has shared that she typically plays in open tunings and barres every chord or frets exclusively low-string notes with the open strings. This technique allows her to navigate playing the guitar with her long nails, showcasing her adaptability and creativity as a musician.
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She plays low-string notes with open strings
Dolly Parton is well-known for her long acrylic nails, which she has said are an integral part of her music. She has mentioned that she uses her nails to play the guitar and has also used them for songwriting, as in the case of her hit song "9 to 5".
Playing the guitar with long nails can be challenging, especially when it comes to fretting and playing chords. However, long nails can be advantageous for finger-picking and strumming. Classical guitarists typically keep their nails long on the right hand for finger-picking and short on the left hand for fretting.
When playing low-string notes on the guitar, the 6th string, also known as the low E string, is the thickest and lowest-pitched string. This string can be tuned to a reference pitch and then adjusted until the desired pitch is achieved. To play a low E string, or any open string, all that is required is to pluck it with the picking hand, with no fretting needed.
Parton, with her long nails, would likely be able to play low-string notes on the guitar by plucking these open strings with her right hand. This technique is commonly used by guitarists with long nails, as it does not require any fretting or complex finger placements that may be hindered by longer nails.
Additionally, Parton could utilize an open tuning, such as DADGAD, which allows for playing full chords without fingering any strings. This technique further emphasizes the use of open strings and can be easily achieved with longer nails.
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Frequently asked questions
Dolly Parton plays the guitar with long nails by using open tunings and barring every chord or fretting exclusively low-string notes with the open strings.
No. In an interview, Dolly Parton revealed that when she is serious about songwriting, she files her nails down.
Yes, Dolly Parton used her nails to create the beats for her song '9 to 5'.
Yes, Dolly Parton used her nails as percussion in a duet with Patti LaBelle in 1987.
Yes, there are videos of Dolly Parton playing the guitar with long nails on The Graham Norton Show and on YouTube.
