Liam Carter
Dolly Parton is known for her long, vibrant acrylic nails, which she has referred to as her trademark talons. In addition to being a part of her signature look, Parton has revealed that she uses her nails when playing the guitar, a skill she has spent a lot of time practising. In a 2020 interview on The Graham Norton Show, the country music legend explained that she uses open tuning, barring every chord, or fretting low-string notes with open strings, to play the guitar with her long nails. She also revealed 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 |
|---|---|
| Nail length | Long |
| Nail type | Acrylic |
| Guitar type | Mini electric guitar |
| Guitar tuning | Open tuning |
| Chord type | Barre chords |
| String notes | Low-string notes with open strings |
| Songwriting | Files nails down |
| Nail use | Percussion |
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What You'll Learn
Dolly Parton uses open tunings to play the guitar with long nails
Country music hitmaker Dolly Parton has shaped her entire guitar style around her trademark long nails. She has revealed that she is able to play with long nails because she always plays in open tunings and barres every chord or frets exclusively low-string notes with open strings.
Open tunings are a type of alternate tuning that makes a guitar produce a triad when the open strings are strummed all at once. Open tunings usually follow the pitches of a major chord, such as C, G, D, or E. Open tunings can be achieved by twisting the tuning pegs to make the open strings sound a specific chord. Different open tunings are prevalent in a wide variety of musical styles, such as blues, rock, country, and folk.
Open tunings allow guitarists to play a chord by simply strumming the open strings, without needing to hold down any frets. This can make certain chords easier to play and can also allow guitarists to change chords faster. Open tunings also provide more options to slide guitarists and facilitate drones, a technique that involves letting one or more strings ring while fretting the other strings.
Dolly Parton's use of open tunings allows her to play the guitar with her long nails, as she can strum the open strings without needing to fret complex chords. This method may limit advanced chordal coloring, but it enables her to coax luscious tones out of her guitars while sporting her trademark long nails.
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She also uses her nails as percussion
Dolly Parton's long nails are an integral part of her image, and she has even given them a 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 to create the iconic typewriter sound in the song. She clacked her acrylic nails together to create beats and write lyrics between takes.
Parton's long nails are not just a part of her image but also a part of her guitar-playing technique. She shapes her guitar style around her trademark talons, using her right-hand nails as picks and barring every chord or fretting exclusively low-string notes with the open strings. She also tunes her guitar to open E, which means she can use one finger across all the strings in different sections of the frets to create the sound she needs without putting as much pressure on the guitar's fretboard.
Parton's long nails have become a part of her signature style, and she has mastered the art of playing the guitar with them. She has even influenced others to play the guitar regardless of their nail length. While most guitarists prefer short nails, a considerable number have minimal issues handling the guitar with long nails, and some even find it easier to hold down the guitar strings.
Parton's use of her nails as percussion and as a part of her guitar-playing technique showcases her creativity and musical talent. She has learned to work with her nails and even teases that she might one day cut an entire album singing along to the sounds of her nails.
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She files her nails down when she's serious about songwriting
Dolly Parton's long nails are an integral part of her image, and she has even used them as percussion instruments. However, when it comes to her guitar playing, she has a different approach. While her hands are always manicured when she takes to the stage, she does tame her nails when she's writing.
Parton has stated that when she is "serious about songwriting", she files her nails down. She has said: "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".
The country music legend has shaped her entire guitar style around her long nails. She has revealed that she plays with open tunings, barring every chord, or fretting exclusively low-string notes with the open strings. This method does limit advanced chordal colouring, but it works for her.
Parton has also said that she has learned to do open tuning when she's writing songs, but if she wants to get serious, she has to "saw 'em down". This is because open tuning allows her to use one finger across all the strings in different sections of the frets to create the sound she needs, without putting as much pressure on the guitar's fretboard.
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She uses her right-hand nails as picks
Dolly Parton's long nails are a trademark of hers, and she has even given them a credit in one of her most famous songs, "9 to 5". In an interview on The Graham Norton Show, she revealed that she uses her right-hand nails as picks when playing the guitar. She also shapes her guitar style around her long nails, playing in open tunings and barring every chord or fretting exclusively low-string notes with open strings. This method limits advanced chordal colouring, but it works for her.
Parton also admitted that when she is not performing, she does not have her long nails. She said, "When I'm serious about my songwriting, I take these off and file 'em down, y'know, and really write good. 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."
Open tuning means that she can use one finger across all the strings in different sections of the frets to create the sound she needs. This way, she does not have to put as much pressure on the guitar's fretboard, and she can easily handle the chords.
Parton has also used her nails as percussion, as seen in the song "9 to 5", where she clacked her nails together to create beats and write lyrics.
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She uses the left hand to form barre chords without using her nails
Dolly Parton's long nails have sparked curiosity among guitar enthusiasts, with many wondering how she manages to play with such long fingernails. Indeed, she has shaped her entire guitar style around her trademark talons. One of her secrets is that she uses open tunings and barres every chord, or she frets exclusively low-string notes with the open strings. This method does limit advanced chordal colouring, but it works for her.
Now, when it comes to forming barre chords without using nails on the left hand, there are several techniques and exercises you can employ. Here are some detailed instructions:
Thumb Placement
The placement of your thumb can significantly impact your ability to form barre chords. Ensure your thumb is pressing on the back of the guitar neck, pointing up towards the sky or perpendicular to the fretboard. This will help you avoid "palming" the guitar and provide more space for your fingers to move.
Wrist and Elbow Positioning
Keep your wrist straight and avoid excessive squeezing with your thumb. Adjust your elbow and arm position as needed to find a comfortable posture.
Finger Placement
Begin by placing your left hand before the barre and your fingers together on the fretboard. Ensure your index finger is straight and close to the fret, pressing firmly but not too hard to avoid straining your hand. Keep the pressure even across all the strings, and experiment to find the right balance.
Practice Exercises
Strengthen your fingers with exercises like extending and closing your fingers into a fist. You can also practice forming the shape of the chord with a relaxed hand, then resetting and trying it on the fretboard. This will help build strength and confidence in your fretting hand.
Practice Tips
When learning to play barre chords, start somewhere up the neck, between the 9th and 12th fret, as this requires less muscle force. Practice barring the chord and then removing your hand. Additionally, try different places along the fretboard to find your comfort zone, gradually moving closer to the first fret.
String Choice
Consider using lighter (thinner) strings, as they can help reduce tension and make barring easier.
By following these techniques and practicing consistently, you can learn to form barre chords without relying on your 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. This allows her to play without placing her nails onto the fretboard.
Yes, Dolly Parton has admitted that when she is serious about songwriting she will file her nails down.
Dolly Parton famously used her long nails to write the song 9 to 5 from the 1980 movie of the same name. She used her nails to create the iconic typewriter sound in the song.
While the majority of guitarists prefer to play with short nails, a considerable number of guitarists can play with long nails.
