One tip, don't get the ones that are already polished -- they attract a lot of attention

As I mentioned, I got this idea from Brent Mason. My nails grow out nicely, but chip and split -- this solves the problem nicely.

Another side comment. Nail glue, which comes in a little bottle, is much better than ordinary super glue. You need to stick a big safety pin in your kit so that you can clear the spout, but many times it remains clear from week to week. My little kit, glue, nails, clippers, fingernail files, goes in my guitar case.

I played guitar for many years with a thumbpick and three fingernails. A broken nail just before a concert is what first prompted me to got to the nail shop for a repair. That was about ten years ago, and I have had acrylics ever since.

When I took up pedal steel guitar about a year ago after a long absence from it, I could not find my favorite steel fingerpicks, so I started playing without them and I love it. Blocking and harmonics are so much easier, I can play faster and I get a pretty good tone.

It illustrates the point that has been made several times, do what feels right to you. I spent a lifetime learning right hand technique on the guitar. Why not adapt what I already know to the pedal steel? It works for me.