Dear Guest Richie,

Nails are frequently used in fingerpicking. I suspect that you are using too heavy and large a gauge. I would recommend brass nails about 3/4 inch (+/- 1.8cm) of guage about 1/32 inch (+/- 1 mm). You should snip the "heads" off of these nails with a sharp pair of wirecutters and then affix them to your fingerpicking fingers using cyanoacrylate glue or, for a more permanent fixture, epoxy glue. They should be affixed such that they project no further than about 1-16 - 1/8 inch (+/- 2 - 4 mm) beyond the tips of your fingers, according to preference.

I suggest brass nails as these are more compatible with the brass or bronze strings normally used with acoustic instruments and will cause less string wear. If you are using steel strings of course you may substitute steel nails.

Willie is most probably one of the many "Blind Willies" (a most unfortunate medical condition that they have somehow successfully managed to overcome as musicians). It is also just possible that he may be referring to a country singer named Willie Nelson who intentionally installed a second soundhole in his guitar, presumably to try to improve its sound protection.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Guitar