Ukulele With Long Nails? The 128 Correct Answer

Probably the biggest obstacle for new ukulele players who have never played a stringed instrument before – sore fingers!

I can’t recommend much for the pain. I’m afraid this is something you just have to go through and it’s awful. You will most likely get calluses or blisters on the fingertips of your annoying hand from pressing the ukulele strings, and you may also get cramps or pain in your hand when doing chord shapes. The latter is also completely natural – you make your fingers take and hold positions that they are not used to, your muscles and tendons need to be learned and strengthened. I have your understanding and would urge you to stick with it. It gets easier and it would be such a shame for a beginner to give up the ukulele just because of sore fingers. Nevertheless, I can give you a few tips.1. Work out! It’s really obvious, stay tuned to harden those fingertips and strengthen your hand. If the pain is severe, try exercising for shorter periods but more frequently. Practicing uke just once a week will make it a long, hard drudgery!2. Find other strengthening exercises – some people swear by those grippy machines mountaineers use to strengthen their fingers, but these squeezable stress balls work well. Practice your fingering by squeezing these together when you’re not playing your ukulele. A friend swears by kneading bread dough as good exercise!3. Stretches – In addition to building strength, your gripping hand needs to be flexible. Whenever you’re not playing your uke, try to introduce finger stretches into your day as often as possible4. Leave the bubbles alone! – Blisters can develop on your fingertips, which are both unsightly and painful. Don’t pop them and don’t pick them! Players of all stringed instruments develop calluses of harder skin on their fingertips, which very often prevent this from happening. Resist the urge! One tip I’ve heard about this is to dip your fingertips in denatured alcohol for about 10 minutes a few times a day – this stuff hardens the skin. Also, don’t be tempted to apply band-aids and then play, they will interfere with your learning and accuracy in placing chord shapes. It’s really all about breaking the barrier, and when you do that you’ll forget the pain and barely feel the strings as you play. Keep it up! The ukulele is worth it! There is a beginner’s guide to finger stretching exercises – here

Is the ukulele an easy instrument to learn? YUP! The ukulele is a great first instrument because it only has four strings, frets make it easy to play in tune, and it’s easy to play lead lines or rhythm parts in any song. Don’t make rookie mistakes! Read on to see what your first steps should be as a new player trying to learn the ukulele FAST!

You don’t need a KLOS ukulele for this guide to be extremely useful, but having a great instrument makes learning easier! Check out our carbon fiber ukuleles, read a review from GotAUkulele.com, or just take a second to follow us on Instagram!

patience

Follow these simple steps and you’ll be jamming along to your favorite song in no time. However, don’t be afraid to take breaks and embrace mistakes as learning opportunities.

Pick or finger picking?

Whether you use a plectrum or finger picking on the ukulele is up to you. There are successful players who use both styles. If you come from the guitar world and are comfortable with a pick, there’s no reason not to keep using a pick.

Many ukulele players love the organic feel of fingerstyle playing. Strumming is more intuitive and over time you will find that more complicated lines are easier to execute.

poll

The standard tuning for a ukulele is GCEA. Start each practice session by tuning your ukulele. Training your ears is an important element of learning to play the ukulele. Download a strobe tuner app to your phone or use YouTube for a tuning reference. Out-of-tune notes sound sour and out of phase, while out-of-tune notes ring out clearly.

If you ever turn your tuning knob and the string doesn’t change pitch, you are most likely turning the wrong knob. Everyone has made this mistake at some point, but make sure you catch yourself before the string breaks. Once your ukulele is in tune, it’s time to start making music.

Basic chords

Chords are the building blocks of all music. Luckily, chords on the ukulele are made very easy. Although there are hundreds of different ways to play chords, beginners should learn these simple chords first. Once you master these, you can jam at any ukulele gathering.

C major / C ukulele chord

Fret 3: Position finger 3 on the lowest string (A string).

A minor / On ukulele chord

Fret 2: Use finger 2 to fret the G string.

F major / F ukulele chord

Fret 1: Use finger 1 to fret the E string.

Fret 2: Use finger 2 to fret the G string.

G major / G ukulele chord

Fret 2: Place finger 1 on the C string and finger 2 on the A string.

Fret 3: Position finger 3 on the E string.

A major / A ukulele chord

Fret 1: Position finger 1 on the C string.

Fret 2: Use finger 2 to fret the G string.

E minor / Em ukulele chord

Fret 2: Use finger 1 to fret the A string.

Fret 3: Place finger 2 on the E string.

Fret 4: Place finger 3 on the C string.

D major / D ukulele chord

Fret 2: Place fingers 1, 2, and 3 on the G, C, and E strings.

D minor / Dm ukulele chord

Fret 1: Use finger 1 to fret the E string.

Fret 2: Use finger 2 to fret the G string while fringing the C string with finger 3.

E major / E ukulele chord

Fret 1: Use finger 1 on the G string.

Fret 2: Place finger 2 on the A string.

Fret 4: Use finger 4 to fret the C string.

F# / Gb minor / Gbm ukulele chord

Fret 1: Press down on the C string with finger 1.

Fret 2: Use finger 2 to fret the G string and finger 3 to fret the E string.

B minor / Bm ukulele chord

Fret 2: Fret across the C, E, and A strings with finger 1.

Fret 4: Place finger 3 on the G string.

strumming pattern

Just keep it stupid! All we’re talking about is downbeats and upbeats, right?

The strumming hand determines whether you are on beat or not. Concentrate on playing in time!

Top strumming pattern

Practice these strumming patterns slowly at first. Use a metronome. First play a strumming pattern with open strings, then play the pattern with a chord, and then apply the strumming pattern to a chord progression.

youtube

YouTube is a phenomenal resource for learning. Lots of great teachers post content for free, including tech lessons and covers of popular songs. Join live playalongs or troubleshoot your ukulele. There’s no better time to learn the ukulele and YouTube is the perfect tool to accelerate your learning.

exercise techniques

Perfect practice makes perfect. I bet you’ve heard this before, but it’s certainly true when it comes to learning the ukulele. Every mistake you make subconsciously teaches your brain to make that mistake again. It’s tempting to play along to your favorite songs at full speed, but work your way through your songs slowly at first. It is important to walk before you run.

If you’re new to the ukulele or have trouble sitting down and practicing, try practicing for just 15 minutes a day. You may think it takes an hour or more, but 15 minutes a day is proven to be more effective for learning the ukulele! With 15 minutes of practice a day, you’ll be playing any song you want in no time.

Get to know the ukulele

The ukulele is a very easy instrument to learn. If you’re reading this article, it’s clear that learning to play the ukulele is something you should pursue! Imagine you started years ago. The time is now!

If you found this article useful, please check out our carbon fiber ukuleles and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

We could sit here and rave about how iconic Dolly Parton is all day, but do we even have to? The country twang, the Southern Belle makeup, the sky-high hair—everything speaks for itself. Oh, and the nails; I can’t forget Parton’s perpetually manicured hands, which are rarely seen without a fresh set of long acrylics. As she pointed out in a recent interview on The Graham Norton Show, those nails are actually an integral part of one of her biggest hits.

While writing “9 to 5” on the set of the film of the same name, Parton rattled her acrylic paints together to create beats and write lyrics between takes. “After we recorded the song, I brought down all the girls that were on the show and I played with my nails,” she tells Norton. “So on the back of the album I have a note that says nails from Dolly.”

In the same interview, Parton also revealed how she manages to play her guitar so well with her extreme manicures — you know, because the rest of us mere mortals can barely button our jeans or open a can of soda with long nails. “I learned how to work with them,” Parton revealed, flashing her fingernails at the camera. “They work great as picks, I’ve never had a problem with [the right hand] – [the left fingers] are where I have a problem.”

This is a common question that beginners ask when learning how to play the ukulele, and it’s a very important one too! The overall sound we create with our instrument depends on our right hand technique. And among other things, our right hand technique depends on whether we use the pick or not.

Do you need a pick to play the ukulele? Traditionally, the ukulele is played with a combination of fingers and fingernails. But while you don’t need one, you absolutely can use one! The plectrum can come in handy sometimes, and it’s your instrument, after all! Let’s explore a little further.

Historically, the first ukulele players did not play with a pick. The traditional technique is to use a combination of fingers and fingernails to pluck and strum individual strings. Traditional Hawaiian rhythms, for example, were always played with the thumb or forefinger, or a combination of both.

As we’ve mentioned in other articles here, this type of technique (finger picking) allows for certain right hand movements, positions, and gestures that are otherwise not possible. It also produces a specific sound that would be different with a plectrum as well. These are the main characteristics of what we know as the normal technique and sound of the ukulele.

So if you’re a stickler for tradition, you don’t need to choose. Keep developing left hand strength and right hand finger picking dexterity and you’re good to go! But if there are any issues that make you wonder whether you need a choice or not, read on because you probably can’t go wrong.

When should you use a pick on the ukulele?

Despite the tradition, ukulele music is now evolving. The instrument is gaining popularity very quickly and it is absolutely inevitable that technology will evolve to keep up with new demands.

We musicians are naturally creative and curious people. Musicians are always trying out new sounds and pushing the technical possibilities further and further. After all, our instruments are our toys! I don’t know of any instrument that hasn’t undergone an evolution at some point in its history.

It’s pretty obvious to me that for the ukulele, using the pick is one such evolution. The main reason is that the instrument is no longer limited to traditional Hawaiian music. Ukulele players now adapt pop and rock songs from the steel-string acoustic guitar played with a plectrum. There are singer-songwriters who sometimes accompany themselves with the ukulele instead of the guitar. Usually this type of ukulele music is performed nicely with a plectrum.

Ukulele ensembles sometimes have one or more of their players play with a pick to create a difference in timbre (i.e., the distinctive sound of a musical instrument). Within such groups, it’s a wonderful idea to use all the possibilities of the instrument – that makes the music interesting and exciting. And it’s the same argument with recordings. Let’s say we have a cool 8 bar strumming pattern floating around. Why not add a pick solo on top? The pick naturally produces a louder sound so the difference between soloing and strumming comes out nice and natural!

There are also very practical reasons. You may want to opt for a pickaxe if your fingernails are weak or take a long time to grow strong. Some people have naturally thin nails and these tend to produce a very metallic sound. If you get that kind of nails and don’t like the sound, the pick might be a good alternative for you. The same problem also applies to people whose fingernails frequently break or become damaged. It’s very frustrating to practice with your nails for weeks or months and then have to wait days for a broken nail to grow back.

What is a ukulele pick?

While you can use guitar picks on a ukulele, you may want to try picks made specifically for the ukulele. The main reason is that many guitar picks tend to be heavier and stiffer.

Most standard picks are plastic and this could damage the ukulele top and wear out the strings fairly quickly. Felt, leather, and rubber ukulele picks avoid this problem because they are smaller and softer.

How do I make a selection?

When choosing a pick, remember that the ukulele is a lightweight instrument and has soft nylon strings, so you don’t really need a heavy pick. For playing rhythm, a thin pick is great because you can keep your arm relaxed and have a lot of freedom and control over the movement of your wrists. For playing chords, a thin pick tends to run smoothly through the strings and create a nice strumming sound.

On a heavier-stringed ukulele, a heavier pick may be better for gripping the strings. The felt plectrum is standard on the baritone ukulele.

But after all, the best choice for you is the one you like the most. Use this article as a guide and buy a few different ones to experiment with (they’re cheap and really worth your time and money!). See what feels and sounds best. Don’t worry if you’re not sure what to look for at first. With practice, you’ll quickly learn what you like and don’t like. First, make sure it feels comfortable and you’re happy with the sound.

So when it comes to making a choice, your options are very diverse. As I just explained, experiment with a few different ones until you find one that feels right to you.

thickness

Picks are available in different gauges: from thin (approx. 0.5 to 0.6 mm), medium (approx. 0.80 mm), heavy (0.80 to 1.20 mm) and extra heavy (1.20 + mm). Thin picks are good for strumming and getting brighter tones. Thick picks require more finger strength but are useful for faster music and solo playing.

material

In addition to thickness, experiment with materials. A common material is of course plastic, but I highly recommend you try felt picks and rubber picks as well. Felt picks are made from thick and hard pieces of felt. Many people enjoy them for strumming. Rubber picks are enjoyed for the softer sound, but they wear out pretty quickly, so you might want to save these for a special song!

shape

There are all sorts of fancy shapes for picks, but the real choice is between sharper and rounder tips. Sharper points tend to produce a brighter tone and are useful for solo playing. Rounder tips tend to produce a softer tone and are more suited to strumming.

Finger picks and thumb picks

These picks are special because you literally wear them on your fingers just by putting them on. If you like the finger picking technique but are struggling to grow good strong nails then these picks are the perfect solution as they can act as a substitute for the nails.

Will a pick damage my ukulele? You will not damage your instrument with the pick as long as you are careful. If your playstyle is particularly heavy or strong, you can scratch the body, but that’s an extreme and rare case in my experience. To avoid damaging your ukulele, choose one of the lighter picks.

You really don’t need a heavy pick for such a small instrument.

More realistically, the strings lose their luminosity. This is natural and will happen over time anyway. Regardless of whether you play with a plectrum or not, you still need to change your strings every now and then. And please don’t worry about it happening overnight or after a few songs as some musicians seem to think. Even the cheaper strings are much more resilient!

In any case, the instrument should be played! And the strings should sound! Wear and tear is inevitable. Would you buy a book and then not read it for fear of buckling the spine? I would not! I really enjoy those little marks and patches around my favorite sites that show me how much I’ve enjoyed and learned from them. This also applies to my instruments.

So with all that being said, go ahead and buy some picks! There are no rules to playing and picking a selection. Experiment for yourself and see what feels good. Find out what suits your playing style and what helps you create a sound you enjoy!

Have fun practicing!

Ukuleles come in many different shapes and sizes, which can sometimes be daunting for newcomers trying to choose the right size for them. In this ukulele size guide, we’ll give you everything you need to know about ukulele types by breaking down the pros and cons of the four main sizes so you can make an informed decision when choosing your next Kala ukulele.

SOPRANO

The size of the soprano ukulele is probably what most people picture when they think of the ukulele. It’s the most common size and makes the classic, traditional ukulele sound. The Soprano is the smallest and lightest uke size we offer, with the shortest scale length and closest fret spacing. The soprano ukulele is ideal for younger players and players with smaller hands and fingers, often making this size the best beginner ukulele for kids. Nevertheless, the soprano is still suitable for players of all skill levels and sizes. Because of its body size, it has a brighter, smoother tone with less projection and resonance than the larger sizes. We also offer a longer neck soprano ukulele size for those who want the traditional ukulele sound and also want more frets and fret spacing. The pineapple shape is a variation on the soprano size designed by Samuel Kamaka in the 1920s. The waist of a pineapple ukulele’s body is eliminated to increase the surface area of ​​the soundboard for a fuller sound. Standard ukulele tuning G/C/E/A applies to soprano size.

CONCERT

The concerto is the next step up from the greatness of the soprano. The scale length of the concert ukulele is about 2.5 cm longer, the neck is slightly wider and slightly heavier overall than the soprano ukulele. The extra length allows for more frets with greater spacing between them. The concert size is great for players of all skill levels or experience levels, but may be more comfortable for players with slightly larger hands and fingers. Because the concert ukulele is slightly larger, it has a fuller sound and a warmer tone with more mids than the soprano ukulele. Concertos are also projected better than the sopranos, making the overall volume a bit louder. Standard ukulele tuning G/C/E/A applies to concert size.

TENOR

Tenor is the next step up from concerto in size. The scale length of the tenor ukulele is about five centimeters longer, the neck is slightly wider and overall slightly heavier than the Concert. The extra length allows for greater spacing between the frets. This makes tenor ukuleles suitable for finger picking. The tenor size is the most popular among professional players, but is great for any skill level or level of experience. A tenor ukulele can be even more comfortable than the concert size for those with larger hands and fingers. The larger size gives the tenor a deeper, fuller sound with a resonant, almost bassy tone. The tenor ukulele also projects better than the concert, making the volume a bit louder. Standard ukulele tuning G/C/E/A applies to tenor size.

Tenor XL

The Tenor XL is a newer style of ukulele that has grown in popularity in recent years. This unique size is larger than a traditional tenor ukulele. It offers even more comfort for those with larger hands. Our Tenor XL models have a longer neck, longer body, and wider bottom bracket than traditional Tenor ukuleles. The longer neck is 19″ scale length and better suits the wider lower bout/longer body of this size ukulele. The Tenor XL also has a deeper and warmer tone with more resonance due to its larger bottom bout size. Another benefit of this size increase is excellent string spacing and louder projection than traditional tenor-sized ukuleles. The standard tuning of G/C/E/A still applies to the Tenor XL size; However, they are traditionally strung with a low-G string.

BARITONE

Baritone is the next step up in size from tenor. The baritone ukulele has the longest scale length – about three inches longer than the tenor ukulele – with the widest fret spacing of any size we offer. A baritone’s neck is also wider than a tenor’s. All of these qualities make the baritone ukulele a great type of ukulele for finger picking. The baritone size is ideal for all skill and experience levels, but especially for those with large hands and fingers. The baritone ukulele has the deepest, fullest sound with the lowest end and sounds similar to an acoustic guitar. The baritone’s similarities to the guitar continue with the tuning – D/G/B/E – like the four highest strings on a guitar, making it the easiest type of ukulele to play for those already familiar with the guitar are to be passed.

Hope this helps you get an idea of ​​the features and differences of the different sizes of ukulele we offer! Check out our other posts for more great ukulele guides and don’t hesitate to ask us any questions!

What size uke are you or what type are you planning to get? What else do you look for in a ukulele? Let us know on social media @kalabrandmusic!

When you first learn how to play the guitar, you’re usually told to keep your nails short.

For many players, that’s not a big deal. But what if you work as a manicurist? Or what if beautiful hands are essential to your look? Does that mean you should give up?

Of course not! There are many ways to play guitar that sound good (or even better) with long nails.

Believe it or not, a manicure doesn’t have to stop you from learning to play the guitar.

Before we look at these nail-saving strategies, it’s helpful to consider why your teachers are telling you to trim your nails. This will help you decide if your manicure is worth keeping, especially if you want to learn more advanced techniques.

Why cut your nails?

To get the clearest, richest sound on your guitar, and to be able to switch between chords quickly, it’s easier to keep your nails short – at least on your fret hand.

By applying pressure with your fingertips, you avoid injuring your fingers. You gain more control over your tone by eliminating fret buzz. It also lets you move quickly around the fretboard without having to tediously position your fingertips at the right angle.

Luckily you have a little more wiggle room for your strumming hand. Unless you have Rihanna-type extra-long acrylics, you can hold a pickaxe without losing your grip. But you could accidentally snag a string while fingerpicking, creating an uncomfortable twang.

As a teenager – before I got serious about playing guitar – I loved growing out my natural nails and painting them bright colors. I still paint them today, but make sure they don’t get long enough to disrupt my E-shaped barre chords or legato licks.

When I showed up for my first class with long nails, I was gently told by my instructor that I needed to start trimming them down to my fingertips. At first I was disappointed, but I was willing to make the sacrifice to become a better guitarist. Little did I know that you can really have the best of both worlds if you use the right techniques…

Strategies for long nails

To play guitar with long nails on the strumming hand, the fret hand, or both, you can use the following strategies:

finger picking

Believe it or not, many guitarists prefer longer nails on their strumming hand. This makes fingerstyle playing easier, especially on a classical guitar.

Of course you can also pluck nylon strings with your fingertips. But to increase your volume and lighten your tone, it is better to grow your natural nails or lengthen them with acrylic.

There are no hard and fast rules for classical guitar fingernails. Some musicians keep them just above their fingertips while others grow them until they are up to an inch longer. Some prefer to round them off, shape them flat or sloped, or file them into sharp, pimple-like points. The most important thing is that your strings slide smoothly off your nails as you finger pick.

Unfortunately, heavy steel strings can damage your natural nails. For this reason, many acoustic players wear fingerpicks for protection. Although often associated with banjos, many blues and country guitarists find they add a bright, treble-heavy tone to their songs.

Another popular option for musicians of all genders is wearing acrylic paints on their strumming hand. These can help you play clear, consistent notes. They’re also a lot less clunky to carry than fingerpicks.

Curious about the salon treatment for fingerstyle guitarists? Check out this video.

Angry at a low angle

As you can see, long nails can do wonders when it comes to fingerpicking. But what about your gripping hand?

While it’s harder to get a clear sound when you’re not directly on your fingertips, you can still fret your chords and notes with the flat part of your fingers. All you have to do is press them onto your fretboard at a low angle and keep the edge of your nails well away from the string. You’ll probably have some trouble at first, but with a little practice this will become a lot easier.

Instead of fringing at the fingertips, try fringing at the angle where the fingertips can comfortably press on the strings.

This technique is especially useful for muting unwanted strings. For example, if you’re practicing a rock, blues, or metal song with power chords, you can press your last finger against the strings below to mute them. You can do the same thing in riffs where you only play one string at a time.

When you strum an E string power chord, you don’t have to worry about accidentally hitting your third, second, or first string when you strum. The same principle applies to two-string power chords, where you can also mute the fourth string with your ring finger.

Still, teasing at an angle isn’t the ideal method. It limits the types of chords you can use and slows down your fingerboard dexterity. It can cause joint pain depending on how you build your finger muscles. And while it’s not impossible to fret with extra-long acrylics, it’s a technique not even many musicians have attempted to master.

Dolly Parton is proof that you can have crazy long nails and still fret your standard tuned C and D chords (with a capo). But it takes a lot of practice to play your fingers at such a small angle and still sound loud and clear (0:17-4:11).

If you’re a beginner practicing once a week or less, this probably won’t be a deal breaker. But if you’re serious about learning guitar, it’s better to experiment with some alternate tunings.

Alternate mood

The best way to keep long fingernails on your fringing hand is to switch from the standard EADGBE guitar tuning to an alternate tuning where you can sweep a single finger across your strings.

The most popular option for many musicians with long nails — particularly in the blues, country, and folk scenes — is to play open tuned. This means if you strum all six open strings you will hear a major or minor chord. For example, in Open E (Dolly Parton’s usual tuning), turn EADGBE to EBEG♯BE, giving you an E major. Other common options are Open D (DADF♯AD) and Open G (DGDGBD).

Let’s say you tuned your guitar to an open D. Putting a finger across all the strings on the first fret gives you a D♯/E♭ major. Drag your finger to the second fret for an E major, to the third fret for an F major, and so on. You can play any major chord this way, just by moving your finger up and down the fretboard.

This Open D demo shows you can still get great sound without destroying your manicure.

The disadvantage of open tuning is that you can’t play extended chords like 7ths or 9ths. But with a strong strumming or fingerpicking rhythm, you can compensate for this lack of variety.

With alternative guitar tunings like Open E and Drop D, you can play major chords or power chords respectively—just by running your index finger across your frets.

Another great option is to use Drop D tuning. By tuning your 6th string down a full note to get DADGBE, you can customize the shape of your E string power chord to match your manicure. Instead of using your index finger to play two frets over the other (or two) on the 6th string, you can use one finger to lock the 6th, 5th, and 4th strings.

For example, if you lock your finger on the first fret of your guitar, you’ll get a D♯/E♭5 power chord. If you swipe your finger on the second, you’ll get an E5, and so on. You can play the rhythm guitar part for many punk and metal songs simply by sliding this finger up and down the fretboard.

Even with Drop D tuning, you may encounter intricate riffs or alternative power chord shapes that make super long acrylics difficult – if not impossible – to play. Also, most of these songs are strummed instead of plucked. But as long as your nails are short enough to grip at an angle and play with a pick, you can still play guitar successfully.

Final Thoughts

With so many options, there’s no reason why you can’t play the guitar and keep your long nails if you really want to. All you have to do is customize how you pick your strings, fret your chords, and tune your strings.

They may not be able to finger more advanced chords or incorporate advanced lead guitar techniques. However, with these minor adjustments, you can become a skilled rhythm guitarist with fingers that look great and play even better.

We could sit here and rave about how iconic Dolly Parton is all day, but do we even have to? The country twang, the Southern Belle makeup, the sky-high hair—everything speaks for itself. Oh, and the nails; I can’t forget Parton’s perpetually manicured hands, which are rarely seen without a fresh set of long acrylics. As she pointed out in a recent interview on The Graham Norton Show, those nails are actually an integral part of one of her biggest hits.

While writing “9 to 5” on the set of the film of the same name, Parton rattled her acrylic paints together to create beats and write lyrics between takes. “After we recorded the song, I brought down all the girls that were on the show and I played with my nails,” she tells Norton. “So on the back of the album I have a note that says nails from Dolly.”

In the same interview, Parton also revealed how she manages to play her guitar so well with her extreme manicures — you know, because the rest of us mere mortals can barely button our jeans or open a can of soda with long nails. “I learned how to work with them,” Parton revealed, flashing her fingernails at the camera. “They work great as picks, I’ve never had a problem with [the right hand] – [the left fingers] are where I have a problem.”