Hi mlindsey, welcome back! It's wonderful that you found that you can play your soprano.
Stuart Fuchs has an excellent video about using a light touch when you play. There are also some good videos available for gently exercising and stretching your hands from Mayo Clinic.
I can sympathize...
Welcome back to the Forum Rob. Your ukes have quite a following. I guess we know quality when we encounter it.
Pardon my ignorance, but which one is you in the photo?
What a great story. Your grandfather sounds like a determined person with a lot of stories to tell.
That's a wonderful connection to him and his efforts to help the family.
Your Ohana is amazing. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Hi Tom I has uke, will travail.
Well, it's not a painful journey. In fact, it's a lot of fun. But the word was too good to pass up.
Wire Paladin... Or email.
Hi Cougar Allen, Welcome to the UU Forum. Yep I agree about Tiny Tim. I thought the uke was a toy until I was introduced to the Tenor uke. Just what I had been searching for—but didn't know it.
Hi Kimberly, welcome to the UU Forum from another Wisconsinite. Your explorations with alternate tunings are very cool. I hope you'll post some samples when you get things worked out.
Have fun!
Hi PawPawUke, welcome to the UU Forum. I understand completely about the exhilaration and enjoyment of buying a uke. So many different makers, woods & strings to try. I did limit myself to only acquiring tenors.
Keep on strumming.
Glad you decided to join the UU Forum Jonatello. As others have said, if you're going to travel extensively with your uke, you'll probably want a quality plastic, composite or carbon fiber instrument to hold up to the rigors of use in those differing environs.
Have fun with your search.