Flight Artist of the Month: Zsolt Ádám Nemes

From believing he would never be able to play an instrument to finding his own unique way of making music, Nemes Zsolt Ádám has discovered just how powerful the ukulele can be. Based in Hungary, Zsolt is a software engineering manager, a father of two, and a passionate musician whose journey is a reminder that music has no boundaries.

Born with a condition affecting the development of the fingers on his right hand, Zsolt spent much of his life believing that playing an instrument simply wasn’t possible for him. That changed three years ago when a chance encounter with another ukulele player at a local playground sparked his curiosity and set him on an entirely new path.

Today, Zsolt plays solo arrangements, explores chord melody, and even brings Renaissance and early music to the ukulele. Using his thumb and pinky finger to develop his own playing techniques, he has found a way to make music that is entirely his own.

We caught up with Zsolt to talk about his musical journey, overcoming physical limitations, his love for historical music, his connection with Flight, and how a small instrument changed the way he sees what’s possible.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your musical background?

I am Zsolt from Hungary. I am a Software Engineering Manager and a father of two. I was born with a condition affecting my right hand, where my fingers did not develop fully. The only useful fingers are my thumb and pinky. This prevented me from starting to play any instrument as a child, as I believed my hand would be an obstacle. However, three years ago, this changed completely.

How did you first discover the ukulele, and what drew you to it?

On a sunny spring day, we went to a local playground with my eldest daughter, and I saw another dad sitting on a bench playing the ukulele.

It looked fun and easy, so I started thinking about trying it myself. I also thought it was very convenient that it was such a small and portable instrument. I bought my first ukulele, and as it turned out, the man from the playground was actually a ukulele teacher, so I started taking lessons with him.

How would you describe your style as an artist?

I mostly play solo pieces, and I love chord melody. Since I only have two useful fingers on my strumming hand, I usually use my thumb, and I’m quite satisfied with the result. I find that I can easily control the flow of a song with my thumb. Occasionally, I also like to sing, mostly jazz. For harder strumming, I use my pinky finger just as someone would use their index finger.

I’m a huge nerd and a history fan, so I’ve been playing some Renaissance and early music pieces. I love the atmosphere of these songs. Lute songs sound awesome on the ukulele!

I find it amusing to play such old tunes on a relatively young instrument.

What role does music play in your life today?

I play music every day. It’s how I switch off from all the outside noise at the end of the day. At the same time, music lets me connect with people in a special way.

But more than that, this small instrument has shown me that I can become much more than I ever dreamed of. Through music, I can overcome my boundaries and give something to myself and others. It is truly a magical experience.

How has your journey as a musician evolved over time?

When I first started, my only goal was to be able to sing for my kids and accompany myself on the ukulele. I soon discovered that the ukulele has much more to offer. It has a depth I didn’t realize at first.

In the beginning, I had to come up with ways to play certain styles despite the limitations of my right hand. It’s been a long learning process, but I’ve been patient with myself and loved every minute of that journey.

Now, I’m trying to refine all the techniques I’ve developed to make my playing smoother and more fluid. After all, it’s only been three years!

What inspires you when creating or performing music?

As someone who once believed he was incapable of playing any instrument, it fills me with great pride that I can actually do it.

Apart from that, people inspire me greatly. My family and friends. I love playing music with them and for them.

I would also love to inspire other people. I started sharing my musical journey on Instagram to show others how I can overcome my physical limitations and experience the joy of music. The ukulele has given me so much so far, and I’d love to give something back to the community.

How did you first connect with Flight Ukulele?

I first came across Flight on social media. It’s one of the few European brands, and it felt close to me since Slovenia is a neighboring country.

I was drawn to Flight from the beginning because of the quality of its instruments and the values the brand represents. My wife and I went on a weekend getaway to Slovenia last year, which presented the perfect opportunity to buy myself a soprano ukulele from Flight.

We went to a music store in Maribor, where I got my first Flight Ukulele, the NUS-500, at a small discount because I happened to be wearing my Luka Dončić jersey at the time!

It was an awesome trip all around the country, and I have very fond memories of trying out my new ukulele on the banks of the River Drava.

After that, I got a Fireball Tenor for Christmas, and it made me a huge fan of the brand. Then I connected with Flight and was able to receive an artist offer. I am grateful to Flight for believing in me and my vision.

Do you have a favorite Flight model, and what do you like about it?

My favorite model is my Fireball Tenor, which my wife gifted me.

I love all the details on it: the cutaway, the binding, the comfort edge, not to mention the stylish side soundhole. The solid mango body makes it very unique-looking. It has as sweet a sound as the fruit of the mango tree!

It is truly a wonderful instrument. I can never get bored of its look, and especially its sound. Moreover, it has a built-in pickup, which is an essential part of my setup. It’s not easy to record music at home with two small girls roaming around!

Can you share a memorable moment from your musical journey?

I like performing for people. It’s totally outside my comfort zone, but as they say, life happens outside of it.

One of my most memorable moments was when I performed a mini concert for my family at the christening of my younger daughter. Music and family together are where I feel most content in life.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out on the ukulele?

Have fun and explore! Experiment with the instrument and come up with sounds you like.

There are tons of tutorials online about how to play, but in the end, I think you should play in whatever way pleases you. Do whatever sounds good enough for you. Don’t necessarily stick to what your tutorials teach you!

Everyone is a bit different. Maybe you’ll come up with your own little technique that’s most ergonomic for you and sounds awesome.

Go for it and keep playing!