Teaching someone to whistle?

You need to teach her acoustic and aerodynamics.

I don't think I was really taught to whistle, I just tried a bunch and eventually figured it out.

i cannot whistle, even if my life depended on it i still woudnt be able to. everyone just says "pur your lips like this, and blow" but no matter how hard i try, i just cannot do it. i think if you cant whistle you will never be able to whistle.

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Original post by griffenjam My GF can't whistle and I've been tryint to teach her but haven't been making any progress. Since learning to whistle is in the vague cloudiness of my past I was wondering if anyone here had any pointers for learning to whistle...

haha, same here. It is kinda hard to tell someone eh?

I just thought about it, and once I started thinking about I realized that it isn't 'just put your lips like this and blow'

Your tongue has to be in the right place, too. Try just putting your lips right without moving your tongue; you can't whistle then.

Your tongue should be arched so the top is closer to the top of your mouth.

Or is this just me?

You have to put your lips together, but having them arched, so they form a small tunnel. Then move the tip of your tongue close to that 'tunnel' and blow the air. Move the tongue until you find the optimal position.

I can whistle, but I can't do that really loud whistle where you put a couple fingers in your mouth. How do you do that?

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Original post by mtw I can whistle, but I can't do that really loud whistle where you put a couple fingers in your mouth. How do you do that?

Same here.

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Original post by mtw I can whistle, but I can't do that really loud whistle where you put a couple fingers in your mouth. How do you do that?

You gotta move you fingers around (ie, closer together or farther) and output about as much air as you do to make a regular semi-loud whistle sound. Also gotta move your tongue around. I can sometimes do it, but it's easier for me to make a very loud whistle using no fingers.

Now something a lot of people I know can't do is click their tongue loudly. I can click loud enough that in the bathroom, it would make my ears hurt. I can do the same in my room (18ft x 18ft) but it won't hurt as much.

I can't whistle. I managed it with my fingers, but only once.

I used to think I could whistle, but my brother makes fun of me and tells me I can't. When I try, it feels more like I'm just blowing than getting a "solid" whistle sound. As if that made any sense...

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Original post by DrZoidberg i cannot whistle, even if my life depended on it i still woudnt be able to. everyone just says "pur your lips like this, and blow" but no matter how hard i try, i just cannot do it. i think if you cant whistle you will never be able to whistle.

Same with me.. it's my lips; they are really wierd shaped.

I can make a really high pitched sound that's really irritating... no whistling though. Since I couldn't whistle with my lips, I learnt how to cup my hands and hoot like an owl. Actually, I can almost do Vader's March in this method. I always lol and mess it up though [wink]

I can whistle very quickly, accurately, and fairly loudly. I never hum songs, I just whistle them. I can hit a much larger range of notes whistling than humming or singing.

Now if you want a real challenge, whistle by inhaling. It's much harder to get a clear sound and hit the right notes. I can't do it nearly as fast.

Step 1) Teach her the process of whistling
Step 2) Let her try
Step 3) If she fails, slap her and repeat from step 2

She'll get it eventually.

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Original post by LockePickNow if you want a real challenge, whistle by inhaling. It's much harder to get a clear sound and hit the right notes. I can't do it nearly as fast.

I can some of the time, but i find you need a stiffer (for want of a better word) embosure ( ya i know thats spelt wrong!:P) but I always get a sharp sounding note. :S i'd have thought it would have been flat...w/e

Tell her "Whistling is based on blowing and practice"... take it from there.

[Edited by - Ilici on April 22, 2005 5:16:48 AM]

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Original post by LockePick Now if you want a real challenge, whistle by inhaling. It's much harder to get a clear sound and hit the right notes. I can't do it nearly as fast.

Hehe, thats odd, I find it much easier to whistle clearly inwards than outwards.

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Original post by DrZoidberg i cannot whistle, even if my life depended on it i still woudnt be able to. everyone just says "pur your lips like this, and blow" but no matter how hard i try, i just cannot do it. i think if you cant whistle you will never be able to whistle.

The thing is, you don't blow. Pretty much everyone will tell you to blow, but that's not what you do. You breath. Exhale lightly.

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Original post by Gourgy Quote: Original post by DrZoidberg i cannot whistle, even if my life depended on it i still woudnt be able to. everyone just says "pur your lips like this, and blow" but no matter how hard i try, i just cannot do it. i think if you cant whistle you will never be able to whistle. The thing is, you don't blow. Pretty much everyone will tell you to blow, but that's not what you do. You breath. Exhale lightly.

Could Lauren Bacall been wrong, then?