h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I seriously can't whistle. How do you do it? I haven't been able to whistle when I had a huge gap in my front teeth, when I didn't, now that I have braces, and I probably still won't be able to when I get them off in November. How do you whistle?

Cat

i have been whistling for the last 20 minutes after reading this!!

I think the trick is not to blow to hard and try to blow aiming for your upper teeth rather than through the bottom of your mouth. It is one of those things that is hard but once you do it then it all falls into place. You probably find braces won't help.

Try sucking in through puckered lips and then reversing the breath without moving your lips.

I wonder if there is a guide entry on it.

I will go have a look.

Meanwhile - keep practising (but not in public when walking down the street

Mort

A1152820 it isn't an edited guid entry but looks quite comprehensive anyway!

There was also an Askh2g2 question a long time ago discussing the other sort of whistling, the loud sort on one note to attract attention. This is done by putting your fingers in your mouth. If you want to find it, you'll have to Search Conversations.

Found it! It was in "How Do I" rather than "Ask H2G2".

F30859?thread=254228

Yep, that conversation about the other sort of whistling did describe it pretty well - after some practising I actually learnt how to do it!

i will have to read it as i have never been able to do that. i just end up blowing a raspberry

Breath out very* gently, till you get the hang, then you can probably force more air out at a time to get a louder whistle I can whistle constantly, as I can whistle as I breath in as well as when I breath out

Many employers underestimate what a valuable skill be able to whistle constantly is.

B

is this on the basis of irritating your work colleagues regularly? ?

: Do you think I should include it as a 'skill' on my CV?

You'd find a lot of car keys...

B

...and dogs.

B

*begins barking at the moon

Aaaooouuuhhh!

try not to get your lips too sttiff whilst doing it.keep them wet and soft. i have been a long time whistler since i was just a little boy. trust me.

Good advice for aspiring kissers as well.

B

well, it helps if you form an 'o' in your mouth, sort of like when you're saying 'oooga booga', only more puckered, and with your tongue touching your lower incisors. direct the flow of air through the hole, but don't *blow* it out. the trick is to think, 'sound you get when you blow across the mouth of a bottle'. you get different tones/notes by tightening your cheek and mouth muscles. and yes, i agree with goat smuggler - your lips need to be slightly moist to pull it off.

Just one question - how often do you say 'oooga boooga' in the average day?

B

Well .. .. 3 or 4 .. times.. why?