More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles

Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by Taylor_OD on Tuesday August 24, 2021 @10:42AM (#28289474)

Anyone learn to whistle, in any way or form, later in life? I've always wanted to but never been able to. I've tried a few types of whistles. The closest I've gotten is some quasi duck calls using my hands and whistling with the help of an acorn.

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by mypastself on Tuesday August 24, 2021 @10:47AM (#28289547)

I actually did, from a Reddit thread that guided me through the process step by step. I’m having trouble finding the exact link at the moment, but it starts with slowly breathing out the letter “Q”.

It’s not a loud, booming sound or anything, but I went from blowing soundless air for 20-odd years to actually whistling.

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by akiselev on Tuesday August 24, 2021 @12:27PM (#28291023)

> I’m having trouble finding the exact link at the moment, but it starts with slowly breathing out the letter “Q”.

Thank you! That tip was all I needed to figure it out :)

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by mypastself on Tuesday August 24, 2021 @01:46PM (#28292419)

Ha, glad to be of help!

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by Taylor_OD on Wednesday August 25, 2021 @10:15AM (#28301965)

Holy shit. I tried for about 5 minutes this morning by breathing out Q and I can whistle now. Damn thank you.

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by abdupattoh on Thursday August 26, 2021 @12:14PM (#28316874)

I tried to do that and I puffed out of two places in my body at once and got a questioning look from my wife. My advice is don't try this at home.

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by bynkman on Tuesday August 24, 2021 @11:05AM (#28289788)

If you can't whistle, there's a way to use an acorn or a bottle cap to do so. I can whistle, but not that loud, and often use a bottle cap to whistle loudly at venues. https://youtu.be/tydJLavu8Fc

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by jbluepolarbear on Tuesday August 24, 2021 @11:46AM (#28290386)

I can whistle 3 ways: the typical pucker you lips whistle, use your fingers whistle, and a third that I’ve only seen my brother and I do. For the third curl your upper lip towards your nose, bring the bottom lip up flat, move your tongue all the back and down, and try and direct the air into the split part of your inner upper lip. It’s a very loud piercing whistle that can be heard much farther than the typical finger whistle.

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by thirdlamp on Wednesday August 25, 2021 @03:46AM (#28299017)

I can do the 3rd one too but it’s not very loud.

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by qnsi on Tuesday August 24, 2021 @10:49AM (#28289581)

Curious, any reason why you think it might be different later in life?

I think it just takes a lot of practice and patience

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by Topgamer7 on Tuesday August 24, 2021 @11:49AM (#28290431)

Don't forget that you have to repeatedly do it so much you feel like you're going to faint from lack of oxygen! Remember that when learning to whistle as a youngin :)

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by Taylor_OD on Wednesday August 25, 2021 @10:07AM (#28301876)

Some things are harder to learn later in life.

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by hycaria on Tuesday August 24, 2021 @04:54PM (#28294880)

I cannot. I did practice on my commute for two years and still cannot whistle. People tried to teach me and that failed. From time to time a get a note but not very loud and I cannot make it last.

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by indrax on Tuesday August 24, 2021 @03:39PM (#28293850)

I was never able to whistle well until I learned to do it while inhaling which came out much louder and helped me learn a better mouth shape for whistling while exhaling.

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by lexapro on Tuesday August 24, 2021 @11:18AM (#28289976)

Like everything else, practice. When I learned it, first few days no sound would come out. Then the occasional "accidental" half-whistle. Now I can whistle songs.

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by Dumblydorr on Tuesday August 24, 2021 @11:25AM (#28290091)

Here's how I whistle. Suck in your cheeks, like you're puckering for a kiss. Make sure the lips are a tad moist. Blow through the lip hole. It helps if you keep a tightness, or ambiture (sp?) which is how a horns or winds player would describe lip/cheek tightness. Inside, the tongue is resting against front teeth and a very light stream of abdominal air is supplying the whistle. Any luck?

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by dmoy on Tuesday August 24, 2021 @11:48AM (#28290415)

> It helps if you keep a tightness, or ambiture (sp?) which is how a horns or winds player would describe lip/cheek tightness.

Yea I went from being a mediocre whistler to crazy good at it when I played wind instrument seriously for a decade. But that was decades ago so now I'm back to mediocrity.

Also the word you are looking for is "embouchure"

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by onionisafruit on Tuesday August 24, 2021 @11:44AM (#28290364)

I gradually lost the ability to whistle in my 30s. I never whistled very loud, but now it’s almost nothing.

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Re:More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles by mikestew on Tuesday August 24, 2021 @05:09PM (#28295044)

I lost that ability in my 30s thanks to Bell's Palsy. I mostly recovered, but the nerves on the right side didn't completely recover enough for me to seal my lips well enough to do it anymore. After I wasted $35 on a chanter, my wife and neighbors were relieved to find out that I won't ever be able to play the bagpipes, either.

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