I was just thinking while whistling "Another Saturday Night" how we are able to whistle tunes with no lessons on how to shape our lips just right to produce the exact notes we need to create the melody. How is it we're able to do that when for all other musical instruments we need to be taught the right fingerings, the right lip pressure or the right keys? How are we able to automatically purse our lips in just the right way to produce just the right note for whatever tune we're whistling? Without a single lesson or instruction?
I remember taking clarinet lessons and how painful it was on my family as I learned to control the pressure on the reed so that what came out was notes rather than screeches. Why isn't it the same with whistling?
Have you ever had a thought like this pop into your head that made you just sit and think? I mean, not everyone can whistle - the basic act of whistling needs to be learned, but how is it once the ability to whistle is established, we need no further instruction on creating melodies??
So, can you whistle? Can you carry a tune when you do? Have you ever deep and profound thoughts on things like this just pop into your head?
whistlewhistlewhistle
[question posted by jerzgirl]
responses and comments:
I can whistle, but i dont like the sound its rather annoying so i just dont do it. [AlyssaCB]
I love listening to really talented whistlers. I don't like whistling that's only high pitched and shrill. [jerzgirl]
I can't whistle. I never could and I suppose this late in life I never will. I wish I could and have tried on countless occasions. I am envious of those around me who can. [whywiki]
Ohh....this is one thing I've always longed for.. I want to learn how to whistle! Yeah, I used to think about this..how is it that we can produce the melody without any instructions or so... I think its our subconscious that does all this task. The song comes into our mind, and a message is passed onto subconscious part of mind and we start whistling.. [whizkid08]
I can whistle with a blade of grass between my thumbs, but I can't do it with just my mouth or lips. I need props! LOL I used to be able to do it so loud and peircing with the blade of grass that my boys could hear it clear across the farm! Haven't done it in years, and now that the sun's out, I'm off to pick a blade of grass and give a go. I love it when things like this pop into my head..............often brings back memories or spurs new research. Thank God for google! ROFL [sparkofinsanity]
I've tried the blade of grass thing - people used to show me. I could never get it. I can't do a two-finger whistle, either. I would always sing to my kids, make up songs about them. Even have songs for two of the cats (yeah, I know - sad.) My daughter picks melodies out on the organ (which is in storage now so she can move it into wherever she ends up). She tried to teach herself how to play, but at least she knows where the notes are. [jerzgirl]
There was a time i really wanted to learn to whistle. What i cannot understand is that i feel that everytime i whistle, girls around me start glaring at me as if i am insulting them. I mean, i have no intentions of insulting anyone, but perhaps maybe it is our culture here in our country that does not really accept whistling by the males, as females usually find it offensive. However, yes, i carry a tune, but my tune is always in my mobile phones, as i am always dependent upon my cellphone, as well as music. It really makes my day to listen to music. [safejunk]
Do you whistle at home instead? I don't whistle in public. Women here tend not to whistle openly, while there are some men who always whistle a happy tune. Women here take offense if the whistle is directed at them because it's a sign of disrespect to them. [jerzgirl]
Actually, I can whistle! I guess I heard my daddy whistling and asked him to teach me how. He showed me as best as you can be "shown" and helped me figure out how to form my lips and mouth to get the proper sounds come out! [macdingolinger]
I agree - learning to whistle at all is something that is difficult for some, impossible for others, but it needs to be learned. Yet, carrying a tune, once the whistling is mastered, just comes naturally (assuming the person isn't tone deaf). That's the part that's amazing. [jerzgirl]
Whistling is a gift. I know some men who can't but I had a three year old pupil who whistles real loud tunes before and after school lessons. [eileenleyva]
I cant whistle at all. The only whistle I can do is the wolf whistle lol. And that is sucking in and not blowing out. Back in 5th grade I decided I wanted to play the flute, yeah that was fun for my parents lol. Then well they wernt happy at all lol. They went out and bought me a really nice flute so I could have a nice one, and then a few months later I didnt want to do it anymore at all lol. Hell I always wanted to play the drums anyway, they didnt want me to to much noise. I love the drums lol. Hell yeah I have deep and profound thoughts that pop into my head about stuff all the time lol. [darkjedi]
I even took drumming lessons during my senior year. I wanted to be able to do a drum roll. Never quite got the knack of it. I found I liked the clarinet more. [jerzgirl]
I always daydream an try to think up new waya to improve my tanks. And for whistling i always whiatle and i can carry a tune. Although i dont have a ztrong masculin type of sound. Usually it is high pitched range but i can still bust a whisling melody [doggyhouz]
My father and grandmother were whistlers. Dad could trill like a bird. I can't, but I can do double whistles once in a while, and I can carry a tune. [jerzgirl]
i never was much of a whistler..just enough to get somebody's attention,really. we used to have a janitor at my school who would whistle that irish spring commercial in the hallway..including the wolf whistle at the end..and crack us all up thoughlol oh god..i had to take clarinet lessons at school too.. i was an asthmatic kid..ah..pretty pointless there..glare i don't think i ever got anything resembling a note to come out of that thing.. [scarlet_woman]
I took up the clarinet late in 5th grade. Played all through high school. [jerzgirl]
well that is very interesting thing,i also like it,btw pls come to my blog www.watches-space.com which will promoting your interesting.come on ! [landylin]
Thanks, Pye. I won't be one bit happy if my discussion gets deleted because of their forbidden post. PLEASE read the guidelines and learn what not to do. [jerzgirl]
LMAO JERZ!! only you have these thoughts pop up into your head; LOL! rasp No seriously though I love to Whistle, and yes I can carry a tune quite well I can whistle just about any song; In fact I remember a time trying to teach a friend of mine to whistle she hated the fact that I could whistle just about any song, and she couldn't blast a thing but dead air...now that was an hysterical road trip trying to teach her to whistle let's just say she was so bad, she does not whistle, nor did she ever whistle at any of the concerts we went too, she always left that up to me (G)!! I used to be able to blast out a long very shrill whistle but I just don't have the "lung" capacity to do that anymore...too big of a puss, but I do love to whistle to a song when I feel like it, yeah I huff and puff when I'm done as I run out of "air"...LOL!! No one ever taught me to whistle I just came naturally, as I was always whistling for one of my pets on the farm, or to get someone's attention across the field out at the farm; [dreamweaverjan]
I have never had the lung capacity to hold a note for long, whether singing or whistling. But, with whistling, I can inhale and exhale and keep the melody going. Good deal. Funny thing is, Chloe likes when I sing, but Shady comes when I whistle. [jerzgirl]
I cannot and I have always been jealous of people who can. Every once in a while a small whistle will come out, but I cannot carry a tune. If I want to do that, I have to sing. I can't snap either! [amybrezik]
My Daughter is the sameway! [amybrezik]
Nope can't whistle right to save my life...LOL Wish I could. As far as deep and profound thoughts....mine usually run along the lines of...How were things named anyway? Like why do we call a cat a cat, a dog a dog, a banana a banana....or How did our ancestors figure out what plants/vegetables were safe to eat or was it hit and miss and maybe some got poisoned from eating the really wrong thing??rolleyes [pyewacket]
Ah yes - the infamous "who discovered this was safe to eat" debate! LOL I have often wondered who took the chance of trying tomatoes when the plant is part of the hemlock family. [jerzgirl]
Funny! Yes I can. In fact, my Dad had a rule "no whisling in the car!" Isn't that a funny rule!? [Bearballew]
Do you whistle in the car? I totally do now! LOL! [Bearballew]
I want to learn h0w to whistle,.BuT n0 matTer what to do i cant learn h0w to whistle,.I want to learn h0w mariah carey d0 her whitle n0te she did that with ease shes so talented that n0 one can duplicate what shes d0ing. [brokenwings24]
I didn't know Mariah whistled in any of her songs. Which one? [jerzgirl]
of course i can it's a boring habit [mumuamumu]
I'm curious to know if you even read the discussion or if you just answered the discussion title. [jerzgirl]
I have tried to whistle before, but failed. To whistle with tune is impossible for me. :D [meiyeec511]
My daughter can't whistle, either. I envy people who can whistle using two fingers. I don't know why I do, but I do. [jerzgirl]
I can't whistle at all. I tried to learn when i was a teenager but i failed.It's cool to whistle at the exciting moment when watching basketball,football game or attending a vocal concert. [kanecn]
That kind of whistle I can't do. I've always wanted to do that really loud, sharp, very noticeable whistle that people use for that reason. Yet, I can whistle for my own pleasure. [jerzgirl]
That is a very interesting discussion.I do whistle a lot and I can whistle a song apart from the fact that I go out of breadth at times and not able to complete the full song.But anyhow I can whistle and I like whistling songs.Coming to you point how it is easy to whistle I can say that your lips are not any external instrument that you have to master and tune.Lips are used the way as they were in speaking and uttering the syllables. Your lips receive the how much to pout and your lungs receive the signal of how much air to push out from your brain.There is great coordination among your body parts. [balasri]
Our body is an amazing creation capable of doing the most startling thing and repairing itself with awesome precision.It is us who tax our bodies with great irresponsibility.And I always read the discussion completely to know what the person who created the discussion really thinks and need from us.happy [balasri]
Nope. I can't whistle and I can't carry a tune. I'm not musically inclined. [BlueGoblin]
No, I can't whistle for whatever reason, I can make a little whistle, little sound but I cannot sound a big one maybe because I'm Asian so I don't know to use my tongue well :-p [mermaidivy]
hello there jerzgirl... hmmm.... i can't really remember when i started whistling.. but never the less i do know to whistle and carry a tune.... i would whistle the songs in the church because my father loves to sing the hymns. ohhh.... i remember that i first heard my father whistle a tune and from then i tried and tried to whistle the tune. so i did learn it fast. and when i went to college i was surprise that this ability of mine would come in handy!!! we had music in class and we are suppose to present a music but using only our body. we were a bit confuse...then our prof. said that we are going to whistle a tune...so i raise my hand and said to my leader that i know how to whistle in tune so he listen and he said i just have to hit the right note. so i did practice a lot and i was one of those pupil who got a high grade...and i was so happy.....hmm.... that reminds me... i should practice my whistling so it wont be out of tune...hahahahaha... have a nice day.... [bhabytart]
How I wish I know how to whistle. I guess I'm not the musical type. But then, I always wanted to learn how to whistle. Ever since I am a kid, I really envy my classmates who knows how to whistle and with a tune in them. Can whistling be learned? If so, kindly teach me please or give some pointers on how to do it. [lodyllesovo]
I can't whistle at all. I really wish that I could. My dad used to walk around the house whistling all the time and I would try and try but all that comes out is air and a weird noise nothing like the one I was hoping for. [LilMiniMomma]
This actually makes me think of "The Whistler." whistle I don't know how it's possible but, yes, I can carry a tune while whistling. Amazing isn't it? [libby2009]
I can whistle, and yes tunefully. I've even been told I whistle "with vibrato" wink I like to whistle and taught myself, I even remember how I learned. LOL! One of my brother's can't whistle to save his soul. He sounds like someone with a mouthful of crackers. heeee [Irishfrndly65]
If I hum while I whistle, it sounds like I'm whistling two notes at the same time. It's a weird thing to hear. My dad could trill (I guess that's a vibrato). I used to whistle for my kids and I whistle for the guy next door rather than yell out the windows. He knows it's me because I'm the only whistler around here. [jerzgirl]
I can't whistle but I find it incredibly annoying so the less whistlers out there, the better. Good point with the clarinet/oboe analogy. If people could whistle like an instrument then it would be much better. [Elspethr]
I can whistle but I'm not very good at carrying a tune when I whistle I'm much better at caring a tune when I sing instead.happy [apples99]
i can whistle... while I've got a pretty sounding whistle(so I've been told) I can barely carry a tune... I blame the fact that I quit taking music lessons [BeccaM1989]
I can not whistle and as hard as I tried when I was a kid I never could. I still can not whistle now. [happy6162]
I have tried, but have never been able to whistle. It used to be a little aggrivating as so many do it with such ease. I have gotten over it though, I will probably never whistle. sad [UtopianIdealist]
Yes, I can whistle. As a matter of fact, I can carry the tune much better with my whistle than with my voice. Years ago I was whistling at work and a woman who sat near me said, "You can whistle!" I say, "Yea, so?" Then she told me that most females cannot whistle. As it turns out, most of the females I know can either not whistle at all or have a very weak whistle. Have you ever heard that about most females not being able to whistle? If it's true, it makes me feel special. [6precious102]
Shoot, I can't whistle not alone carry a tune!! I'm not kidding either. My brothers have tried their hardest along with my friends to teach me how to whistle to no avail. I'm a lost cause when it comes to that. I don't know why, I just know that I can't do it. My mouth just won't form the form or what ever to make any noise. rolleyes [CatsandDogs]
Hello jerzgirl! I know how to whistle. My father taught me when I was younger. I can carry a tune when I whistle. I may not be an expert just like most whistlers are. But I sure am happy I know how to whistle and carry a tune when I whistle. [dolce_vita78]