Can you whistle? Can you carry a tune when you do?
By Wendy
@jerzgirl (9233)
United States
June 10, 2009 11:13am CST
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?
4 people like this
26 responses
@balasri (26537)
• India
11 Jun 09
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.
1 person likes this
@balasri (26537)
• India
12 Jun 09
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.
@jerzgirl (9233)
• United States
11 Jun 09
Precisely - how is it our bodies know, with that coordination, how to shape the lips in order to get just the right note out in the whistle. I can remember when the band would have to tune up - first chair clarinet would play "C" and the rest would have to match it. But, those who can whistle need no tuning - they play the right note from the start. It's amazing what our bodies are capable of.
Thank you for reading the discussion. Others seem to have only answered the title.
@Bearballew (1148)
• United States
11 Jun 09
Funny! Yes I can. In fact, my Dad had a rule "no whisling in the car!" Isn't that a funny rule!?
@meiyeec511 (405)
• Malaysia
11 Jun 09
I have tried to whistle before, but failed.
To whistle with tune is impossible for me. :D
1 person likes this
@amybrezik (2118)
• United States
11 Jun 09
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!
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9233)
• United States
11 Jun 09
LOL I can't snap either!! My fingers will make all the right moves, but there is never any sharp "SNAP" - instead it's more of the dull thud of skin against skin. My daughter can snap like she's a contestant on America's Got Talent! But, not her dear mother - nope. I can't.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
11 Jun 09
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??
1 person likes this
@dolce_vita78 (8062)
• Philippines
21 Feb 10
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.
@6precious102 (4043)
• United States
13 Jun 09
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.
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
10 Jun 09
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!
@jerzgirl (9233)
• United States
11 Jun 09
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.
@brokenwings24 (90)
• Philippines
11 Jun 09
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.
1 person likes this
@doggyhouz (548)
• United States
11 Jun 09
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
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
20 Jun 09
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.
@UtopianIdealist (1604)
• United States
13 Jun 09
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. 
@happy6162 (3001)
• United States
13 Jun 09
I can not whistle and as hard as I tried when I was a kid I never could. I still can not whistle now.
@BeccaM1989 (59)
• United States
13 Jun 09
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
@LilMiniMomma (3)
• United States
11 Jun 09
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.
