How to whistle with your tongue

You hear them all around you, those wizards who can generate an incredibly loud, piercing whistle using nothing more than their tongue and a finger or two. Whistlers who don’t need fingers are special and their skills are not addressed here. They whistle for their dog, they whistle for a home run, they whistle for the pure joy of whistling. You, too, can learn to whistle like a wizard. It isn’t easy, but if you keep at it you’ll be able to express your appreciation with an ear-splitting whistle before football season arrives.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Clean out your mouth. This isn’t icky, it is just good advice. You get much better air flow when you aren’t wrestling with bits and pieces of whatever in there.
2. Take a sip of something. It is easier to whistle when your chops are moist.
3. Using your strong hand, form a V with your index finger and little finger. Tuck your two middle fingers up inside the V; it’s not part of the process, it just keeps them out of the way.
4. Bend the V forward over your palm so you can touch your thumb to the point of the V. You’re not going to use your thumb, but this helps you create the right angle for your fingers. If your hand now makes a good duck shadow puppet, you’ve got it.
5. Push your tongue forward and try to bend the tip upward toward the roof of your mouth. Suck your lower lip over your bottom teeth to create a smooth, firm platform.
6. Place the tip of the V against the tip of your tongue, resting your fingers and hand on your folded-over lip. Push your top lip into the open part of your finger V. It’s not pretty or elegant, but it works.
7. Firm up everything--fingers, tongue, lips--and blow down through the opening in the V with a hard, fast huff.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice until you get a small whistle. Adjust things as needed; you’ll soon get a feel for angles and air flow.
• <br>Work on this when the dog isn’t around; the huffing and whistling may excite her.