How to whistle using grass

One of my fondest memories from childhood involves warm summer afternoons learning this whistling trick from my mother and then teaching the other kids. If you've never tried this, try startling the other kids with the high pitched whistle that results.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A long wide flat blade of grass

1. Pick a warm dry seat on the grass, shady or sunny, according to your mood. Look for long wide flat blades of grass. You can typically find longer grass under trees, because they don't get mowed as often or as close, and also because the grass tends to grow longer and thicker in a darker, more moist environment.

2. Pick a blade of grass almost as long as your hand from wrist to the top of your thumb. It should be as wide as you can find, preferably around a quarter inch.

3. 
    

   Wedge the blade of grass in your hands, between your thumbs, with your palms facing each other and fingers straight. It should be fairly tight. The idea is that you are using the blade of grass as a reed and your breath will make it vibrate and produce a sound.

4. 
    

   Put your lips down on the gap between the bottom joints of your thumbs, where the grass is exposed. This uses the top joint and the fleshy pad of your hand to create a mouthpiece. Blow gently, but consistently. Vary the size of the opening until you find the sweet spot. Make sure you keep the grass taut.

Tips & Warnings

• Adjust the gap between your thumb joints and the tightness of the grass until you have success. It doesn't take much space.
• <br>You can also use two blades of grass, or fold one in half to make a double reed.
• The hard part is holding the grass tightly enough to allow it to vibrate without tearing it.
• <br>The good news is there's plenty of grass where that blade came from.