This thread http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=42935 prompted me to see if anyone can provide instruction on how to whistle loudly using your fingers. It’s something that I have never figured out how to do. I would really like details like tongue and finger placements. A list of steps maybe?
Wow, I’ll be following this one. I’ve never managed to whistle with my fingers and don’t whistle loudly otherwise. Lucky for me NYC taxis aren’t more difficult to hail than they are.
Hey, I’m ignorant. Will someone please help fight this ignorance? Could it be that I found a topic that needs the special attention of the Master? Nay, I have faith in the teeming millions!
Sigh. I’m all for fighting ignorance, but I’d like to plea to any of you that should you learn this skill to never use it. Whistling of any kind is bloody annoying, and shrill high-pitched whistles are the worst.
I’d like to think I’m not alone in this, but the multitude of tuneless whistling people all around would seem to indicate otherwise.
Nerd, when I do whistle, it is usually when alone and “IN” tune. I do not plan on putting humanity through incessant and annoying tonal torture. It really is about finally learning the technique. I hate not being able to do something that looks so simple. SO, if you know, and can provide specifics, I promise not to whistle in your general direction.
I’ve nevr tried to desribe it in word before, but I’ll give it a try. I never could do the two pinkies in mounth thing, so I can’t advise on that. My method is the thumb and middle finger of right hand method. But your thumb and middle finger in a circle and put it into your mouth, pushing your tongue back over it self. Let your tongue curl easily and don’t push. bring your finger together more, so that they don’t make a circle anymore, but are parallel after the thumb joint, and the second-to-the-end-joint of the middle finger. leaving a decent sized, almost triangular shaped hole. Push your bottom lip up through the hole and blow. Modulate your top lip so it makes the esacpe point of your mouth fairly small. After that point just keep adjusting slightly until you make the sound you want, because fine tuning of your positioning makes all the difference. If your mouth is too wet it doesn’t work very well, so you have to do it quick after you stick your fingers in your mouth, or the natural saliva production will destroy your efforts.
I also have not tried to describe it in words. The way I do it is with the index and middle fingers on both hands…two fingers on a side. Like wolfman said, fold your tongue over itself with your fingers; I’d say about the first third of your tongue. Tighten the muscles on the sides of your mouth to make a tight seal with your fingers, so no air escapes on the sides. Essentially, you get a small channel that goes over your tongue, then below your fingers. Your 4 fingers should meet inside your mouth, just below the folded tip of your tongue. They should form and angle very close to what is shown here: /\ Basically, once you get in this position, tighten the lips and blow hard. That’s it. It took me a while to get…you’ll know you’re close when you start hearing faint raspy whisles. My whistles when doing this are extremely loud. I do it only at sporting events, and half the time, everyone up to 3 rows in front of me turns around and looks. It’s pretty cool. 
Jman
OK. After about 10 tries I was able to make a sound other than wind. I got excited and decided to print Wolfman’s response for reference. Now, I get just wind. I’m going away to practice, practice, practice. If anyone else has other methods, please post them. I will post back later with progress.
I caught Jman’s response on preview. I will practice both.
Thanks!
Just remember once you master it, you should only use your power for good, such as cheering the Red Wings.
I have been trying to do this whistle for years. Both sets of directions are great - I haven’t made a true whistle yet but I can hear a faint squeaky sound and I now see what I was doing completely wrong before. Thanks - it’s just a matter of time before I can annoy people everywhere!
Hmmm. Interesting side effect - all this squeaky rasping is making my tough-man boy cat stare at me and roll over on his back for a belly rub. Very unusual.