# Which end of the kazoo do you blow on? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 11, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-the-kazoo-do-you-blow-on/609127 "2012-01-11T04:01:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-the-kazoo-do-you-blow-on/609127/1 "2012-01-11T04:01:20Z")
I’d always seen it blown on the large end, but farting around watching videos on YouTube I came across [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i7u3fl-hP8&feature=relmfu) TV theme medley wherein the artist (Fredde Gredde\* - I’m not trying to trick you, heh) plays it from the skinny end. I did a :smack: when I saw this because it had never occurred to me that it would work either way. (I mean, it’s not exactly a technological marvel - it’s a hole with tissue paper over it!) He’s in Sweden and being from the US I wonder if this is something that varies by country/nationality or something. Now I’m really over-thinking things…Do people in the southern hemisphere Hula-Hoop the opposite direction? 🙂 \*This guy is crazy talented. He plays like a jillion instruments and has a great vocal range. Don’t miss his cover of Queen’s [“Killer Queen”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o57xEVHrYvE&feature=relmfu). He does all the harmonies and plays all the instruments. (When he whipped out the accordion I nearly fell out of my chair.) ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-the-kazoo-do-you-blow-on/609127/2 "2012-01-11T04:56:42Z")
You don’t blow. You hum. ---
**Author:** ![AndyLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AndyLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyLee)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-the-kazoo-do-you-blow-on/609127/3 "2012-01-11T16:48:50Z")
If you’re a kid, the side that will irritate the most people 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-the-kazoo-do-you-blow-on/609127/4 "2012-01-11T16:51:50Z")
The larger end. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-the-kazoo-do-you-blow-on/609127/5 "2012-01-11T20:37:03Z")
I made a weed smoker out of a kazoo once. [/nonsequitur] ---
**Author:** ![RoeCocoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7feea3/32.png) [@RoeCocoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RoeCocoa)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-the-kazoo-do-you-blow-on/609127/6 "2012-01-11T21:59:38Z")
From what I’ve read, you’re supposed to put your mouth on whichever end is closer to the raised vibrating bit; this is usually (but not always) the big end. Some kazoos have the tissue paper porthole thing dead-center; maybe those can be played either way? The last kazoo I had was very short, had the paper very close to the wide end, and could only be played from that end. ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-the-kazoo-do-you-blow-on/609127/7 "2012-01-11T23:23:59Z")
Huh, I remember being on a bus trip where we all had party favor kazoos, I think we all blew them from the small end. We hummed a few songs but mostly we just pretended we were riding two strokes. Maybe it’s the shape - larger musical instruments like trumpets, clarinets, etc. are played from the small end. _shrug_ blowing close to the diaphragm certainly makes more sense. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-the-kazoo-do-you-blow-on/609127/8 "2012-01-11T23:43:18Z")
I beg your pardon. Hands off my Kazoo. Only my SO blows it. 😃 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-the-kazoo-do-you-blow-on/609127/9 "2012-01-14T03:45:15Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I beg your pardon. Hands off my Kazoo. Only my SO blows it. > > 😃 😃 😃 It would be better if your SO hummed it. And you had wax paper over your mouth. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-the-kazoo-do-you-blow-on/609127/10 "2012-01-14T04:08:51Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > The larger end. Yup, the fat end. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-the-kazoo-do-you-blow-on/609127/11 "2012-01-14T07:35:55Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > You don’t blow. > > You hum. Well, to be fair, you don’t “blow” during a blowjob, yeah? Thus the term “Hummer”. \<- Wait! I didn’t mean it like that! ---
**Author:** ![motleyjust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@motleyjust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motleyjust)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-the-kazoo-do-you-blow-on/609127/12 "2012-01-26T19:59:38Z")
You can hum/blow into any of the three openings. The sound is louder if you hum/blow into the large end, because the air flow from there to the small end causes more air vibrations to contact the membrane, which is what causes the amplification/distortion of the voice. If you use the turret, and allow air to flow around, not seal it completely with your lips, it will also be loud becuse most of the vibrations will contact the membrane. [link removed] Celebrate National Kazoo Day–Some time between January 23 & 29th or whenever it is convenient for the kazooist. ---
**Author:** ![motleyjust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@motleyjust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motleyjust)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-the-kazoo-do-you-blow-on/609127/13 "2012-01-26T20:32:03Z")
:smack:I couldn’t figure out how to edit my above post. It did have an edit button, but now it seems missing. Anyway the link should be [link removed] ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-the-kazoo-do-you-blow-on/609127/14 "2012-01-28T23:12:37Z")
Welcome to the SDMB, **motleyjust**. I know you read our [registration agreement](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=423183) before signing up, but you may have skipped one paragraph: > [@](#): > > This message board is intended as a medium for public discussion. Do not post spam, including but not limited to advertisements, chain letters, pyramid schemes, solicitations, offers to trade or barter, charitable appeals, or other messages primarily intended to promote a cause, venture, organization, event (except Straight Dope-related events), website, or other entity or activity, whether or not money is involved. Posting for the sole purpose of touting your website is thus considered spam here. I’m not going to ban you as a spammer, but please don’t do this again. Thanks, **twickster** , Cafe Society moderator