# why can we whistle it but.... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 25, 2000, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-we-whistle-it-but/6545 "2000-01-25T19:17:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2000, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-we-whistle-it-but/6545/1 "2000-01-25T19:17:00Z")
I have wondered why we can whistle a tune on key but many of us can’t sing it on key. People who are completely tone deaf and can’t sing a lick can whistle a tune on key most of the time…anyone know why? What is it about whistling that is easier than singing… * * * “I think it speaks to the duality of man sir.” (private Joker in Full Metal Jacket) ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2000, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-we-whistle-it-but/6545/2 "2000-01-25T19:43:00Z")
Im almost tone deaf & I can’t whistle. Much less whistle on tune, dude. ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2000, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-we-whistle-it-but/6545/3 "2000-01-25T19:50:00Z")
Okay, I finally have something to post in that “smartass remarks you didn’t make” thread… * * * Live a Lush Life Da Chef ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Thin\_Skin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@Mr\_Thin\_Skin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Thin_Skin)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2000, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-we-whistle-it-but/6545/4 "2000-01-25T19:57:00Z")
Well, I’m not tone death, and I just conducted a highly unscientific experiment. I whistled “America” into my computer and played it back. I was flat. I sang america, played it back. I was flat again. I did not have the impression I was flat whilst whistling or singing. My relative placement of tones were correct, just not absolutely correct. Maybe I’m tuned to some weird oboe (bone conduction of sound). If I whistle along while playing america on the piano (AWB and SqrlCub, I’m doing well), it seems I’m in tune. I am too shy to ask my wife however. I tried it again, this time whistling a little sharp. On playback, it sounded right at the start, but degraded quickly as I seemed to shift key, ending where I did not start. So, is you impression based on your own whistling, or that of others? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2000, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-we-whistle-it-but/6545/5 "2000-01-25T20:01:00Z")
I would venture to say that tone deaf is tone deaf whether whistling, singing, humming or burping. You are tone deaf man ! No change in how the breathe comes out of your larynx will alter that, despite what you may think. . . or hear. * * * “Solos Dios basta” . . . but a little pizza won’t hurt. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2000, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-we-whistle-it-but/6545/6 "2000-01-25T20:21:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Gabriel: > \*\* No change in how the breathe comes out of your larynx will alter that, despite what you may think. . . or hear. > \*\* Isn’t whistling indenpendent of the larynx? Perhaps that’s the difference; we have better control over our mouths than our larynx. ---
**Author:** ![frolix8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@frolix8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frolix8)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2000, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-we-whistle-it-but/6545/7 "2000-01-25T20:36:00Z")
If there is such an effect, I’d bet it’s because whistling involves fewer muscles and body cavities. I’m taking voice lessons, and it’s amazing how many parts of the body are involved in singing. With whistling it’s mainly the diaphram, lips, and maybe the shape of the mouth and tongue placement. Singing adds the vocal cords/folds, the position of the larynx, the shape of the throat, the epiglottis, and posture. That said, I’m not sure if I whistle in better tune than I sing. I don’t do either very well, that’s why I’m taking lessons. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2000, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-we-whistle-it-but/6545/8 "2000-01-25T23:30:00Z")
Nonono. When I could hear, I could whistle. Now that I can’t hear, I can’t whistle. I don’t know why but Ive given up trying. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2000, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-we-whistle-it-but/6545/9 "2000-01-26T20:39:00Z")
I don’t think that this is the case with everybody. My wife can sing on tune very well, but cannot whistle for anything. * * * -Dragwyr “If God had meant for man to eat waffles, he would have given him lips like snowshoes” -Rev. Billy C. Wirtz