# Why isn't whistling a bigger part of music? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 3, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858 "2003-05-03T15:14:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/1 "2003-05-03T15:14:01Z")
I was thinking about whistling lately - I don’t have a car radio and so spend a lot of time whistling or singing while I drive. Anyway, the human mouth can make quite the musical instrument - with a little practice one can whistle very expressively. Now, since most peope can whistle, wouldn’t you think that whistling would be nearly as important as singing in many genres of music? It seems whistling is seen as a solitary activity and not something one would do as part of a musical group. Why aren’t their genres of music that use groups of people whistling in harmony? Why doesn’t primitive music use whistling as much as chants and percussion? Why are there so many primitive instruments that essentially have a very similar sound as whistling with your mouth, when someone could do the same thing without one, and better (being able to bend notes and add tremolo, for instance)? Is there a reason why whistling never seemed to catch on as part of ‘serious’ music? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/2 "2003-05-03T15:25:43Z")
Probably because it’s so difficult to do well. IMHO of course. ---
**Author:** ![Phage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a4c791/32.png) [@Phage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phage)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/3 "2003-05-03T15:50:09Z")
Also, it is not considered “musical” by all. I understand why people whistle on their own… but it really annoys me, and I do not enjoy the sound. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_With_The_Golden_Gun)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/4 "2003-05-03T16:07:42Z")
FWIW, the only song I can name that has whistling as part of it is Engel by Rammstein. I’m sure there are others. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/5 "2003-05-03T16:14:03Z")
Whistling isn’t really that loud either without amplification. Electronic amplification didn’t come about until well into the twentieth centrury. Maybe that’s a part of it. ---
**Author:** ![NightRabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NightRabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NightRabbit)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/6 "2003-05-03T16:15:16Z")
I sing in a choir and can’t whistle worth beans! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/7 "2003-05-03T16:34:34Z")
I would think that since everyone’s mouth is shaped differently, it would be impossible to get any sort of real harmony. Like trying to play in a band with a hundred instruments all tuned differently. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/8 "2003-05-03T16:48:52Z")
As someone who has a full two octave chromatic whistle, I’ll say that a lot of whistling is so annoying because most people train neither their _emboucher_ or ear. People often compliment my renditions of Bach, Mozart and the Everly Brothers (Autumn Song). Yes, some are still annoyed with it, but I blithely attribute that to prior negative conditioning by atonal whistlers. As to why so little recorded music contains whistling. There may be issues with precise _ensemble_ tuning due to internal perception of pitch being influenced by sinus resonance and the like. I tend to think it’s just that so few people have developed any real talent for it. Speaking of atonal whistlers, why the fuc|\< is it that so many whistlers do so in such a mindless fashion? If you’re going to make some music, make it fricking recognizable as such and not some random, meandering string of arythymic, off-pitch tones. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/9 "2003-05-03T17:30:37Z")
Oh, terrific! As an accomplished whistler I now have aspirations of finding a barber shop whistling quartet! Fatta chence! Does anyone else whistle on the inhale and exhale both? I do this and it allows me continue through long passages without the usual \*lunga[/] breaks as in choral renditions. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/10 "2003-05-03T17:46:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Man With The Golden Gun \* > \*\*FWIW, the only song I can name that has whistling as part of it is Engel by Rammstein. > > I’m sure there are others. \*\* Absolutely! How about Otis Reddin’s Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay, or another golden oldie called Winchester Cathedral (I don’t remember the group). ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/11 "2003-05-03T17:51:11Z")
Unless you’re really, _really_ good, **pitch** can be a huge pain in the butt too. That being said, there _are_ professionals out there. If you want to hear a really good sample, listen to the guy who does Snoopy’s little pal Woodstock. I think the best example of his Woodstock work was when Peppermint Patty competed in a figure skating competetion and her music died. Woostock went to the microphone and saved the day. **Monkey** I can whistle both on the inhale and exhale. My pitch sucks rocks however, so I don’t whistle. ---
**Author:** ![Qis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Qis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qis)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/12 "2003-05-03T17:52:35Z")
Is it possible to look anything other than gormless or strained whistling? so much of the stuff in teh charts seems to be about how people look as oposed to how their music sounds. before that… I guess ti could just be that not enough people are that good at it. I saw this guy in the park a couple of months ago, whistling and playing the guitar. I’de always written off whistling as an annoying noise, but upon hearing that guy I entirely changed my opinion. I have never heard anyone before or since whistling that good. i cant whistle a tune for toffee. -Qis ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/13 "2003-05-03T18:05:43Z")
Guns N Roses–“Patience” has whistling. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/14 "2003-05-03T18:37:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MonkeyMensch \* > Oh, terrific! As an accomplished whistler I now have aspirations of finding a barber shop whistling quartet! Fatta chence! > > Does anyone else whistle on the inhale and exhale both? I do this and it allows me continue through long passages without the usual _lunga_ breaks as in choral renditions. Whistler on the intake and outtake here. Also whistle while humming to get heterodyne effects. Also whistle while playing guitar. Have had people specifically request my self-accompaniment over a duet of the same piece played with flute and guitar. So, come to think of it, on-pitch whistling isn’t really an issue. It’s just that so many people are crappy whistlers. ---
**Author:** ![threephi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@threephi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threephi)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/15 "2003-05-03T18:48:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny Bravo \* > \*\*I would think that since everyone’s mouth is shaped differently, it would be impossible to get any sort of real harmony. Like trying to play in a band with a hundred instruments all tuned differently. \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > **There may be issues with precise _ensemble_ tuning due to internal perception of pitch being influenced by sinus resonance and the like. I tend to think it’s just that so few people have developed any real talent for it.** These arguments seem unlikely, since the same anatomical variations among performers in an ensemble affect singers, who are most definitely able to overcome them. ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/16 "2003-05-03T18:52:30Z")
there is saying: no apricates your whistling like you do. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/17 "2003-05-03T19:00:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MonkeyMensch \* > \*\* > Does anyone else whistle on the inhale and exhale both? I do this and it allows me continue through long passages without the usual _lunga_ breaks as in choral renditions. \*\* I can do it! I’m actually considered the Tom Morello of whistling. I can mimic most instruments, but I prefer doing guitar sounds and record scratching (???). I can also make the highest sounding whistle you’ve ever heard (not the type with your fingers in your mouth), the type that would shatter your windows. My favorite is radar sounds, gets em’ everytime. I agree that most people hate it, but I’ve received many compliments on my whistling because of my accuracy and originality. ---
**Author:** ![jack\_ss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c77e96/32.png) [@jack\_ss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jack_ss)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/18 "2003-05-03T20:09:57Z")
I can whistle through my lips, through my teeth, on the inhale, on the exhale. Like a cricket, like several birds, like a squrrel or a mouse. Most people don’t consider my whistling musical, just annoying. I guess it’s one of those things that only sounds good inside my own head. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/19 "2003-05-03T21:03:18Z")
Billy Joel’s “The Stranger” has whistling in it. He had to stop performing the song live, though, because the band would always turn around and make funny faces at him, causing him to laugh and spoil the moment. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linus_Van_Pelt)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858/20 "2003-05-03T21:30:54Z")
As another example, wasn’t there a fairly extensive bit of whistling in the The Scorpions “Winds of Change?” Or was that synthesised? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-whistling-a-bigger-part-of-music/172858.md?page=2)