Master the Art of Wild Whistling | Step-by-Step Tutorial on Hand Whistling 

My father taught it to me when I was 9 years old, we called it “the howl”. Because his hands were bigger than mine he would make deeper whistles and I made higher ones, so together we'd do the baby owl and the papa owl :) Thank you for the memories that resurfaced.

This whistle can actually be quite a bit more complicated than it looks. When I was 14 years old at summer camp I remember trying at it for hours, while the counselors teaching me just kept saying “Just make the same hand position I am.” It is not that simple. I now can make the sound, but there are several rules people won’t teach you about it. Firstly, your thumbs will need to be parallel to each other, you will need to blow onto the knuckles like you are kissing them, and most importantly you will need to blow DOWN. This means your thumb nails should be touching your face. If you are learning from another person who can do the whistle, ask if you can blow on their hand whistle to see if you are blowing correctly. If you can succeed on theirs but not on your own whistle, then it is your hand shape that needs work-otherwise it may be you are blowing incorrectly. And onto hand technique- what most people do not emphasize is the need for there to be no gaps for air in the fingers of the right hand (if you are right handed and whistling in the way she is in this video) You can whistle with the hands switched, which may possibly be easier for lefties? I can do it both ways, but I learned to do it with the right hand on top. The place I have found air most likely to escape is where the fingertips touch the swoop between index finger and thumb of the bottom hand. To get rid of this problem, you can either close the top hand a little further over the bottom, which will result in a shriller whistle, or you can try squeezing the right hand fingers ever so slightly with the left hand index finger and thumb which could help eliminate cracks and will give a deeper whistle. The last major thing most people won’t tell you when trying to teach this whistle is that it is okay to shake your hands out. Sometimes you just won’t get the hand formation right, and it is easier to simply let the whistle go, shake your hands out and then try again, rather than adjusting your fingers. Edit: Wearing rings on the left hand can affect your ability to perform this whistle- if you want to keep your ring on your whistle may have to be shriller because the space between your hands will be smaller if you are accounting for the ring potentially creating gaps in the fingers of your left hand. If the edge of your right hand is connecting to the upper palm of your left, rather than the fingers, rings won’t be an issue. The whistle will be of a higher pitch, however.

I really appreciate people who teach their talents. Especially in a second language.

I haven't done this since I was a small child. My grandfather taught me... 60+ years later I find your video - after two minutes of huffing and puffing - it all came back:) Thank you for sharing this wonderful and ancient gift of humanity!

Jonna has the most beautiful content in the entire social media sphere, change my mind!

My dad taught me to do this as a kid and I learned to whistle so many tunes with just my hands. My music teachers in college got the biggest kick out of it and even worked it into one of our concerts. I remember being mildly embarrassed at first but my dad was beaming after the performance because I had let it be a surprise for him.

Omg I did it! It took me half an hour to make my first whistle. And 20 more minutes to make different notes. I think I have a new hobby now. Thank youu :))

Oh oh me.. oh my... I've never been able to whistle... but I've always carried an acorn top to whistle and with your instruction I was able to finally whistle thru my hands... no acorn needed. Wow, I'm blown away. Thank you dear.. I'm 63 and finally got something I can do for whistling..

I grew up in India high up in the Himalayan mountains and I learnt it from my grandfather when I was a kid. Its fascinating to see how people from far away lands used this same technique of whistling. Its very soothing when you do it in the wild. You can easily imitate the Eurasian Collared Dove bird sound, I used to do that. Thank you for this video!

My father taught me this whistle when I was a little girl. He would call me back from the forest and fields when I was playing. Thank you for welling up such warm memories of my kind and loving father. I am 53 and he has been gone from us for 10 years. Thank you for this sweetness.

I was taught a variation of this by my grandfather. I called it the choochoo whistle, but my grandpa could make a PERFECT lake loon sound and could call them from miles away. I still remember seeing my first loon. They make the most distinct and sacred sounding calls of any bird. Beautiful!😊

I can imitate loons well enough for them to come investigate my kayak. I too have been doing this since I was a kid, about 50 years at this point. Great video 👍

Thank you for this! I’m 78 years old and actually made a sound (who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. When I made the whistle it scared my dogs big time. I’m gonna practice this. I never was able to whistle well the traditional way. Thank you again.

Except for my uncle, who taught me when I was 5 years old, you are the first person in my 60+ years I've seen who can do this. My uncle explained it to me just like you did in the video. He taught me to imitate owls and cuckoos with this. It took me a long time to master this. I remember sitting underneath our living room table, trying and trying. Sadly, my son and his children never had the patience to learn it. I am delighted to see you hand whistling. So the art is not lost.

Honestley I don't care about the whistles This video is just so relaxing

Having grown up in a very small town in the Cascade mountains in Washington state, my best friend and I would often communicate with each other using this very method. This video brings back fond memories of happier times. Thank you for sharing your technique so that others may also enjoy this peaceful and relaxing way of creating sound with one's hands.

I just started trying this, wish me luck 🙏 Hello everyone, this is a couple days later. I kept trying and trying and moving my hand position and thumb position and everything, and shortly after it finally worked. As of right now, I’m okay at it. I’m starting to hit high notes, I can do it pretty loud, all that stuff. I’m certainly not as good as Jonna, but I’m still practicing. To anyone out there who feels like they can’t do it, do NOT give up. It’s super fun once you get it.

Here are some tips I found while trying to do this: Make sure all your fingers are air tight! Adjust them as you're blowing into it so that you can see what works best, when you hear even the slightest sound, keep it there and make tiny adjustments. Make sure your thumbs are parallel to the ground, if there is too much tilt toward you, or away from you, you won't be able to make the sound. Open your hands and shake them out every once in a while, it's hard and your fingers need breaks! Wash your hands every once in a while, they work better doing this dry and clean Good luck guys!

This is the most beautifully produced tutorial I have ever seen

This is so profound. Im teary eyed!

I've tried it for a while now. Sitting in my office, feeling low for a few days. I just though about giving it a try again. And it worked, just like this. I am actually sitting here crying. ❤ Jonna, you have no idea, what you are doing for peoples souls. You are an absolute treasure on this earth.

Watching this video and attempting whistling like this has given me so much joy and fun! My Swedish husband is generously supporting me in my, at this time, failed attempts. I’m 74 and physically handicapped, but by God, I have enough strength to learn how to whistle! Bless you for so generously gifting me with unadulterated FUN!

You are so gentle and such a compassionate soul. Gods love shines through you. Be well and happy. Pat from Wisconsin USA.

Hello, dear Jonna! Long ago, as a child, I knew how to imitate the cry of pheasants. I watched your lesson and practiced for two hours, and lo and behold, the sounds became loud and of different tones! Now I'm looking forward to the weekend to listen to the echo in our mountains. Thank you so much, I wish you health, love and creative success!🙏

I live in the small village in the Polish mountains. My grandfather used this sound to call us (grandchildren) to home in the evening. We played among fields and forests about 2 km from the house. But I still not quite that whistling. Thank you for this video. It motivates me to learn :) Greetings from the wild Carpathians :)

I live in Australia and learnt this whistle as a child. We lived in a rainforest and as children we played outside. As we explored and played whenever someone, (usually and adult) whistled we had to reply with our own whistles. This was the adults way of knowing where we were in the rainforest. Or if you had lost your way, whistle and the replies should help guide you to someone. If you didn’t reply via whistle, when called you would get into big trouble because someone could be lost or an adult would get angry…

Beautiful 😮..I do remember whistling with the same technique holding a thick blade of grass in between the thumbs when I was a child . Thank you ..the whole surrounding are very fitting to this .. x

damn, this girl made a whole tutorial completely mystical, respect

I love the idea that there are thousands of us all over the world attempting this whistle, what a choir we must make! 🎶🌏🎶🌎🎶🌍🎶 Edit: Welcome to the choir! All whistlers welcome, from baby elephant to ethereal angel.😉🐘😇

As a young child, I came upon this quite accidentally while standing in a lake shivering during some swimming lessons. I was blowing in my hands to keep them warm while awaiting my turn to demonstrate my stroke and kick when suddenly a noise came out. My cousin and I practiced this noise until we eventually were able to imitate and call to the mourning doves. I managed to eventually be able to "whistle" a simple children's song, but not very well. We were satisfied with the ability to call to the doves. This is amazing and as soon as the video began, my cat pricked up her ears and got very attentive.

This is incredible! When I tried to do this before, I always blew into this hole between my thumbs and nothing worked, but as soon as I blew between the bones after your words, everything worked out right away! It’s incredible that literally every person can do this, but not everyone knows how to.. Thank you so much for the tutorial, it’s incredible!

I tried this for the 1st time and spent like 10 min until I finally did it. I got a vid of me doing it and im gonna keep practising in my free time I can only do the 1st one so far but I'm happy with that THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS

I always called this a "hand flute" growing up--but I've never heard someone do it with such amazing range, before!

This was a cool skill to learn. Took me almost 2 full days to get the whistle and now I'm able to produce pretty loud sounds with a higher pitch. Thanks for inspiring, I will pass this on to my daughters.

I've learnt this in two days now I'm carving it to perfection

I got dizzy trying to make any sound out of it oh my gosh... but the happiness I felt when I heard my first whistle was sooo worth it!!! :') thank you so much!!

I too have done this since a kid. I'm 43 now. Recently I taught a guy I work with how to do it. It's been about two weeks now and he's getting quite good! For me, it all started with a dove call. I then learned to play some songs. I can actually play silent night! I hope more people learn this and enjoy it! Much love and peace to everyone 💜

Your videos are like taking a deep breath. A moment of calm in a stressful day. Thank you Jonna ♥

I have done this specific whistle since I was 10. Absolutely amazing 😊

Hey! This was my first time ever trying this, and I’m going on a trip in the mountains in 3 days, I’m just here to say thank you. I can not tell you how much joy I got when I realized I could do this! It didn’t seem possible. But it’s so fun! My jaw dropped when I got it lol!

I can't believe it! It worked! I've done that as a 10/12 year old child the last time - I'm 64 now! It's so much fun, thank you for bringing back the memories to a long forgotten skill. Have a wonderful fall/winter in Sweden 🤗👍💜✌️

Been whistling like this since I was 7-8 years old. I’m in my 50s now. I would call to mourning doves and owls. But you carry this hand whistling a lot farther. I’m now practicing the higher pitches. So primordially beautiful!❤

This brings back childhood memories 😊

20 years a long 20 years i couldn't figure this out my dad would do it on camping trips and i thought it was the coolest thing ever saw this video got it in 2 minutes cant thank you enough

We use to call this way with my brother. It really goes far. We found each other that way. Even running waters(rapids)it sounds good. My brother is in heaven now and sometimes when i call this way and very high way i hope my brother hear this. I have teached this my children and some friends too. This video is so great. Thank you Jonna. I call you this way too. I am close here in Finland❤.

I am an old man now and I did this all the time as a boy although not with the beautiful tones you achieve. I have never lost the ability to do this, it is similar to riding a bicycle you get very rusty without practice. I am practicing the high whistle now to call in my dog from a distance when she has been running through the creek bottom and woods. I need to sharpen things up so that I can pass this on to my grandson. Thank you for the demonstration of skill, I find it inspiring.

What a great video, I have been doing this simce about 9 years old. My daughters just learned this whistle from me today so we searched hand whistles. After 35 years you taught me something new about this whistle, how to acheive the high notes, prior I could only do the owl whistle. Also my 9 year old said "She is so pretty" sending love and good energy to you and your beautiful piece of the world from Virginia USA from my family and I. Thanl you for the wonderful video

I'm trying so hard

Hello! The whistling language is still used to this day in the canary islands in Spain. Commonly known as Silbo gomero. Loved the video, and a warm hug from a fellow viewer from Spain !

This video has a healing aura

I remember watching this video when it came out and I was unable to do it. I practised and practised and after a few days I finally got it!! Ever since then I've just kept doing it and I recently learnt how to do different tones (low, high, low to high and vise versa). I can't wait to go to a forest or something where it will echo and I can be as loud as I want. Thank u, Jonna :) Crazy update - I just learnt how to play twinkle twinkle little star on my hands!!

It’s amazing how many people from around the world come and listen to what you have to say Jonna. You truly are an astonishing creator, and what you produce is breathtaking, thank you!

I showed this whistle to my dog ever since she was 4 weeks old. I could do this out in the forest and she would come back to me every time, and she knew it was me♥️

Thanks for posting! My mother taught me this about 65 years ago I showed it to my kids, and they showed their kids! My mother was raised in rural Louisiana and she said they used in a crude manner to signal/communicate with their neighbors! The sound is amazing and haunting at the same time! You do it beautifully! You have re.-awakened my interest and I thank you for it! I wish you the best in life!

W młodości,to umiałem,a teraz chcąc sobie przypomnieć oglądając Twój film nie mogłem wydać głosu gwizdu, ale będę chciał sobie przypomnieć.Pozdrawiam z Polski❤

Oh my gosh!! I was able to do the sound! This is incredible, I never managed to whistle with my lips but this I could! I will teach my son, he will love it :) So happy about it, thank you!! ❤

My mother taught me this when I was little Kid!!! Everytime we were in nature we tried to do the sound. I was soooo funny. But I learned to do just the Basic sound, not the higher tones. Thank You for your tutorial. I traveled thru the time, I visited my childhood again. ❤️

Your voice is so calming. This is the best video of hand calling I’ve seen. 😊

It sounds so beautiful in the nature. Thanks

Am I the only one who have chills all over body and absolute peace and calm during whole video? it was like magical touch to my heart , all emotions just swin on surface and kind a feel relief. Thank you.

I want to learn this so badly and after 2 days of practice I almost managed to get the base sound out of it and even higher sounds... this is so relaxing !!! 😊

Love this so much. I'mm 77 years old, and maybe 1 day I'll whistle just like you ❤ KRAM.

Omg this is so beautiful. I just tried it and could do it straight away. Thanks for helping me unlock a new skill ☺️ definitely gonna play around with this next time I’m in the wilderness

I like the big reverb. When you whistle like that, the animals are stilled with bewildered enchantment. ❤️ When I whistle like that, the neighbors call Bellevue Hospital 🥴

To everyone reading this, I sincerely pray for that whatever is causing you pain or stress will pass. May your negative thoughts, excessive worries and doubts disappear, replaced by clarity and understanding. May your life be filled with peace, tranquility and love

I literally JUST saw your Instagram reel doing this and typed “how to whistle with cupped hands” into RU-vid immediately after and your tutorial is the first to come up lol

I have never been able to whistle. My grandad taught us how to do it with a blade of grass. It sounds like a trumpet 🎺 ❤❤❤ Your technique is impecable 🙏✨✨✨✨✨

So peaceful and beautiful!!! You're such a kind soul to want to share your knowledge and experience with us ❤ Love from Greece 🇬🇷

I CANT BELIEVE I JUST DID THIS!! This is very exciting!

Thank you very much. I can’t believe I can learn this at 43 years old 😊

We all should understand: these video‘s are made by her to make us see the wholeness and beauty in all of us and our environment. We only have to open our heart, eyes.... 🌼

My father who is Norwegian descent, his family migrated to Germany, then to the Netherlands, and from there right before WWII, to the Caribbean to a small Dutch island, where i was born. He taught me this, and told me that it's been something all kids learned from their parents for generating, mostly from their fathers. I learned it when I was 7 walking on the beautiful white beaches right behind my home. Thank you for this, it reminded me of my amazing dad RIP, and my mother country 😊 🙏 😍

I used to do something similar with a leaf, acting as a Reed between my thumbs. It was loud but not pleasing. Your whistling is beautiful and so haunting. It's the perfect soundtrack to the wild world. Thank you ❤

Soon as I heard this I felt something stir within and it left a spiritual footprint imbedded in my brain. I think I’ve found the missing link. Truly thankful to you. 🍃🕊🍃

I just got the first notes out of my hands after trying it for years and wondering how people did it!🎉 I‘m very excited, thanks!!😮🎉

On the island of Gomera, in Spain, there is a “language” called “silbo gomero”, which uses the whistle as a medium of communication between people who are at a long distance. It is a code that is translated from Spanish and can communicate complex phrases exclusively with the whistle

Thank you by heart... I am crying of pure joy and bliss... hearing your wild whisteling and discovering my very own, feels like coming home after a dozen life times...

New subscriber here, true Scandinavian nature girl, spending time in nature is like being with God, a best friend!❤ Love your videos!❤✨

My family and I lived in Sweden for 6 months in 1980. It was a fabulous, unforgettable experience. Sweden and its people have a special place in our hearts. BTW, please don't let being a perfectionist get in the way. We, your subscribers, adore you...including your mistakes.

Jonna I am SHOCKED that I could make the base sound almost right away!!! I always assumed that was super difficult to do. I am so excited to refine my tone and get rid of the breathiness and have this skill! Thank you for sharing!!!

I practised for weeks, watched every video and tried everey technique and couldn´t do 1 single note after weeks of practising. But finally I can do little sounds. For everyone who tries this hours, days, weeks and years. You will finally make it!

Thank you from Brooklyn,New York 🗽

Jonna's legacy will be remembered for generations to come

I'm 55 and from Germany. In my childhood this was a common thing to do, to imitate an owl. We made sounds with big blades of grass, too. Thanks for reminding me. 🥰❤

Sending positive vibes back from England ❤

I do not know why I found it but I'm glad I did! New hobby is unlocked

I've been waiting for this video! LOVE hand whistling, such a powerful tool to connect to the world around us 💫

I DID IT JONNA I DID IT One of my friends shared me the video when it came out. I practiced it for a week and only the thing came out is air and lots of saliva on my hands 😅 and after that I just forgot about it. Now your RU-vid short on it just popped in my shorts and I came back to this video and practiced it again. Within 15-20 mins I started manking some sound. After 30 mins now I can almost control it. An airy sound is still there but with more practice I can make it smooth. I was soo excited when I first made the sound. Thanks for the wonderful and aesthetic tutorial. Your place is sooo aesthetic. Feels like I just want to come straight to there only to practice my hand whistling 😅. The wonderful and pleasing whistling sounds combined with the gorgeous and aesthetic nature ( just like you 😅 ) makes this video a mesmerizing experience to our eyes and ears. It just gives me goosebumps. Thank You ✨✨✨

The scenery is beautiful

wow, ....I got chills running down my spine when I heard you make this beautiful nature sound. and I was surprised how easy it was to do it myself !! So, thank you . TAK !!

I learnt by myself as I was a child… but not so far like you . MERCI JONNA 🌺💗💎 I imagine all your followers on earth whistleblowing with you 💎💗

I just want to say thanks from the bottom off my heart, I live very high up in mountains in the west of Ireland and it sound incredible you can hear the echo and sometimes, you get a call back from a dog or even luckier... A FOX!

Me again I just keep watching the same video that you made over and over! I know that I’ve seen it before many times but I can’t stop watching it because of its tranquility and it takes me forever back to the memories I had so many years ago. Such a beautiful scene and story and place! Thanks ! 🙏 I will keep watching.

The video was also just too soothing to watch , beauty of nature and this woman , is just so relaxing

I remember my older brother using the hand whistle as a ring bell hahaha every time he was near the house when he was back from school, we could hear his whistle, he and my father taught me later how to do it ☺️💖 It was a beautiful surprise seeing you doing this the first time Jonna, you sent me back to my childhood ✨😌☺️ Thanks for sharing this ✨ I send you all the love and good vibes from Chile 🇨🇱

Just a quick heads up for anyone who is practicing!!! The effect is very similar to playing a flute! Rather than blowing into the instrument, you blow over the top of the mouthpiece, and this is what creates the sound, as opposed to the buzzing of your lips on a brass instrument or the buzzing of the reed on a typical woodwind instrument. If you've ever blown over the top of a bottle to make a whistling sound, this is the same concept! And of course, just keep practicing

this clip gave not only the technique but also peace to our eyes. because of the environment and nature scenery. thanks sis..

You are a wonderful teacher. Really loved the video. ♥️ thank you!

Wow!! 😍🥰 I had never been able to whistle with my hands before, and I did it for the first time!! It felt like magic!! 🤗 Thank you, Jonna, your videos are pure cinematic poetry. They always elevate my energy to higher vibrations. I will teach my daughter. A H-U-G from Portugal! 💚😘🇵🇹

This is sooo magical! 😍✨ When I first heard you doing this in one of your videos few years ago, I was immediately fascinated by that beautiful sound and I wanted to learn to do this myself as well. So I searched for some tutorials here on RU-vid and after some time finally figured out how to do this. The feeling was just amazing and i was overwhelmed with joy! I actually found out that this whistling was also used as a birdcall. When I tried to do this for the first time, one bird actually flew towards me and sat on a tree right in front of me, that moment just took my breath away! 🤭🥹✨ To me this whistling is like a sound of freedom, so thank you so much for sharing it with us! 🙏🏼❤️❤️❤️ Lots of love 🌻