How to whistle with a blade of grass

Next time you're outside, pluck a blade of grass for an easy way to entertain yourself – and annoy your friends.

Step 1: Pick a blade of grass
Pick a flat blade of grass that’s as long as your thumbs.

You’ll get more sound from wide, slightly coarse grass than from thin, fine grass.

Step 2: Put the grass between your thumbs
Press your thumbs together at the knuckles with your fingernails facing you. Put the grass lengthwise between your thumbs.

Step 3: Pull the grass taut
Pull the grass taut, so there are no kinks. You should see the edge of the blade centered in a gap between the base of your thumbs and your knuckles.

Step 4: Blow
Purse your lips, put your mouth to your thumbs, and blow. You may have to move your lips or thumbs slightly to make a sound, so keep trying.

By cupping your hands, you can make the pitch of your whistle higher or lower.

Step 5: Experiment with sounds
Play around with different kinds of grasses and reeds. You can make as many different sounds as there are blades of grass on your lawn.

Fact: A grass whistle isn’t technically a whistle; it’s a reed instrument.