How should I practice?

[WapitiTalk1]

Let's say I'm a newer guy to using diaphrams/reeds and I'm trying to improve my calling. Oh yah, I can make some seriously loud sounds and somewhat have control over the pitch, but what is the best way for me to practice? Cow/calf sounds first with a focus on dropping my jaw/tongue to get the raspy cow sounds? Practice just locator bugles next till I can get a few notes and hold the high one? How do I make the chuckles/grunts that may assist me in elk battle this fall and in the coming years as the situation demands? Whatya you old salts at elk calling say; how should I be practicing if I'm relatively new at this game, or, just want to improve what I can already do? Is tempo important? What is a good practice regiment for a guy that wants to get better if not really good?

Signed: Newer guy wanting to improve my elk sounds

Wow, that could be a record of question marks in one post

[Gselkhunter]

One of the things that I show people to help with control is to pick 3 notes and go from low to medium then to high then back down. This trains the tongue to make and control tone. Also learn this at low volume then increase volume. Being able to control these notes will set you up for all elk sounds. Adding in voice isn't hard once the notes are controlled. The best way to learn timing or rhythm is listen to real elk and match it. As with any instrument it does take practice.

[twinkieman]

For me, I use "Sounds By The Elk" audio , in it there is a space for us to try to duplicate the sound. I use a digital recorder, do 2 or 3 different sounds, then I play it back. I keep at it until I get it right( at least in my ears)

[Swamp Buck]

In my opinion learning to use an elk call (or any other animal noise call) is no different than learning to play any other musical instrument. I played the trumpet back in the day and I think this helps me a lot in my own calling and overall ear for what sounds "right". You can not expect to pick up a trumpet and an sound like Louise Armstrong so why do guys think they can go buy a bugle or any call and sound like a real bull elk?

I think a good practice method I have found is to turn up the radio in the car and sing along to your favorite music with your call in your mouth. It really gets your mouth used to the call, making sounds, moving from high to low, long and short. I have found that this will allow you to learn your own elk voice or sound just like your own voice or an elks voice is all different. Once you have found you can make the sounds that you want, when you want to, now it is time to learn to speak elk. Pop in your sounds by the elk cd and listen to the sometimes small variation in the sounds and now you will be able to practice elk sounds with a better feel of the call in your mouth. REPEAT OFTEN.

[elkmtngear]

I think a good practice method I have found is to turn up the radio in the car and sing along to your favorite music with your call in your mouth. It really gets your mouth used to the call, making sounds, moving from high to low, long and short. I have found that this will allow you to learn your own elk voice or sound just like your own voice or an elks voice is all different. Once you have found you can make the sounds that you want, when you want to, now it is time to learn to speak elk. Pop in your sounds by the elk cd and listen to the sometimes small variation in the sounds and now you will be able to practice elk sounds with a better feel of the call in your mouth. REPEAT OFTEN.

X2. This is how I learned to talk turkey. We would work all day (construction crew) talking to eachother like Donald Duck, and singing with the diaphragm calls to whatever was on the radio.

Used to drive my Wife crazy before we got married...it's very hard to have a fight with a duck!

The main advantage is to become comfortable having the call in your mouth all the time, and learning to naturally produce the tones you need when you need them.

[flystrait]

One of the things that I show people to help with control is to pick 3 notes and go from low to medium then to high then back down. This trains the tongue to make and control tone. Also learn this at low volume then increase volume. Being able to control these notes will set you up for all elk sounds. Adding in voice isn't hard once the notes are controlled. The best way to learn timing or rhythm is listen to real elk and match it. As with any instrument it does take practice.

I agree with Greg on this, control of the read is the most important to me. What he is describing is like a singer practicing doe, ray, me sounds. Just working on the escalation of the notes and backdown or going (backwards) will pay off huge. I also agree with swamp buck that the tones are important as well once reed control is gained you can adjust pitch and tone to achieve the most realistic sounds. One other thing I have learned as well helping many people is that we all can hear something different out of the same sound or some can be even tone deaf. Kinda like some of the american idol contestants they make fun of. Just remember to have patients, it can be a process it takes all of a lot of practice to be proficient with a diaphragm. Stay with it and start with the basics and even go back to the basics I do it all the time myself.

[Texasdan]

I've always thought it would be interesting to run different elk sounds through a slow down software or a tascam CDGT2 in order to hear the elk accent note by note.

I did this for all of my music instruments, and my foreign language learning. It really does some amazing things for ear development.