Learning To Use A Mouth-Reed In 24 Hrs!

[ElkNut1]

Yes, it can be done even by a 9 year old! (grin) My grandson enters the Elk Calling Contest everyear since he was 5 & Bugles & Cow calls with his voice, he places pretty decent as well & sounds very realistic. The other day he told his dad (Paul Jr) that this year he wanted to learn to use a mouth reed. They came by & I suggested the Mellow Yellow as it is a very soft user friendly reed. He put the reed in his mouth & tried making sounds for a few minutes. I could tell he had the reed touching his top front teeth so encouraged him to slide it back a little at a time until he found a spot where it fit & started sounding better. His dad also trimmed the sides about 1/16". After quite a bit of saliva flowing & some squeaks here & there he started to get a few ducky sounds but really didn't advance much in the next hour but said he'd practice some more with it & they left.

Well, they came by the next day & Trey (my grandsons name) had the reed in his mouth & his dad said it hasn't left there except to sleep. I asked him to make some sounds with it, preferably cow sounds & low & behold he was rattling them out like no bodies business, Wow!! He then started bugling with the reed & a bugle I had given him & man he sounded darn good! (grin) I was actually shocked how good his sounds were in just a short time! Actually less than 24 hours from putting a mouth reed in his mouth for the first time & a bit of coaching.

I asked him how he learned so quick? He said because he could make cow & bull sounds with his voice he would make a small sound such as the cow sound with his voice with the reed in his mouth then he would use the reed & his tongue to imitate what his ears had just heard, he did the same thing with bugles. Guys & gals he was sounding unreal good!

Point is, with determination & practice anyone can achieve this if they have the right motivation & desire. He was ready to call elk, of course he will polish it up but he's on his way!

ElkNut1

[WapitiTalk1]

How cool is that! A voice bugler and now he's getting the diaphram thing down.... "double threat guy"!

[elkaholic]

Awesome! Starting me early:)

[chiledog]

I totally agree Paul. Last year before season, I listened to some of your audio advice and finally (really FINALLY) got past the gag reflex and learned to use a reed after many years of refusing to learn to use it. Been practicing ever since and although I still have a ways (long way) to go, I attribute my 'launch' to your video showing how to do it. If I can learn it at my age (???) anyone can. Thank you.

[TheBuzz]

That's awesome... caring on the Family Tradition.

[TheBuzz]

I really like the metal domed reeds...much consistent and easier for me to produce the sounds I want.

[wawhitey]

Off topic but had to say it ,Thats a damn cool looking buck in your pic buzz. Any idea how old that thing was?

[SarcasmPhD]

I totally agree Paul. Last year before season, I listened to some of your audio advice and finally (really FINALLY) got past the gag reflex and learned to use a reed after many years of refusing to learn to use it. Been practicing ever since and although I still have a ways (long way) to go, I attribute my 'launch' to your video showing how to do it. If I can learn it at my age (???) anyone can. Thank you.

That's great! I remember way, way back in time, i had a horrible gag reflex. I dreaded going to the dentist. Even worse, my dentist recommended that I see an orthodontist. Those guys are all up in your mouth. It was awesome! Then my buddy introduced me to turkey calling. This was probably circa 1983. (grew up in upstate NY ) I bought a Quaker Boy mouth call. I can't remember if it was a single or double reed. It was tough at first. Felt like I was going to dry heave. I kept at it. Next thing I know, no more gagging. The bonus: I was now not fearing the dentist or the orthodontist. Turkey calling cured my gag reflex. I still struggle every now and then. I think the plates on the Bugling Bull diaphragms I use really help control any gagging you or anyone trying to use a mouth call.