How to Be a Master Whistle Blower

Sean Lomax likes to tell people he came out of the womb whistling.

“I’ve been whistling ever since I can remember,” he says. “That’s what I do. I love it.”

Winner of numerous international championships, Lomax has mastered his craft in ways we mere mortals can’t. Unlike those who can barely hold a tune while whistling, Lomax hits every note precisely, even going so far as to practice with a frequency tuner to ensure accurate pitch. His range spans three octaves. (“On a good day, maybe four,” he says.) He can break notes fast enough to whistle acrobatic songs like Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee.” He whistles while inhaling and exhaling to extend notes to impressive lengths. And he incorporates flourishes—like tremolo, humming, vibrato—to take his pitch-perfect pucker style to the next level.

One of those flourishes, his signature sound, emulates an instrument he remembers hearing as a kid in church: the Hammond B3 Organ. The trick is to hum while whistling, he says, using the cavity between his nose and his upper palate to resonate the noise. “It just gives it a different, unique sound.”

His passion for whistling has taken him around the world. He’s visited stadiums to whistle the national anthem for crowds of thousands. He’s toured with Cirque Du Soleil’s Corteo show as Mr. Loyal, The Whistler. He’s appeared on the small screen as a guest on The Tonight Show and Hannah Montana. He’s even released an album of whistled Christmas songs.

Though few whistle at his level, Lomax remains insistent that anyone can improve their whistling. “It just takes practice, practice, practice,” he says.

Check out the video above to learn more about Lomax and the keys to professional whistling.