Shofar

[kip]

Shalom! After 3 weeks of wait i finally got my package from Israel! This is my first ever owned shofar and now i am just trying to figure out how to use it properly. Anyone know how to go about properly using the shofar? All i seem to get out of it is high pitch noises lol

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[alon]

I know I shouldn't be jealous, yet ...

Just kidding, it's beautiful! I'm happy for you.

I've never blown one. (heck, musically I can't even play the radio), but I have seen some put the shofar to the corner of their lips and they seem to get a good result. Hope you get the hang of it.

Dan C

[yiska]

Oh wow Kip that is a pretty piece. I love the sounds of the shofar.
it gets me everytime!!!

Have you ever play any kind of instrument?

[kip]

I used to play the violin when i was very young but other than that no i havent played many things. BUT i finially have gotten the hang of blowing the shofar! All thanks to some videos on youtube, its similar to using a trumpet its all about the lips and air in your lungs. Now that i can get the long calls (which made my dogs freak out lol) i am working on other sounds and deeper ones to higher ones its all on how hard you blow into it i guess. It sure is fun to learn thats for sure.

[messianicmama]

My husband plays it. I can get one note and lots of fart noises when I try...

[kip]

Mar 26, 2013 13:44:11 GMT -8 messianicmama said:

My husband plays it. I can get one note and lots of fart noises when I try...

LOL ya me too sometimes i get it to play really good and then if my lips arent right it sounds terrible, that and the smell it tends to have after playing it for too long lol

[Albedineity]

Oh! That is very nice!

Some friends let my little sister blow one and it was hilarious all the funny sounds that she was making.

[Yedidyah]

Mar 26, 2013 18:10:29 GMT -8 kip said:

Mar 26, 2013 13:44:11 GMT -8 messianicmama said:

My husband plays it. I can get one note and lots of fart noises when I try...

LOL ya me too sometimes i get it to play really good and then if my lips arent right it sounds terrible, that and the smell it tends to have after playing it for too long lol

They do smell Best is to order some anointing oil from Israel and pour it into the inside of the shofar to take away the smell. If you take lemon juice it helps remove the smell also. Some small gravel and lemon juice used in a way that it scrubs the inside works but make sure you have a way to seal up both ends.
Youtube has some great instruction videos on how to blow one. Don't give up heart on it, it takes some time and practice like every instrument. Shalom!

[kip]

Mar 26, 2013 19:03:19 GMT -8 Yedidyah said:

Mar 26, 2013 18:10:29 GMT -8 kip said:

LOL ya me too sometimes i get it to play really good and then if my lips arent right it sounds terrible, that and the smell it tends to have after playing it for too long lol

They do smell Best is to order some anointing oil from Israel and pour it into the inside of the shofar to take away the smell. If you take lemon juice it helps remove the smell also. Some small gravel and lemon juice used in a way that it scrubs the inside works but make sure you have a way to seal up both ends.
Youtube has some great instruction videos on how to blow one. Don't give up heart on it, it takes some time and practice like every instrument. Shalom!

Ohh thank you for that advice! i have some anointing oil from Jerusalem that is scented with myrrh, i will try that and see how it goes! Yes the youtube videos have helped or i never would of even figured it out on my own, and so far i am getting fairly good at it but still daily practice is needed.

[alon]

Mar 26, 2013 19:39:55 GMT -8 kip said:

Mar 26, 2013 19:03:19 GMT -8 Yedidyah said:

They do smell Best is to order some anointing oil from Israel and pour it into the inside of the shofar to take away the smell. If you take lemon juice it helps remove the smell also. Some small gravel and lemon juice used in a way that it scrubs the inside works but make sure you have a way to seal up both ends. ...

Ohh thank you for that advice! i have some anointing oil from Jerusalem that is scented with myrrh, i will try that and see how it goes! Yes the youtube videos have helped or i never would of even figured it out on my own, and so far i am getting fairly good at it but still daily practice is needed.

I shoot black powder, and have done horn work. So while I can't offer any advice to help tune your calls, I can maybe help with the maintenance. You can try a music store, or go here to get a peg to plug the small end , assuming it is round and tapered:

www.powderhornsandmore.com/ebandrovipe.html

You can also just chuck a piece of dowel into a drill and run it against sandpaper to get the size and taper you want. One thing though, NEVER force anything into the horn or you'll split it. Whatever you use has to fit snug but naturally.

Melted beeswax makes a good, non toxic sealer, but it will be absorbed by any unfinished areas and probably stain them a bit darker. Horn is very porous.

Let me know if you need help plugging the other end. I'd have to get some details about the horn first, and how much effort you want to expend.

Dan C

edit: I'm in no way affiliated with that Powder Horns and More, but I have ordered from them before and they were reliable.

[yiska]

i think the way to blow is like playing an flute or a clarinet???
I used to play a clarinet

anywho... keep trying and when you do get it ... video tape it

[Micha'el]

Shalom All,
Glad to see this post. I have a shofar and a ram horn. I still need to learn how to make the "sound" that I am supposed to "hear" after nearly 1-1/2 years of taking them to Rosh Chodesh meetings. I cleaned my shofar by running hot water through it in the shower. I also sealed it with a I hope non toxic sealer. The anointing oil sounds good though.
Micha'el

[kip]

Mar 27, 2013 14:48:59 GMT -8 Micha'el said:

Shalom All,
Glad to see this post. I have a shofar and a ram horn. I still need to learn how to make the "sound" that I am supposed to "hear" after nearly 1-1/2 years of taking them to Rosh Chodesh meetings. I cleaned my shofar by running hot water through it in the shower. I also sealed it with a I hope non toxic sealer. The anointing oil sounds good though.
Micha'el

Update, i used the oil and BAM the smell it is gone! Now it smells a tad of the myrrh that was infused with the oil. Played it today and no stink, so i am thankful for that advice as it worked great!

[kip]

Mar 26, 2013 23:38:14 GMT -8 alon said:

Mar 26, 2013 19:39:55 GMT -8 kip said:

Ohh thank you for that advice! i have some anointing oil from Jerusalem that is scented with myrrh, i will try that and see how it goes! Yes the youtube videos have helped or i never would of even figured it out on my own, and so far i am getting fairly good at it but still daily practice is needed.

I shoot black powder, and have done horn work. So while I can't offer any advice to help tune your calls, I can maybe help with the maintenance. You can try a music store, or go here to get a peg to plug the small end , assuming it is round and tapered:

www.powderhornsandmore.com/ebandrovipe.html

You can also just chuck a piece of dowel into a drill and run it against sandpaper to get the size and taper you want. One thing though, NEVER force anything into the horn or you'll split it. Whatever you use has to fit snug but naturally.

Melted beeswax makes a good, non toxic sealer, but it will be absorbed by any unfinished areas and probably stain them a bit darker. Horn is very porous.

Let me know if you need help plugging the other end. I'd have to get some details about the horn first, and how much effort you want to expend.

Dan C

edit: I'm in no way affiliated with that Powder Horns and More, but I have ordered from them before and they were reliable.

thanks for the advice! And i am also a black power user lol.

[alon]

Mar 27, 2013 19:53:05 GMT -8 kip said:

thanks for the advice! And i am also a black power user lol.

A brother in truth and in spirit!

Admin: we need a muzzle-loading section here ...

Dan C