Do you know how to play a kazoo?

This just sort of struck me as odd.

Went to a local dirt track to show my son what dirt mods were all about. Which he absolutely loved by the way. The track had concession that sold all sorts of the finest plastic toys that China has to offer. The family in front of us, was nice enough to buy their daughter a kazoo from this stand. Mom couldn't play it, dad couldn't play it. They blew in to both ends, and looked all confused. Dad took off the cap and concluded the paper had to be removed, tried to play it again, only to fail again. It just sort of struck me as odd. I was nice enough to explain how they work and that the part dad pulled out was indeed important.....sadly it was not fixable. So Dad bought his daughter a new one, and I was able to help guide them in the right direction in it's use.

So I ask the GRM collective......are kazoo's foreign to you? Would you know how to play one if given the opportunity? Just seemed strange to me. Sort of basic competency of youth. Perhaps I was just lucky to have that education early in my life.

i play a mean air-kazoo...you should hear me rock out LA VILLA STRANGIATO - both electric and acoustic!

Yep, I can play a kazoo.

How does one grow to adulthood without learning to play the kazoo?

I was about to mention that I'm not sure I can play one well, then realized that this may not be possible.

In any case, I can make a kazoo make kazoo noises.

Is the name supposed to be an onomatopoeia?

You guys would be shocked by the number of people that have no idea what a kazoo even is. I only know because what I do for a living, there is a very comparable aspect involved, so I bring up that it is like playing a kazoo. It is the VERY rare individual that knows what one is, and how to play it.

I can play a kazoo... but the again why would one ever desire to do so?

However I cannot whistle through my fingers and it makes me sad sometimes when I think about all the bullies in school and whistling calling me 'can't whistle through his fingers boy' or something equally hurtful.

my question is why are they selling kazoo's at a dirt track.....yes i can play one but have not done it for 45 years

Can do.

Is this a trick question?

FranktheTank wrote: I can play a kazoo... but the again why would one ever desire to do so? However I cannot whistle through my fingers and it makes me sad sometimes when I think about all the bullies in school and whistling calling me 'can't whistle through his fingers boy' or something equally hurtful.

I can just about shatter glass. I tell ya, I'm a failure as a girl.

I was in a kazoo band in college. We marched in the homecoming parade.

As why they were sold at the track, no idea. However as a parent, if the kid is going to be playing one, doing it while the sound of modifieds and midgets drown it out, is not a bad idea.

slowride wrote: I was in a kazoo band in college. We marched in the homecoming parade.

I joined a kazoo band in high school because I knew that Crazy Math Teacher + Kazoos = Hilarity.

We were never "officially" asked to play at any school functions. Didn't deter us one bit

Kazoos are for Bob Costas.

I actually have a kazoo sitting on the shelf directly above my computer screen, right next to my Slinky. There's a jaw harp around here someplace as well.

^^^^^ You're kiddin', right?

It never ceases to amaze me the things some people don't know how to do. I ran into an adult the other day who didn't know how to ride a bike.

In reply to kazoospec:

I was wondering when you'd weigh in.

I want to laugh at the bike bit, but I can't swim.

I'm pretty sure you put the crack in that top piece.

sachilles wrote: They blew in to both ends, and looked all confused.

You don't blow into kazoos. You hum into them.

In reply to Woody:

And yes, Woody, I can play a Jews Harp too.

And a harmonica, and a dulcimer, and an accordian, and a clavichord, and a slide whistle, and a recorder, and a steel drum, and a .....

(my Dad owned a music store when I was a kid- I got to play all the weird stuff that was around there!)

kazoospec wrote: ^^^^^ You're kiddin', right? It never ceases to amaze me the things some people don't know how to do. I ran into an adult the other day who didn't know how to ride a bike.

I've had several kazoos over the years, but the one on the shelf above my computer was a Christmas present a couple years ago. I may be in my late 50s but I still like getting toys in my stocking. This year I got a neat toy gun that shoots smoke rings.

I can't play the kazoo well, but I do have a nice collection of antique kazoo repair kits in addition to my antique harmonica repair kit collection.

I have been known to blow a mean kazoo solo on a blues tune from time to time. If the lights are low, you cup your hands over it and add just a touch of fuzz, nobody can tell it from a harp.