Purring with a diaphram...
 

I typically prefer my slate calls over any of my other calls....mainly because I have had real good luck with it, I'm comfortable with it, and it puts out a great sound.

However, there are sometimes I would like to free up my hands and go with a diaphram...especially when I have a bird working his way in. The only thing that prevents me from using my diaphrams more is I struggle with the purr (which I love to call when I got a Tom coming in). Clucks, yelps, kee kee, putts I can handle no problem, but the purr gets me.

I can create a purr, but not consistantly. I blow lightly through the reed and loosen my lips so they flutter (like a motor boat sound). This result for me isn't consistant and sometimes I can hear the motorboat sound behind the purr. (not to mention all the spit that comes out). Is this how everyone else purrs with a diaphram or does anyone do anything differentyou could pass along to help out? Thanks in advance.

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

I am just getting at trying a mouth call so am in no way in the position to give advice of mine but here is what I've heard are some differant options forgetting apurr. Try (1) fluttering the lips like you mention (2) get that motorboat sound to from back in the throat (Some people can dothis and some can't) or (3) instead of fluttering the lips flutter the tongue, it feels like it's fluttering against the roof of your mounth and the diaphram

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

I've tried purring with my diaphram forever and it tickles the heck out of the roof of my mouth. I have to stick with my slate! Good luck!

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

This is one call that I am just not able to do with a diaphram. I am way to inconsistent and it doesn't sound very good to me at all...I will stick with the slate for this call

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

To get a good purr, I have to cut down the tape on my diaphragms - not much, maybe 1/16".

Just get it cut back to the point where you can slide it an extra 1/4" deeper into your mouth without gagging.

It takes hours and hours of practice, but you'll just need to roll your tongue against the call and the roof of your mouth.

It's not exactly the same as if you were to make a "Rolling RRRRR" sound (without the call in), but it's really close.

The key for me was cutting the tape, but don't cut it too much, or you won't get a good seal around the back, and it will just sit loose on top of your tongue, with air passing over both sides. It has to be a perfect fit. Try this first with some old calls that you're ready to scrap.

If you can master the purr, you can move on to the fighting purr, which is much more aggressive with clucks and putts interspersed in the sequence. After that, you can start to master the gobble, which is darn near impossible.

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

This is one call I had trouble with for years until I was just messing around one day.

Does everyone understand what I mean when I ask, can you make the motor boat sound with your lips?

Using the same amount of pressure with your tongue that you do with any of the other calls, vibrate your lips together lightly and make the motor boat sound.

It still takes a bit of practice, but it isn't as difficult as trying to gargle with the call like I've been told by some of the pros.

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

I spent about 3 months before the 06 season perfecting the purr on a diaphram. I tried the motorboat thing and it didnt work right for me, same problems as others mentioned.

The trick for me was starting with a single reed and trying to purr like a cat out of the side of my lips. I did this in short bursts until I had it down. It produced a very consisitent sound and was easy to control. After a lot of practice I have moved past the single reed and can purr with almost any diaphram. Good luck.

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

I can purr with my diaphram call. I do use the motorboat hehehe when I purr. It definetly takes a lot of practice. I also cut the tape down on my calls. Easier to manage. Also remember to throw a cluck in before you purr or after you purr. That is one trick I have found to help lure a gobbler into range...

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

You know it's pretty hard to explain to people how to make certain calls with a mouth call... All I can say is to practice, practice until you think you've got down...

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

Washington Hunter,I think you just helped me immensley. I'm having trouble producing the motor boat from the throat (I don't think I really understood) but the gargling thing from back there makes sense to me and that I can do all day long, thanks.

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

If you're trying to go the gargling route, what you want to do is produce no sound [without a call in your mouth]. You don't want to make the gargling sound. What you do want is to vibrate your vocal chords pushing the air through your throat like you would if you were gargling.

I can't do it that way. In order to vibrate my vocal chords I have to make noise, so I can't purr that way.

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

WH is right, I like to push my lips out a bit, kinda like you were blowing spit bubbles, keep em real relaxed... Sounds great when you get it.

(PS this is my 1000th post :D)

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

I've tried quite a few things...and realized that there are three main ways to purr.

1) Vibrate your vocal cords, while pushing air through the diaphram.

2) Vibrate the diaphram with your tounge

3) Vibrate your lips (motor boat).


It is amazing what practice and time can do. When Istarted this post, I couldn't purr to save my life. Now I can purr as easy as with a diaphram as I can with my slate.

What I did: I messed around with the three different main methods. When messing around, there was one I just couldn't do (vibrate with my tounge), but could create a awefull/distressed turkey noise/half a$$purr when vibrating myvocal cords.....so I went with it. I put a diaphram in my truck and practiced the purrwhenever I drove.To work, to lunch, back to lunch, to home, etc. Everytime I drove, I would get more comfortable with it and could see my improvement. I probably have about 2 hrs of practice/driving time, and can now purr. (of course I will fine tune iteven more between now and opening day) Thanks everyone for your help.

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

Yep, I got your meaning (understood) the first time. Thanks again

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

Forget the lip thing boys! Open that mouth[remember the fish kiss thing from child hood, form your lips in O shape]and flutter your tongue with no call in your mouth. When you can flutter the tongue enough to feel it bouncing on the roof of your mouth then put the call in your mouth and do the same thing. It is going to tickle your tongue something terrible until you learn to control it. But once you do, you will be able to raise and lower volume and pitch. I can do a fighting purrs this way. I can match your slate purr. It did take time to learn, but it is well worth it.
Gselkhunter

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

I can do the motorboat lip thing and the tongue flutter thing, and can pass with a purr. I'm gonna have to get me a new old boss hen to practice with before May rolls around though. I'd just rather not make any sound or movement when I have one coming in, but I feel more comfortable just doing soft clucks with the diaphragm if I had to rather than try a purr and mess things up when it counts.

Imagine if someone took the above out of context? If it was my wife reading this instead of a bunch of turkey hunters,she would probably slap me and call her lawyer!

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

See I am the other way around. I thought the gobble was a snap. Purring, by using what call makers refer to as the "gargling" method is seemingly out of reach for me. Too many years of calling ducks I suppose...too many bad habits. I keep hoping that eventually I'll do it by accident horsing around with one...but we'll see.

The way I purr is using the motor boat method. For a fighting purr, I use the normal side of the call, short reeds down. For a hen purr, I invert the call, which gives it a much higher pitch. I stretch my mouth out, so I don't get to much "motor boat" noise. Works for me and mine.

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

Hey prefer the slate call myself when it comes to purring and doing some other calls also but I also like the box call also. But since I got some newer stuff I'm going to see which works better now. Plus check out TOP CALLS www.topcalls.com and see wat you think of their calls. Personally I like their calls alot. ;)

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

I purr better with no call in. When I have a call its a mess. I'm going to try a lot of the suggestions you guys made. It'll give me something to do driving around for work.

RE: Purring with a diaphram...
 

I purr using the back of my throat.