Whistling - Perform (Sing) or Perform (Wind)

[jabberwoky]

Assume for the moment that a bard wishes, for whatever reason, wishes to use whistling as their main way of making music. Do they use the Perform (Sing) or the Perform (Wind) spell?

[Weirdo]

I think whistling is more similar to playing a wind instrument than to singing. However, mechanically some might expect Perform (wind) to imply instrument dependence, in which case Sing would be better.

EDIT: Really, it doesn't matter so long as you pick one and stick with it.

[blackbloodtroll]

Perform(Sing).

Perform(Wind Instruments), requires an instrument.

[Dafydd]

The answer is: GM Fiat.

Either could work.

[Ciaran Barnes]

IRL whistling is very different from singing. I'm a decent singer, thanks to s music degree, vocal lessons, and having sung solo and in harmony for more than ten years on stage. I am a wretched whistler. Pitch is controlled by the lips instead of the vocal chords and the shape of your mouth when whistling is very controlled.

For game purposes though, I would let the pc use whichever perform skill was higher.

[Cevah]

You can buy Musical Instruments, which include whistles. While a tin-whistle is not listed, it is clearly a wind instrument. Wikipedia states "Whistling is the production of sound by means of carefully controlling a stream of air flowing through a small hole. Whistling can be achieved by creating a small opening with one's lips and then blowing or sucking air through the hole. The air is moderated by the lips, tongue, teeth or fingers (placed over the mouth) to create turbulence, and the mouth acts as a resonant chamber to enhance the resulting sound by acting as a type of Helmholtz resonator. Whistling can also be produced by blowing air through enclosed, cupped hands or through an external instrument, such as a whistle or even a blade of grass or leaf." -- clearly a wind instrument.

/cevah

[Fourshadow]

Being a pretty good whistler and only having an okay voice, whistling definitely isn't singing. Perform (Wind) would be much more accurate, IMO.

[Quantum Steve]

Personally, I go with Perform (Whistle) but that's just me.

If you must choose between the two you should first realize that Perform(Wind) isn't actually a choice; it's Perform(Wind Instrument).
Perform(Wind Instrument) requires an instrument, so the only other is Perform (Sing).

[claudekennilol]

blackbloodtroll wrote:

Perform(Sing).

Perform(Wind Instruments), requires an instrument.

In this case the mouth is the instrument. Whistling definitely isn't singing.

[Fourshadow]

Quantum Steve wrote:

Personally, I go with Perform (Whistle) but that's just me.

If you must choose between the two you should first realize that Perform(Wind) isn't actually a choice; it's Perform(Wind Instrument).
Perform(Wind Instrument) requires an instrument, so the only other is Perform (Sing).

That would be creating a new performance skill. What's the point in that? As the previous poster said, your mouth is the instrument. Why make it more complicated? Let common sense win for once.

[noretoc]

Fourshadow wrote:

Quantum Steve wrote:

Personally, I go with Perform (Whistle) but that's just me.

If you must choose between the two you should first realize that Perform(Wind) isn't actually a choice; it's Perform(Wind Instrument).
Perform(Wind Instrument) requires an instrument, so the only other is Perform (Sing).

That would be creating a new performance skill. What's the point in that? As the previous poster said, your mouth is the instrument. Why make it more complicated? Let common sense win for once.

I agree with perform (Whistle). Then you can pick some cool things for versatile performance. I once had a player with perform(bodybuilding) which was really just posing, etc, and Perform (puppeteer).

Let creativity and coolness win.

[jabberwoky]

Thank you for all the responses.