Diaphragm calls

[WA_duck_Hunter]

Anyone have any tips to just making a noise with these things? Im having the hardest time learning this. I have been trying with a HS Strut starter double reed. Should I upgrade?
Thanks

[NWTFhunter]

Well if you can get any noise out of it..................... Your doing better than me !
I cant use the darn things and I wish I could.  I hear if you get the dome ones they are easier...... For some..

[jackelope]

the more reeds the more difficult they are to operate.
try a basic single reed hs strut or something simple. upgrading will only make it more difficult IMO.

[jackelope]

put the call between your tongue and roof of your mouth and try forcing air out through the call.
it's hard to explain by typing it out  i guess.

[wastickslinger]

Just keep at it. Some people pick it up right away and other just cant do it. I have a cousin that tried and tried every year and never could even make a noise out of one.   My wife hates them, I walk around the house with one in my mouth for a month straight before turkey season. I keep a few in the car almost year round too. I travel with work alot, kinda funny it actually helps keep me awake sometimes while driving.  

Sorry, not much help as far as telling you what to do without watching or listening. Just keep trying, you'll get it.

[wastickslinger]

put the call between your tongue and roof of your mouth and try forcing air out through the call.
it's hard to explain by typing it out  i guess.

Jack is right hard to explain. Once you have figured out the basic principle of actually making noise it will become easier as you practice. Kinda like those stupid posters you look at with the hidden picture(whicj by the way I can never see ). Someday it will just click.

[fishunt247]

I taught my bro cuz he had a ridiculous time trying to use one. Just told him to cup the sides of his tongue around the call, like on the tape part, and blow, just to try to make noise. If nothing happens, adjust the height your tongue is away from the latex. Make sure all your air is going over your tongue/latex and not around your cheeks. Once you get noise, then start playing with yelps. Now it isn't near that simple, but something about that statement clicked and now he can use one. Hopefully that helps, but with some people it just clicks and they get it. If not, sorry I wasted your time.

[SpokaneSlayer]

I would suggest using a smaller call.  I use the Primos Mini Sonic Domes and can use one all day.  I also got the pack with the CD that teaches you proper placement and key words to say without using your voice to make turkey sounds.  It works.  I would listen to it while in the car and practice.  The biggest thing is getting used to having it in your mouth without gagging on it.  While hunting I stick one in my cheek so it's always there.  I normally use slate and box calls to get them to approach then switch to the mouth call to seal the deal.  Good luck.

[robodad]

Give this a shot, Place the call in the dome  in the roof of your mouth and place the middle of your tongue up against it, not the tip of your tongue the middle of it then seal off with your tongue any place air can pass by it so you cannot breath out at all, feel the veins in your neck getting bigger ?? Good now relax the middle of your tongue slightly and force the air over your tongue not around it.

Another way to describe it is this, fill the horseshoe space in your upper pallete with your tongue, or place your tongue against the back of all your upper teeth and slightly relax the middle of your tongue till a small amount of air can pass over it and out, now try that with a reed in there !! just adjust the reed back or forward till you get some sound then just tune it up !!!

[Ray]

Not to jack the thread but I have had problems using these type of calls as well. They either 1) get soaked or 2) tickle

Other than that they seem like they would be a good idea.  I just can't get past these issues though. Maybe I did something wrong.

[Turkeyman]

If you have dinchers or a high palate it is tough you don't want any air going over the top of the call. That is why the started making the dome style reed's. try diffrent reed's till you find one that fits your mouth and has a good seal in the ruff of your mouth.

[PA BEN]

Go and buy an instructional tap or CD. Keep diaphragm in your mouth as much as possible. Driving down the road, mowing the lawn, working in the garage, etc. Pratice, pratice. The only problem is if you don't live alone you'll drive your wife and kid nuts

[Diehard0123]

Diaphragm calls always activate my gag reflex I can use them but eventually I start gaging

[WA_duck_Hunter]

YES!!!! Thanks for the help I have it making noises now.     Sound more like a goose then anything. To make the yelps do you exhale a word or something, like a duck feeding chuckle I say taka taka taka something like that?

[Wacenturion]

Try saying YELK..........................like Yelk...yelk....yelk.....yelk .....6 to 7 times

[jackelope]

yelk...
that works. also learn or practice pressure on the call and adjusting air flow to change the sounds of the call. practice whenever you can. when you have a big tom all balled up and strutting at 12 yards ready to kick the snot out of your decoy, you'll realize then what it's all about.

some people gag, some people get tickled by them, some people have no problem with them. i have no issues with them. those domes do not work for me at all.

[Big10gauge]

I would suggest using a smaller call. 

There are different widths depending on the manufacturer. I can't use a the smaller width ones as well as the wider ones. Carlton calls are some of the wider types, with Jones being on the smaller side. Elk calls make excellent turkey calls also so don't think you have to buy a "turkey" diaphragm to call turkeys.

[HawkenBob]

Ive never tried a turkey one yet. But my Elk diaphrams rock. May favorites are the sonic domes. There a bit easier, not as large, but not to small. The different levels of sounds is allot more variable too. I have 4 diaphrams I really like but my Primos white with orange dome takes the cake and is my absolute favorite.

Take your CD with you and practice in the car on the commute to work. Thats what I do.

Also, I live on a golf coarse and people are still looking for that herd of Elk they always hear. LOL

[strutnrut1984]

it takes a bit of practice i hold 3 in my mouth at once. place on roof of mouth slightly force air between the reed and your tounge.as u get better u can make different tones with your lips also. the reason i hold 3 in . is because i want to sound like as many different hens as i can i hold 2 in my cheeks and swap out with my tounge but then again i been doing this 30 plus years. remember u dont have to be a pro caller to kill a bird. just knowing what to do in different situations will make u a tom taker

[yelp]

strutnrut uses the diaphragm revolver method...LOL..very useful. He is probably a big hit with the girls too.   

I like to carry several with me for the same reason. My favorite is a mouth call slate/call combo.

Also try moving facial muscles as you call sometimes the inflection created creates unique volume, pressures/sound, cutting etc...I also use a breathing exercise where I ask someone to count the number of yelps I can put out in a minute.  I carry 10+ mouth calls with me..just in case and they all sound different.