In earlier times these were made out of carved turtle shells in the South Pacific. Mine is one I bought from a former member of the New Crusty Nostrils. This may sound strange to some, but snot what it seems at all. Originally ? Who's to say---but there was a rumor going around that it was invented as an I.U.D. for Catherine The Great. But Catherine was dyslexic and was always being arrested for Driving Under the Influence (D.U.I.)

But seriously folks,

Put the instrument over your mouth and nose and blow into it with your nostrils (AIR ONLY). Keep your mouth open and change the pitch by altering the inside of you mouth the same way one might alter the sounds of a jew's harp. I never saw a wooden one either. Just plastic and tin.

Hope this helps.

Art Thieme