How to Blow a Viking Sounding Horn

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Plus, learn about the importance of horns in Viking history & mythology

Co-authored by Dan Hickey

Last Updated: March 4, 2026 Fact Checked

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Playing the Horn

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Changing the Sound

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Cleaning

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History & Mythology

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Video

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Tips

Viking horns (also called war horns, blowing horns, signal horns, or drinking horns) are usually carved out of cow horns and produce a low note when you blow into them. Playing a Viking horn is similar to playing a trumpet or another brass instrument, but it can take a little practice to get used to. In this article, we’ll show you exactly how to make a mighty sound on your horn, plus share a few advanced techniques to try and some tips on caring for your horn.

Blowing a Viking War Horn

Tighten the corners of your lips, keeping the center a bit looser.
Hold the narrow end of the horn up to your lips to form a seal.
Exhale a fast, narrow stream of air to make your lips “buzz” inside the horn.
Sustain your airstream for a long, powerful horn note.

Section 1 of 4:

Playing the Viking Horn

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1
Tighten the corners of your lips together to “buzz” them. Keep your lips looser in the center and tighter in the corners, as if you’re saying the letter M. Exhale a fast, pressurized airstream to vibrate your lips together to make a consistent buzzing noise.^{[1]
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Research source} (Put your hand in front of your mouth to test whether you’re blowing out a consistent airstream.)
- It may take a few tries before your lips start buzzing. It’s almost like you’re “blowing a raspberry,” but with tighter lips and more air pressure.
Tip: Avoid puffing out your cheeks while you’re buzzing your lips since you’ll run out of air faster.
2
Hold the narrow end of the horn tightly against your lips to form a seal. Grab the horn by the narrow end and press the hole against the middle of your lips so that no air can escape out the sides (the center of your lips will be slightly inside the horn).^{[2]
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Research source} Position the wide end of the horn so it’s pointing up so that the sound of your horn resonates better (and can be heard from a distance!).
- You can buy a Viking horn online. While they are traditionally made with cow horns, you may be able to find horns made from many different animals.^{[3]
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- You can also try putting the Viking horn on the side of your lips if your lips buzz more there.
- Don’t put any part of the horn inside your mouth (you won’t be able to make a sound).
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3
Buzz your lips on the horn to play a note. As you’re holding the horn against your lips, start buzzing them as you practiced earlier to produce a sound from the horn. If you don’t hear any noise from your horn, then readjust the horn on your lips and try again.^{[4]
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Research source} Check that no air escapes out the sides of your mouth, or else you won’t get a solid, strong tone. Practice holding the note on your horn as long as you can so you can perfect your form.
- Viking horns can only play a single tone that depends on the size and shape of the horn.
- Longer horns take more air to play a consistent note, so take a deep breath before you start playing.
- Larger horns produce a lower tone, while smaller horns are higher-pitched.
4
Touch your tongue to the roof of your mouth to play separate notes. After you’ve mastered holding a consistent tone on your horn, you try articulating the sound (playing separate notes). Touch the top of the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth (just behind your front teeth) while your airstream is still flowing. This blocks the air for a brief moment and separates the tone into shorter, separated notes. Tongue faster and slower to change the rhythm of the notes you’re playing.^{[5]
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- To practice, put your hand in front of your mouth while you exhale and tap your tongue. You should be able to feel the breaks in the airflow each time your tongue touches the top of your mouth.

Section 2 of 4:

Changing the Viking Horn’s Sound

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1
Purse your lips tighter to play higher octaves of the same note. While Viking horns only have a single tone, you may be able to play higher pitches by changing your embouchure (a term for how you set your lip muscles). Tighten the corners of your lips more and keep your lips pressed together while increasing the speed of your air. When you buzz your lips on the horn, the faster air will make your note sound higher-pitched. Practice playing your horn while you tighten and loosen your lips to play 2 or 3 different notes.^{[6]
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- Large horns may be more difficult to create a higher pitch than smaller horns.
- You can usually play 1 or 2 different octaves on a Viking horn.
2
Put your hand in the open end of the horn to lower the pitch. As you play your note, place the bottom of your palm on the outer rim of the horn’s wide end. Wrap your fingers over the rim so they’re inside the horn. You’ll notice the note change to a lower tone as you put your hand inside the horn and get higher when you remove it.^{[7]
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- Don’t block the end of your horn completely, or else it won’t make any noise.
Tip: Try waving your fingers up and down over the end of the horn to make the note waver between high and low pitches.
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Get a horn with a mouthpiece if you want to play louder. Some Viking horns have a built-in mouthpiece (rather than just a hole at the end of the horn) that makes it easier to form a tight seal. Look for a horn with a metal mouthpiece and play it as you would normally. The mouthpiece will amplify the horn so that it’s louder when you blow into it.
- If you want to add a mouthpiece to your existing horn (like a trumpet or flugelhorn mouthpiece), you may need to carve out the hole on the narrow end to make it fit.^{[8]
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Section 3 of 4:

Cleaning Your Horn

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Use mild soap and water to clean out the spit from inside your horn. Whether you’ve been practicing your Viking horn calls for hours or just sipping some ale from it (as the Vikings did), you’ll need to give it a cleaning now and then. Avoid harsh cleaners that can strip the horn of its natural oils, and use a soft brush to clean the entire inside.^{[9]
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- Let the horn dry completely before storing to prevent mold growth.
- If you like, you can polish your horn with a food-grade oil every few years of you notice the color starting to fade.

Section 4 of 4:

History & Mythology of Viking Horns

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1
Many cultures, including the Vikings, used horns for communication and warfare. While we think of these horns as musical instruments today, their purpose in ancient and medieval times was more practical than entertaining. They were used for long-distance communication in the open air for purposes such as hunting and herding, warning communities of approaching danger, issuing commands during warfare, and ceremonial purposes.^{[10]
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- Of course, some horns were used for drinking, too! These horns had no opening at the end for your mouth and were closed to prevent liquids from spilling out.
- In Scandinavia, many Viking horns were inscribed with runes or other symbols for protection or good luck.
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The most famous horn in Norse mythology is Heimdall’s horn, Gjallarhorn. According to legend, the Norse god Odin gifted Heimdall, the watchman of the gods, a horn named Gjallarhorn, which could be heard throughout the heavens, earth, and underworld. It was believed that Heimdall would sound the horn before Ragnarök, the final battle at the end of the world, to summon the gods to fight their enemies, the giants.^{[11]
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