Help for the beginning beatboxer

Humanbeatbox.com, “the most comprehensive Web site dedicated to the art of vocal percussion,” chronicles the “I’m my own Walkman” component of hip-hop. Articles on the site cover everything from basic definitions (beatboxing: “the art of creating beats and rhythms using the human mouth”) to reports from what’s billed as the world’s first human beatbox convention.

Most intriguing, though, is a series of guides that aim to ease beginners into the art. Ready? Here’s part of the tutorial for the Classic Kick, “the classic ... kick drum sound used by beatboxers the world over.”

“1. Make the Bo sound as if you are saying bogus.

“2. Make the B as punch as possible by letting the pressure build up behind your closed lips.

“3. The o sound should be vocal and as low as you can go. Let the o sound fade out quickly rather than stopping it short.”

When you’ve mastered that, Vuds, Fds, Tches and Ngs await.

“Don’t worry that if at first the sounds you make don’t sound similar to the audio clips,” the site encourages. “Everyone has their own style.”