Fonging involves attaching strings to an oven rack, wrapping them around your fingers, inserting your fingers into your ears, and having others strike the oven rack with various tools to create interesting noises. It is an absurd activity that can strengthen bonds between friends and bring levity to situations. However, it can also be dangerous and should be done with caution. The concept of making unusual musical instruments out of household items is not new, and oven grills have excellent resonance qualities.
Fonging is an activity that involves attaching strings to an oven rack, wrapping the strings around your fingers, inserting your fingers into your ears, and then having others strike the oven rack with various tools. Sounds will ring within the ears, sometimes making very unusual or interesting noises, and the ridiculousness of the activity can strengthen bonds between friends. The purpose of fonging is to emphasize the exhilarating nature of life, while bringing levity to situations where it may be absolutely necessary.
According to Fonging for the Soul, the 2005 book that introduced fonging to the world, the concept of fonging was brought to the author in a dream by an angel. The angel allegedly stated that “hilarity is sacred” and explained the technique of fonging.
While the above story rests on shaky ground, the story of making unusual musical instruments out of available supplies is actually quite old. Many random household items can be made into instruments by people with creativity and ingenuity, and musicians have often settled for very particular objects to replace more conventional instruments in a pinch. Oven grills often have excellent resonance qualities, so the potential can be clearly seen, angels or not.
As you may have noticed if you’ve ever removed your oven grate for cleaning, when the grate is hit by something, it can play in interesting ways as the sound travels through the grate. Usually the sound is too quiet to really hear, which is why strings are needed for fonging; the strings act as crude amplifiers inserted directly into the ears, transmitting sound to the listener.
The act of fonging is supposed to be absurd, and most sessions will end in laughter as people succumb to the absurdity of hitting an oven rack connected to someone’s ears with string. People generally take turns, giving everyone a chance to hear the sound. A wide variety of items such as sticks, brushes, spoons, and so on can be used at a phony party.
While fonging can be fun, it can also be dangerous. Until you experience it for yourself, you may not be aware of how well sound waves travel. The oven grate should be touched gently, as loud noises and other high-pitched sounds can actually damage the ears, or at least generate a brief, unpleasant ringing sensation. If someone complains that the noise is too loud or too loud, attendees should go easy on it to keep the experience enjoyable.
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