Q&A

Is the sound valid if its pitch changed during the blow?

Yes. Even if a single blow contains different pitches of sound the blow is valid.[4] Nevertheless some[5] were particular to repeat the blow if its pitch changed during the blow. Practically, one is initially to be stringent in this matter to practice to sound a single pitched sound during his blow.[6] Likewise in the event of a changed pitch of sound one is to try to blow a proper length of sound in the changed pitch.[7]

It is very common that when one is unsuccessful in sounding a real blow one hears the sound of air going through the Shofar. Is this sound valid under the above stated law?

No. A blow is only valid if an actual sound was heard. The sound of air is not considered a sound at all.

 A Segula if the Shofar is not blowing properly:[9]

If one is not being successful in blowing the Shofar properly [and he is a good blower and the Shofar is a good Shofar] it is a Segula to turn the Shofar around and whisper into it the paragraph of Vihi Noam. It once occurred in a community that the Baal Tokeia was unable to blow properly and the Rav of the town, Rav Mechlin, told him to turn the Shofar around and follow this Segula.[10] After doing so the Shofar began to blow properly. The Rav responded that the Satan was standing by the entrance of the Shofar, hence preventing the sounds from being heard [and the Segula removed the Satan from the area].

May one practice this Segula even prior to the first blow? If one is not successful in sounding even the first blow then he may not recite the above Segula, as doing so would be an interval between the blessing and the blowing, and would require a new blessing to be recited.[11] If however there is no other Shofar available in the area and hence bringing a new Shofar would anyways require a new blessing then the Segula may be recited and a new blessing is to follow.[12] One may practice this Segula in between the sets of the Tekios Meyushav and in Musaf.[13] However during the blows of the silent Shemoneh Esrei the Baal Tokeia cannot say this Segula. Rather he is to think the words in his mind.[14]

The Rebbe’s Tekios:

A famed Chassid once asked why the Rebbe’s Tekios on Rosh Hashanah were always so low and came out with difficulty while he heard that in Elul when the Rebbe would blow Shofar for the Rebbetzin the sounds were strong and came out with ease. The Chassid, who was a heavy set fellow, answered “If you had someone like me sitting in the hole of your Shofar wouldn’t you have difficulty blowing it?” Meaning to say that when the Shofar is being blown for the Mitzvah there are evil forces acting as an impediment to the sounds and it is the Rebbe’s job to overcome these impediments and draw down blessing for every individual Jew.