The Nplooj is a Leaf, usually a banana leaf, and is used by curling it up and positioning it in your mouth so it vibrates when blown. This instrument makes loud, very high pitched sounds that can be heard for miles. The varying pitches are made by pulling on the leaf and blowing to make certain tones that relate to certain words in the Hmong language. This instrument was the ultimate in portable music and because it could be made from almost any nearby plant or tree made it easily accessible for young Hmong kids. Also, this instruments was often used during times of war, where they were used as signals in combat and secret messages could be communicated with words played as melodies.