Common Foley tricks

  • Corn starch in a leather pouch makes the sound of snow crunching
  • A pair of gloves sounds like bird wings flapping
  • An arrow or thin stick makes a whoosh
  • An old chair makes a controllable creaking sound
  • A water soaked rusty hinge when placed against different surfaces makes a creaking sound. Different surfaces change the sound considerably
  • A heavy staple gun combined with other small metal sounds make good gun noises
  • A metal rake makes a fence sound (it can also make a metallic screech when dragged across a piece of metal)
  • A heavy car door and fender can create most of the car sounds needed but having a whole car in the studio is better
  • Burning plastic garbage bags cut into strips makes a cool sound when the bag melts and drips to the ground
  • ¼” audio tape balled up sounds like grass or brush when walked on
  • Gelatin and hand soap make squishing noises
  • Frozen romaine lettuce makes bone or head injury noises
  • Coconut shells cut in half and stuffed with padding makes horse hoof noises
  • Cellophane creates crackling fire effects
  • A selection of wooden and metal doors are needed to create all sorts of door noises but also can be used for creaking boat sounds
  • A heavy phone book makes body-punching sounds[2]