The Jews Harp, also dubbed the Mouth Harp, is a traditional folk instrument that has been around for thousands of years. Its appeal comes predominantly from its novelty; being small in statue and having a quirky sound, the Jews harp is simply one of a kind.
Instrument Construction
The Jews Harp is made of two main pieces; the base and the reed (often called the tongue). The base of the instrument is a metal frame, often brass or steel, which is held against the mouth while being played. A metal tongue, also made of steel, is plucked to produce the instruments unique sound. When choosing a Jews Harp to purchase, make sure that the two pieces are firmly secured and only touch once (at the solder).
Playing the Harp
In order to play the Jews Harp; the player should begin by following these simple steps.
- Place the frame in your dominant hand. Hold the base any way that is comfortable for you. Many people will hold the instrument between their thumb and pointer finger, while others will simply close their hand around the instrument.
- Pinch firm but gently; the harp should not move when plucked. Always be careful to keep your hand away from the harp’s tongue, nothing should impede its movement.
- Open your teeth slightly and place the prongs against your now opened teeth. Adjust the instrument so it is comfortable to hold and not putting too much pressure on your teeth.
- Hold your non-dominant hand near the tongue of the harp and simply strum the instrument by either pushing or pulling the metal reed. Make sure to release the tongue after plucking.
Making Noise
Once the musician knows how to hold and play the Jews Harp, the rest is very simple. Beginning by using the tongue, lips, teeth, and the shape of their mouth, musicians can change the tone of the harp.
By adjusting these things, one is able to adjust the overall sound of the instrument. As an exercise, the musician can try making the shape of their mouth to match the alphabet, then strum, and listen for the sound the harp makes. Adjusting breathing increases or decreases the volume of the sound.
As a general rule, matching the pitch of voice to that of the harps natural pitch will give a soothing tone; however, if the musician contrasts their voice, the sound will be dissonant (not always a bad thing in this case). The more they play the harp the better they will get and the easier it will be for musicians to get the sound they want.
Resources
The Jews Harp Guild is a “non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history and art of this, and other, ancient, unique, or culturally significant acoustic instruments.” It includes a lot of good information on its website, a worthy resource well worth looking at.
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