jaw harp

Plucked mouth instrument

A jaw harp is a small musical instrument held against the teeth and plucked to produce a twanging tone.

The player's mouth acts as a resonating chamber, and changing its shape alters the pitch and timbre.

Despite the name, the instrument has no connection to harps—it's also called a Jew's harp, though that term's origin is obscure.

He played a simple tune on the jaw harp.

sound

vibration

Rapid oscillating movement

  • resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
  • twangSharp vibrating sound
  • droneUnmanned flying machine

buzz · overtone · harmonics · timbre · pitch · oscillation · frequency · amplitude · waveform · tremolo

tradition

folk music

Community-born acoustic songs

indigenous · tribal · Hmong · Norwegian · Austrian · Rajasthani · campfire · rustic · pastoral · hillbilly

instrument

trump

Suit outranking all others

  • tongueOral muscle for taste
  • frameSupporting outer structure
  • reedVibrating sliver for woodwinds
technique

plucking

Removing by tugging

rhythm · vocalization

Categories
Family

harp, harpoon, jawbone, jawing, harped, harper, mouth harp

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G