Jew's harp
Lamellophone instrument / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Jew's harp, also known as jaw harp, juice harp, or mouth harp,[nb 1] is a lamellophone instrument, consisting of a flexible metal or bamboo tongue or reed attached to a frame. Despite the colloquial name, the Jew's harp most likely originated in Siberia, specifically in or around the Altai Mountains, and is of Turkic origin and has no relation to the Jewish people.[1]
Quick Facts Other names, Classification ...
Other names | Jew's harp, jaw harp, mouth harp, Ozark harp, juice harp, murchunga, guimbarde, mungiga, vargan, trompe |
---|---|
Classification | |
Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 121.22 (Heteroglot guimbarde (the lamella is attached to the frame)) |
Related instruments | |
Sound sample | |
Problems playing this file? See media help. Problems playing this file? See media help. |
Close
Jew's harps may be categorized as idioglot or heteroglot (whether or not the frame and the tine are one piece); by the shape of the frame (rod or plaque); by the number of tines, and whether the tines are plucked, joint-tapped, or string-pulled.