How to play the Jew’s harp
The many names of the Jew's harp--jaw harp, mouth harp, maultrommel, mungharpe, munngiga, and trump--attest to the instrument's popularity. Ron Berry is an Australian instrument maker as well as a Jew’s harp player and importer. “I like to play them at the market and watch people’s eyes go wide,” he says. “It’s just one of those sounds I guess. People love them because they’re nice and easy to play. You can pick them up and get a sound out of them straight away without much technique.”
Jew’s harps have carved a niche in nearly every part of the world and can be found in quite a few shapes and styles. This tutorial focuses on those jaw harps held against a musician’s parted teeth.
Parts of a Jew’s Harp
A Jew’s harp consists of two parts--the frame and the tongue or reed. The vi...
