Help: Jew's Harp question!

Subject: RE: Help: Jew's Harp question!
From: SeanM
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 11:29 PM

Actually, I've found you can get interesting effects both ways... Opening your throat mutes the sound somewhat, and inhaling even more... exhaling tends to push the sound farther, which is good if you're not miked...

M

Subject: RE: Help: Jew's Harp question!
From: MarkS
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 11:28 PM

Also helps if you try to make an exhaling sound like a sigh when you strike the spring.

Subject: RE: Help: Jew's Harp question!
From: SeanM
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 10:41 PM

It's kinda hard to explain... the way I play it is to hold my jaw apart enough to let the flange-ey thing vibrate, rest the upper and lower tines against upper and lower teeth, pull lips out of the way, and hit the striker (or whatever it's called). From there, as noted above, it's all about shaping of the mouth and tongue...

M

Subject: RE: Help: Jew's Harp question!
From: mkebenn
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 10:38 PM

Tried once, cut lip..not worth it. Mike

Subject: RE: Help: Jew's Harp question!
From: Sorcha
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 09:12 PM

I don't play one, but my dad did. You gotta keep your tongue out of the way, and make a sound chamber of your cheeks, teeth, and whole mouth........change the pitch of the note by changing the shape of your cheeks, etc. Maybe somebody else will be more helpful.

Subject: Jew's Harp question!
From: GUEST,khandu
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 08:43 PM

Off and on for years, I have attempted to make a sound from a Jew's Harp. I cannot. The best that I have accomplished is to leave a mean-assed blister on my tongue from being slapped by the whatzit.

How do you play these things?

khandu