@ Andrew there was a guy selling all sorts of Jews Harps at the harmonica fest in Bristol last year Jonathan Cope is his name at www.soundforhealth.com His are the jews harp equivalent of a customised harp. They were not cheap but sounded amazing
OK, thanks, jonsparrow. I wonder what it sounds like! (seriously, look at where the spring is fixed to the body - you'll find that the join can break quite easily on the cheap ones - I used to have a couple 35 years ago)
harmonicanick, I've seen that guy playing the Chinese and Vietnamese harps on YouTube. I didn't realise he was from Bristol.
Last Edited by on Apr 27, 2009 1:49 AM
how weird is that? just the other day I dug out my jews[jaws] harp thinking "I wonder what that would sound like mic'ed up in the blues band". I think mine was quite cheap, but I've had it a long time. I was interested to see comments that you get different tunings, I have seen different sizes, but thought the tuning came from the mouth cavity. I als have a plastic noes flute somewhere!!!! and an ocarina
OK, I'm home again. Yeah, I don't know whether I'm supposed to call them Jew's harps or jaw harps. I don't know if Jew's harp is racist or if jaw harp is just an alternative. I guess since the instrument is played all over the world, it's best to call it a jaw harp. In German it's a Maultrommel (gob drum, I've just been reminded) and in Dutch it's a mondharp (mouth harp. Thanks, Youtube). And in French it's la guimbarde (thanks Harraps and le Petit Robert), which is also a dance. Anyways, here's some different playing styles.
I don't think calling it a Jews harp is racist, just innacurate in the same way that the French harp (our little 10 holer) doesn't originate in France.
You can make a sweet one out of a bit of bamboo from the garden center. Folks in South East Asia make ones like that out of bamboo. It takes a bit of whittlin', but I think it's easier to play and sounds better than my metal one. No accidental tooth clanking! I don't have dental insurance, so I like the bamboo one better for that reason as well. :) ---------- -------------- The magnificent YouTube channel of the internet user known as "isaacullah"
I still have the one I bought when I was a child, 11 or 12 years old. that's about 35 years ago. I had a paper route and one of my customers sold guitar picks, strings, harmonica's and jews harps in their appliance store.
Interesting that a bunch of us have these devices kicking around. I have a small one that I bought when I was a kid about 40 years ago. I remember making some pretty cool sounds with it, and recently have heard it on some old blues recordings. You guys have reminded me to give it another go. Thanks!
