Jew's harp
A novelty Jew’s harp sold in the U.S. | |
| Other names | Jew's harp, jaw harp, mouth harp, Ozark harp, juice harp, murchunga, guimbarde, mungiga, vargan, trompe, isitolotolo |
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| Classification | |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 121.22 (Heteroglot guimbarde (the lamella is attached to the frame)) |
| Related instruments | |
| Sound sample | |
The Jew's harp, also known as jaw harp, juice harp, or mouth harp, 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 China, with the earliest known Jew's harps dating back 4,000 years ago from Shaanxi province. It has no relation to the Jewish people.
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.