Mouth Harp

The mouth harp, also known as a Jew’s harp or jaw harp, is a plucked instrument consisting of a frame that holds a vibrating reed, made of metal, reed, or bamboo. Held between the teeth, the reed is played with the fingers, and its vibrations are modified by changing the shape of the mouth. Its origins can be traced to fourth-century China, but its more modern metal design, adopted by many European, Oceanic, and Asian cultures, is believed to have evolved near the 13th century. The jaw harp has been used for centuries in shamanistic rituals and incantations by Mongolian and Siberian tribal peoples, said to induce trances and heal sickness. It also has been used for spiritual healing and connection to the natural world in other places such as Malaysia and Indonesia, where its sound mimicked and communicated with the birds, insects, frogs, and plants of the rain forest, curing melancholy and sadness and passing away idle time