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Mouth Harps??

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  • #1

    Mouth Harps??

    Anyone have information on how to "get started" playing mouth harps??

    I've picked up two "vintage" harps over the last year (one appears to be serviceable, the other probably needs some work).

    I've never seen anyone play one of these things for real....and figured I'd give it a shot myself...any pointers? books? etc...?

    Thanks,


    Paul B.
    Paul B. Boulden Jr.


    RAH VA MIL '04
    (Loblolly Mess)
    [URL="http://23rdva.netfirms.com/welcome.htm"]23rd VA Vol. Regt.[/URL]
    [URL="http://www.virginiaregiment.org/The_Virginia_Regiment/Home.html"]Waggoner's Company of the Virginia Regiment [/URL]

    [URL="http://www.military-historians.org/"]Company of Military Historians[/URL]
    [URL="http://www.moc.org/site/PageServer"]Museum of the Confederacy[/URL]
    [URL="http://www.historicsandusky.org/index.html"]Historic Sandusky [/URL]

    Inscription Capt. Archibold Willet headstone:

    "A span is all that we can boast, An inch or two of time, Man is but vanity and dust, In all his flower and prime."
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  • #2
    Re: Mouth Harps??

    Youtube search on jew's harp has a couple thousand hits. At least a place to start.

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    • #3
      Re: Mouth Harps??

      I have played one before. The key is inhale exhale controls the volume and pitch. The size of the harp controls the pitch. I am not a musician though. I found a video on YouTube. It is something you can easily pick up by watching.

      - YouTube
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ex-4OckxlI&NR=1
      Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.
      Eric Stephenson

      [URL="http://www.military-historians.org/"]The Company of Military Historians[/URL]
      [URL="http://lodge245.doylestownmasons.org/"]Doylestown Masonic Lodge No. 245 Free and Accepted Masons[/URL]

      "Captain Dike is in the hands of some brother Masons, and to the Order he owes his life." OR s.I v.II

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      • #4
        Re: Mouth Harps??

        Here is a quick very good introduction. I spent most of my life playing upright and electric bass for a living, but needless to say those instuments don't fit well into CW reenacting. So I picked up the "jews harp".The keys are breathing control, kind of like a harmonica and voicings. The voicings can be practiced by making the vowels A,E, I, O,U, with your mouth while playing. Also curling, flicking and and flattening your tongue can change pitch. It is mainly a rhythm/drone type accompanyment instrument, that doesn't actually make traditional notes, though. It's a hell of lot easier to tote around that my Englehardt upright !

        David Holt: Music - How To Play The Jaw Harp
        http://www.davidholt.com/music/playjawharp.html
        Last edited by Mtn.Guerilla; 04-16-2009, 09:39 AM.
        Eric N. Harley-Brown
        Currently known to associate with the WIG/AG


        "It has never been fully realized, nor appreciated by the people of the North-the great part in preserving the Union, the brave, loyal,and patriotic Union men, in the mountainous parts of the Southern states, rendered" - Orderly Sgt. Silas P. Woodall (2nd grt. grnd...) member of "Kennemers Union Scouts & Guides"-organized in Woodville, Alabama 1863.

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        • #5
          Re: Mouth Harps??

          Harp playing 101
          If the harp you have has any dead notes or sounds bad get a new one.
          First put the harp in your mouth almost touching your teeth.
          Get your lips around it so all the air goes through the harp and not off to the sides.
          Then practice playing one clean note at a time.
          I do this by blocking all the holes off but one with my tongue.
          I know this sounds odd but that's how all the best players do it.
          The open hole should be on the right side of your tongue.
          When you get so you can play one clean note at a time then try sounding out
          simple songs that you know like Old Suzanna happy birthday etc.
          There is much more to it but this will get you started.
          Good luck and let me know if I can help.
          Mike Kinzell
          Mike Kinzell
          5th Minnesota Regt.
          Vol. Infy. Co. C

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