Another "What is this?" post. [Jew's Harp]

Cafe Society
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Found thiswhile cleaning out my BIL’s apartment today. My wife doesn’t know what it is. It’s about 4½ inches long, 3 inches wide an the tang sticks up about an inch. The two things on each side of the tang have England stamped on each of the 4 sides. It’s steel and the tang part is spring steel.

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Jew’s harp

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It’s a Jew’s Harp.

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NM

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I used to have one when I was a kid. It’s that twangy sound you often hear in the background in folk and country music.

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Snoopy plays a Jew’s harp in at least one of the Peanuts animated cartoons. I even bought a Snoopy-branded Jew’s harp once.

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It’s a featured(?) instrument in The Who’s Join Together.

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It’s an ancient instrument with variations (and names) all over the world.

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Here’s a fun video of some Russians playing the Jew’s harp and beatboxing.

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Here’s a UK #3 hit single featuring the Jew’s harp, from 1973.

j

Biggest Jew’s harp hit by chart placing?

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Also known as a “Jaw Harp”.

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I don’t notice dimensions in the Wikipedia article. 4.5" x 3" is on the large side: all of the ones I’ve owned have been closer to 2.5" x 1.5"

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Can it be used to play Rio by Duran Duran?

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I can play one of those! Actually, anybody can play one of those. Next to the kazoo, it’s probably the simplest musical instrument there is.

Although when you’re first learning to play it, if you don’t put your teeth in the right place, the metal piece can snap back against a tooth. That’s a memorable experience.

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Yes, but only once, for 20 minutes.

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Since this is about a musical instrument, I have edited the title and moved it to Cafe Society.

Colibri
General Questions Moderator

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I used to have a “jaw harp” (as I knew it). It was briefly fun.

Basically, it goes “boing”. That’s it.

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Mentioned in Leonard Cohen’s song Last Year’s Man

he rain falls down on last year’s man,
That’s a Jew’s harp on the table,
That’s a crayon in his hand.
And the corners of the blueprint are ruined since they rolled
Far past the stems of thumbtacks
That still throw shadows on the wood.
And the skylight is like skin for a drum I’ll never mend
And all the rain falls down amen
On the works of last year’s man.