The Jaw Harp is a simple instrument. You must be careful not to bend the tone reed out of alignment, or bend the body frame. 

This is how the Jaw Harp is held, and the way it should look as you bring it toward your mouth. If you squueze or hold the body frame too tightly, the legs will come together and then the tone reed will clack and click against them. The tone reed should vibrate when you strike the spur. It should not touch your hand at all.

Teeth are about 1/2" apart. Lips are pulled back. Your tongue should be back in your mouth. Both legs are resting against your teeth. Don't bite the legs.

Relax lips around legs--lips should not cover legs. Thumb or forefinger strikes the spur in strokes (towards you or away, you decide).

Tone Control--Now practice the basic stroke with thumb or forefinger. Stroke away form you face or towards your face. When you have mastered a good clear tone, continue the stroke but now breathe softly in and out. (Breathe--don't blow!) You'll notice both tone and volume change when you do this. Never Blow, but breating harder and softer will yield different tones and volume.

Another way to get differnet tones is to bring the tongue forward and back... similiar to whistling. Try it. The way to get depth to the tone is by opening or closing the jaws slightly; but keeping the lips in place. Further tone changes can be made by changing the mouth opening--pursing or widening the lips.

Rhythm control--The simplest way for rhythm is striking the spur in time with the music. But you can get interesting variations by breath control. It is helpful to have a tune in mind when you play. Practice! Now you are on your own. Have fun.

Vietnamese Jaw Harp $25 includes shipping

For this harp you don't have to press it to your teeth, as with other jaw harps. Hold it in front of your lips and gently bend the brass end while manipulating breath in and out. It is attached to a string that keeps it with the decorated case.