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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.
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