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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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