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Music Box How Wonderful That You Were Born
€8.09
Kou Xian (Ho Ho) Set of 5
Price:
€37.45
Set of 5 Kou Xian Jaw Harps
This set contains five brass jaw harps, each tuned to its own fundamental pitch, allowing you to explore a range of melodic possibilities and harmonic overtones across the collection. Jaw harps are idiophone instruments played by positioning the frame against the teeth and plucking the metal tongue; the player's mouth cavity acts as a resonator, amplifying and shaping the sound produced.
Construction and Sound
Each lamella (the vibrating metal tongue) generates a keynote, and by adjusting mouth shape and breath, you can access multiple overtones above that base pitch. The brass construction gives these instruments their characteristic bright, penetrating tone. These jaw harps are handmade and traditionally left untuned to precise concert pitch, which means each one will have natural variation in its fundamental frequency—a quality consistent with their folk heritage rather than a limitation.
Playing and Musical Use
Jaw harps have a long history in complex melodic traditions. You hold the frame with one hand, position it against your teeth, and pluck the tongue with your finger or thumb to initiate vibration. Varying the shape of your mouth cavity—opening and closing it, moving your tongue, adjusting your jaw—filters and amplifies different harmonic series, creating melodic passages and textural effects. The instrument functions equally well for traditional repertoire and experimental sound exploration, making it accessible to both folk musicians and those seeking unconventional sonic tools.
What's Included
- Five brass jaw harps, each with its own fundamental pitch
- Protective carrying case
- Playing instructions
Getting Started
Jaw harps require no tuning or maintenance beyond keeping them clean and dry. The compact size—each instrument measures 5.5 cm—makes the set highly portable. Begin by resting the frame gently against your front teeth, holding it steady with one hand, then pluck the tongue gently and explore how your mouth shape changes the pitch and timbre. The learning curve is gentle; basic tones emerge within minutes, and deeper harmonic control develops with practice.
For those seeking jaw harps tuned to concert pitch (A 440Hz) or other specific intervals, alternative ranges are available elsewhere in the market.
Jaw harps remain central to folk and ceremonial music across many cultures, and these instruments carry that tradition into contemporary practice.
Price:
€37.45
Kou Xian (Ho Ho) Set of 5 — Five brass jaw harps originating from Yunnan, China, each tuned to a distinct pitch to explore melodies and harmonics. These traditional lip instruments are placed against the teeth and plucked to produce sounds amplified by the oral cavity. The set includes a protective case and playing instructions. Compact at 5.5 cm, ideal for experimental musicians, travellers or collectors discovering this ancient tradition. Carry a sonic universe in your pocket.
This jaw harp is no longer available and cannot be supplied. As most jaw harps are individually handcrafted, instruments sometimes disappear from the market when their maker stops production.
Rather than let this knowledge vanish, we have preserved this instrument in our Jaw Harp Archive, where it can continue to inform and inspire.
| Origin | China |
|---|---|
| Weight | 0,01 kg |
| Dimensions | 5,5 cm |
| Included | Playing instructions, Jaw harp bag |
| Materials | Brass |
| Key | Free Tuning |
| Jaw Harp Type | Lip-activated jaw harp |
♪ Audio Samples ♪
Kou Xian (Ho Ho)
Caution: Not suitable for children under 3 years. Please supervise older children. Beware of swallowing small parts, strangulation, material allergies, sharp edges and points! Use only for sound generation. No liability for improper use.
Care: Extreme temperature fluctuations, humidity and direct sunlight can affect the lifespan. Please store in balanced humidity to prevent material changes, mold and corrosion. Remove dirt with a damp cloth. Dry after cleaning and each use.
Disposal: Please contact your local waste disposal authority for information on environmentally sound disposal!
Set of 5 Kou Xian Jaw Harps
This set contains five brass jaw harps, each tuned to its own fundamental pitch, allowing you to explore a range of melodic possibilities and harmonic overtones across the collection. Jaw harps are idiophone instruments played by positioning the frame against the teeth and plucking the metal tongue; the player's mouth cavity acts as a resonator, amplifying and shaping the sound produced.
Construction and Sound
Each lamella (the vibrating metal tongue) generates a keynote, and by adjusting mouth shape and breath, you can access multiple overtones above that base pitch. The brass construction gives these instruments their characteristic bright, penetrating tone. These jaw harps are handmade and traditionally left untuned to precise concert pitch, which means each one will have natural variation in its fundamental frequency—a quality consistent with their folk heritage rather than a limitation.
Playing and Musical Use
Jaw harps have a long history in complex melodic traditions. You hold the frame with one hand, position it against your teeth, and pluck the tongue with your finger or thumb to initiate vibration. Varying the shape of your mouth cavity—opening and closing it, moving your tongue, adjusting your jaw—filters and amplifies different harmonic series, creating melodic passages and textural effects. The instrument functions equally well for traditional repertoire and experimental sound exploration, making it accessible to both folk musicians and those seeking unconventional sonic tools.
What's Included
- Five brass jaw harps, each with its own fundamental pitch
- Protective carrying case
- Playing instructions
Getting Started
Jaw harps require no tuning or maintenance beyond keeping them clean and dry. The compact size—each instrument measures 5.5 cm—makes the set highly portable. Begin by resting the frame gently against your front teeth, holding it steady with one hand, then pluck the tongue gently and explore how your mouth shape changes the pitch and timbre. The learning curve is gentle; basic tones emerge within minutes, and deeper harmonic control develops with practice.
For those seeking jaw harps tuned to concert pitch (A 440Hz) or other specific intervals, alternative ranges are available elsewhere in the market.
Jaw harps remain central to folk and ceremonial music across many cultures, and these instruments carry that tradition into contemporary practice.
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