The instrument we call the jaw harp exists in many forms, is found on nearly every continent and has countless regional names and variants. It is classed as a plucked idiophone: it consists of a flexible metal or bamboo tongue or reed attached to a frame. The tongue/reed is placed in the performer's mouth and plucked with the finger to produce a springy sounding, rhythmic drone-like note. For many people the jaw harp is an instrument of meditation and introspection. Among the shamans of Central Asia, the drum is thought of as a yang instrument, and is suitable for use in group ceremonies, but the jaw harp is considered a yin instrument and is used by the shaman to directly enter a trance state, and is therefore more for the player and less for the listeners. Read more.
