Editing Jew's harp (section)

==Characteristics==
The frame is held firmly against the performer's parted teeth or lips (depending on the type), using the mouth (plus the throat and lungs when breathing freely) as a [[Resonator#Acoustic|resonator]], greatly increasing the volume of the instrument. The teeth must be parted sufficiently for the reed to vibrate freely, and the fleshy parts of the mouth should not come into contact with the reed to prevent damping of the vibrations and possible pain. The note or tone thus produced is constant in [[pitch (music)|pitch]], though by changing the shape of the mouth, and the amount of air contained in it (and in some traditions closing the [[glottis]]), the performer can cause different [[overtone]]s to sound and thus create [[melody|melodies]].

According to the [[Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition|''Encyclopædia Britannica'' Eleventh Edition]], "The vibrations of the steel tongue produce a compound sound composed of a [[fundamental frequency|fundamental]] and its [[harmonic series (music)|harmonics]]. By using the cavity of the mouth as a [[acoustic resonance|resonator]], each harmonic in succession can be isolated and reinforced, giving the instrument the compass shown."
[[File:Britannica Jew's harp Range.png|300px|center|thumb|The range of a tenor Jew's harp {{audio|Britannica Jew's harp Range.mid|Play range as string harmonics}}]]
"The lower harmonics of the series cannot be obtained, owing to the limited capacity of the resonating cavity. The black notes on the stave show the scale which may be produced by using two harps, one tuned a fourth above the other. The player on the Jew's harp, in order to isolate the harmonics, frames his mouth as though intending to pronounce the various vowels."{{sfn|Schlesinger|1911}} See: [[bugle scale]].