Editing Shofar (section)

=== Construction ===
In practice, two species are generally used: the [[Ashkenazi]] and [[Sefardi]] shofar is made from the horn of a domestic [[sheep|ram]], while a [[Yemenite Jews|Yemeni]] shofar is made from the horn of a [[Greater kudu|kudu]]. A Moroccan shofar is flat, with a single, broad curve.
A crack or hole in the shofar affecting the sound renders it unfit for ceremonial use. A shofar may not be painted in colors, but it may be carved with artistic designs.<ref>[[Shulkhan Arukh]], [[Orach Chayim]] 586:17</ref> Shofars (especially the Sephardi shofars) are sometimes plated with silver across part of their length for display purposes, although this invalidates them for use in religious practices.

The horn is flattened and shaped by the application of heat, which softens it. A hole is made from the tip of the horn to the natural hollow inside. It is played much like a European [[brass instrument]], with the player blowing through the hole while buzzing the lips, causing the air column inside to vibrate. [[Sephardi]] shofars do usually have a carved mouthpiece resembling that of a European [[trumpet]] or [[French horn]], but smaller. Ashkenazi shofars do not.

Because the hollow of the shofar is irregular in shape, the [[harmonic]]s obtained when playing the instrument can vary: rather than a pure perfect fifth, [[interval (music)|intervals]] as narrow as a fourth, or as wide as a sixth may be produced.
<gallery widths="250" heights="200">
File:Liten askenasisk sjofar 5380.jpg|A small shofar made from a [[Sheep|ram]]'s horn.
File:Jemenittisk sjofar av kuduhorn.jpg|A shofar made from the horn of a [[greater kudu]].
File:Shofar.JPG|A small shofar made from a ram's horn.
</gallery>