mouth harp
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A small, handheld musical instrument, typically rectangular, with a row of free reeds set inside air holes. It is played by placing it against the lips and blowing or sucking air through the desired hole to produce different notes.
Examples
- He played a lively tune on his mouth harp.
- The mouth harp is known for its distinctive, twangy sound.
- She carries a mouth harp in her pocket to practice anywhere.
Advanced Usage
- As a cultural artifact: The mouth harp is often discussed in the context of folk music traditions around the world.
- The mouth harp features prominently in the traditional music of many Asian and European cultures.
Variants and Related Words
- Harmonica: A more common modern term for a similar free-reed wind instrument, often with a different internal structure (chord or diatonic).
- Jew's harp: An older and now often considered dated or potentially offensive term for a similar, but typically single-tongued, instrument.
- Blues harp: A colloquial term for a diatonic harmonica used specifically for playing blues music.
Synonyms
- Harmonica
- French harp (regional, chiefly Southern US)
Related Phrases
- Play the (mouth) harp: To perform music on this instrument.
- He learned to play the mouth harp from his grandfather.
Noun
- a small rectangular free-reed instrument having a row of free reeds set back in air holes and played by blowing into the desired hole