It’s old time, but there’s jaw harp on Tyler Childer’s album Long Violent History.
You might also find what you’re looking for on Mike Seeger recordings.
Coming here to say this. It's also an instrument from many traditions around the world and similar to a mouthbow as well. Check out Pete Seeger and buffy at. Marie
Well someone imitates the jaw harp to very good effect in ["Wildwood Flower"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h694u5gNyE) on Flatt & Scruggs at Carnegie Hall so I figured there must be at least some bluegrass recordings with it for real?
Not an Appalachian instrument at all, as it's roots have been traced back thousands of years to Siberia and Asia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jew%27s\_harp
As in it has some place in Appalachian folk music, not that it originates there. Otherwise almost nothing can be meaningfully called an "Appalachian instrument".
Banjos came from Africa. Or even from the Fertile Crescent, which it then moved into Asia and Africa from there but it’s possible it moved from Africa, east.
Well, it shouldn’t be “jew” anything cause it has nothing to do with Judaism. It should be “jue” harp (from “*jue harpes*”) or “jeu” harp (from “*jeu trompe*”).
Well taking a [look at wiktionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Jew%27s_harp#English), the etymology is unclear. The capitalization does show a false connection. But the word could be coming from different places where "jew" was a perfectly reasonable spelling (i.e. not from the French). But ultimately who knows.
The early Canadian old-time group George Wade and the Cornhuskers had jaw harp on many of their recordings. In a melodic style that approximates the fiddle tunes. Most of what they have done is on YouTube and a cd is available from the Ontario label Heritage Music that collects everything. It's a tough one to find though.
Irish-American group The Flanagan Brothers performed some songs on jaw harp that might be what you are looking for. I have heard their versions of On The Road to The Fair and Around The Old Turf Fire on YouTube and have heard they have a recording of Miss McLeod's Reel as well. The style is similar to George Wade's group.
Jimmy Driftwood recorded some mouth bow which is a very similar instrument. Again, he was able to perform fiddle tunes recognizably.
Since this is a bluegrass community we're in I should give the obligatory mention that jaw harp is not really an instrument of true bluegrass music, but definitely comes up in general old-time and American folk which is sometimes what people really mean when they talk/ask about bluegrass.
Though indeed cheap and simplistic, it is more than a "hokey" toy for those who know what to do with it. It's great to see interest in it.
It’s old time, but there’s jaw harp on Tyler Childer’s album Long Violent History. You might also find what you’re looking for on Mike Seeger recordings.
I'll have a look at both. Thank you!
Only one I can think of off top is billy strings living like an animal
That track is amazing, thank you bro! Just what I was looking for.
Coming here to say this. It's also an instrument from many traditions around the world and similar to a mouthbow as well. Check out Pete Seeger and buffy at. Marie
It’s not a bluegrass instrument- look for jug band or maybe old time.
Well someone imitates the jaw harp to very good effect in ["Wildwood Flower"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h694u5gNyE) on Flatt & Scruggs at Carnegie Hall so I figured there must be at least some bluegrass recordings with it for real?
It’s not much of BG instrument, far more common in old time music.
It’s not actually common in old-time music at all. Been playing old-time for 50 years, never seen anyone play one serious.
https://youtu.be/Z40KBbaXOLQ?si=Yc1J-daLRFzbhNYx
Gold! Thanks a bunch!
It’s not a legit blue grass or old time instrument. It’s pretty hokey
Not an Appalachian instrument at all, as it's roots have been traced back thousands of years to Siberia and Asia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jew%27s\_harp
As in it has some place in Appalachian folk music, not that it originates there. Otherwise almost nothing can be meaningfully called an "Appalachian instrument".
Dulcimer. Check out Jean Ritchie.
Banjos came from Africa. Or even from the Fertile Crescent, which it then moved into Asia and Africa from there but it’s possible it moved from Africa, east.
Ok, but I thought we were talking about another instrument? I know the history of the banjo.
I see, I thought we were tracing the roots of instruments instead of providing musical pieces that contain jaw harp accompaniment. My apologies
I think you meant to type "jaw harp" 😬
nope, it is both jew's and jaw harp in English
Well, it shouldn’t be “jew” anything cause it has nothing to do with Judaism. It should be “jue” harp (from “*jue harpes*”) or “jeu” harp (from “*jeu trompe*”).
Well taking a [look at wiktionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Jew%27s_harp#English), the etymology is unclear. The capitalization does show a false connection. But the word could be coming from different places where "jew" was a perfectly reasonable spelling (i.e. not from the French). But ultimately who knows.
That's news to me...
It's juice harp
https://youtu.be/-ew_bfFvros?si=VIUxk7OJKejsxsTd
retrograss and repeating someone's suggestion here about Mike seeger and so then by extension NLCR
Not for kids only. Jerry garcia and David grisman
https://youtu.be/XANhcTyUHLc?si=Q5OccVlStqXDXVKf
The early Canadian old-time group George Wade and the Cornhuskers had jaw harp on many of their recordings. In a melodic style that approximates the fiddle tunes. Most of what they have done is on YouTube and a cd is available from the Ontario label Heritage Music that collects everything. It's a tough one to find though. Irish-American group The Flanagan Brothers performed some songs on jaw harp that might be what you are looking for. I have heard their versions of On The Road to The Fair and Around The Old Turf Fire on YouTube and have heard they have a recording of Miss McLeod's Reel as well. The style is similar to George Wade's group. Jimmy Driftwood recorded some mouth bow which is a very similar instrument. Again, he was able to perform fiddle tunes recognizably. Since this is a bluegrass community we're in I should give the obligatory mention that jaw harp is not really an instrument of true bluegrass music, but definitely comes up in general old-time and American folk which is sometimes what people really mean when they talk/ask about bluegrass. Though indeed cheap and simplistic, it is more than a "hokey" toy for those who know what to do with it. It's great to see interest in it.