Choosing assistant
Find a jaw harp tuning for your voice
Read one sentence in your normal voice. The tool estimates the natural centre of your speech and suggests jaw harp tunings one octave lower.
A short test in your browser
This is not a singing or medical assessment. The result is a practical starting point for choosing an instrument, and you can repeat it at any time.
Read the text in your normal speaking voice. Do not sing, hum, or deliberately change the pitch of your voice.
After a calm day, Anna and I go home. We read a red book, eat green beans and oatmeal, and drink blueberry juice.
For a very deep, hoarse, creaky or irregular voice, or whenever the standard measurement fails.
Your approximate recommendation
The listed standard tunings are normally in stock with the supplier. Sharp or flat semitone tunings are made to order; we confirm the specific instrument before ordering.
Want a more accurate long-term result? Repeat the measurement in Morning Brumendo and track your voice over time.
Start a morning measurementTechnical measurement details
Tuning and resonance
Why choose a jaw harp based on your voice?
Every person has a natural speaking-voice range. It is not a single fixed pitch, but a band in which the voice most often moves during relaxed speech. The finder can estimate its approximate centre.
The voice begins with the vibration of the vocal folds, but its final timbre and strength are shaped by the resonant spaces of the body – especially the throat, mouth and nasal cavities. We work in a very similar way when playing the jaw harp. The metal reed creates a fundamental tone and a series of harmonics, while the mouth, tongue and throat select and amplify the parts of the sound we want to hear.
This leads to my working theory: a jaw harp tuned approximately one octave below the natural centre of the voice may create a pleasant 1:2 relationship between the instrument’s fundamental and the voice. The voice can then meet the jaw harp’s second harmonic. This octave relationship is the practical “magic” behind the recommendation.
My experience of helping people choose jaw harps is consistent with this: people often find a tuning approximately one octave below their voice centre especially pleasant. This is not a scientifically validated rule, nor is it the only correct choice. It is a practical aid that can narrow the selection and provide a useful starting point.
The tuning nearest to the derived note one octave lower may feel natural and balanced. An even deeper jaw harp offers a darker, calmer and more strongly vibrating sound, while a slightly higher tuning is usually brighter and more projecting. The result does not dictate a single correct instrument; it presents three meaningful directions based on your taste.
Current range
Models and tunings normally in stock with the supplier
After the test, we show the nearest standard tunings and the models in which the supplier offers them. This is not an online shop; we will arrange the exact instrument personally.
Sharp or flat semitone tunings are made to order. We always confirm the specific model and tuning before an order.
Frequently asked questions
How to read the result and choose a tuning
The finder gives you a practical starting point. These answers explain what the result means and what else to consider when choosing a jaw harp.
What exactly does the voice finder measure?
It estimates the approximate centre and typical range of your fundamental frequency during relaxed speech. It does not assess voice quality, singing range or health.
Is choosing a jaw harp by voice a scientifically validated rule?
No. It is a working theory supported by practical experience of helping people choose instruments. The result is a guide, not a diagnosis or the only correct choice.
Why is the recommendation one octave below my voice?
One octave lower means exactly half the frequency. The voice can then meet the jaw harp’s second harmonic in a 1:2 relationship that often feels natural in shared resonance. It is a practical guide, not a compulsory rule.
Do I have to choose the closest recommended tuning?
No. The starting recommendation is approximately one octave below the centre of your voice. An even deeper or slightly higher option may better suit the sound, vibration and playing style you want.
What is the difference between a deeper and a higher jaw harp?
A deeper tuning tends to be darker, calmer and more strongly vibrating. A higher tuning is usually brighter and more projecting. The individual model and playing technique also shape its character.
Why do the mouth and throat change the sound of a jaw harp?
The reed produces a fundamental tone and harmonic frequencies. By changing the shape of your mouth, the position of your tongue and the space in your throat, you select and amplify individual harmonics.
What if the finder suggests a sharp or flat semitone?
The exact chromatic pitch, including a semitone, is shown in the centre, with the nearest lower and higher standard tunings beside it. Sharp or flat semitone tunings can be made to order, subject to the supplier’s current range.
Is the test useful when choosing a first jaw harp?
Yes, as a practical starting point. Alongside your voice centre, consider whether you prefer a deep meditative sound, a versatile instrument or a brighter tuning for rhythmic and melodic playing.
Is my voice recording stored?
No. The audio is processed only in your browser, and neither the recording nor the result is sent to a server.