Punch tongue instrument

Pierced reed instruments are musical instruments with a pierced tongue , in which the sound is usually generated by several metal tongues that can vibrate freely. According to the Hornbostel-Sachs system, they are counted among the interruption aerophones , because the wind current is made to vibrate through periodic interruptions. One or two tones each need their own air duct ( chambers ), depending on whether the air flow is only in one or both directions. The air supply can be mechanical or direct. The selection of the tones is done by covering the undesired chambers or by guiding the wind.

Instruments with resounding tongues include the harmonium , the accordion and its variants, the harmonica as well as the Southeast Asian and East Asian mouth organs ( Sheng , Khaen , Qeej , Shō ) and the Bawu . Contrary to the Hornbostel-Sachs system, the jew's harp can also be classified as a piercing tongue instrument if the focus is on the importance of the transmission of vibrations to the air for sound generation.

In the west, instruments with punch reeds did not appear until the end of the 18th century. The Asian instruments have existed for over 3000 years.

The reed pipes as a register of the organ on the other hand mostly use a single reed .