# Play Ocarina

> Play Ocarina is a free website for beginner and hobbyist ocarina players: an ocarina tuner and tuning test, real fingering charts and song tabs, and honest advice on which ocarina to buy.

Play Ocarina is an independent learning site. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask and Link's Awakening are trademarks of Nintendo.

# Ocarina tuner

URL: https://playocarina.com/tuner/

Updated: 2026-10-30

The Play Ocarina tuner listens through your microphone, shows the note you are playing and lights up the picture of its holes. It also tests your whole ocarina, one note at a time, and ends in a report on each note.

## How does the ocarina tuner work?

Play one note at a time, long and steady. The tuner shows which note it heard and lights up the picture of the holes for that note, the same pictures as on our fingering charts. It tells you in plain words whether the note is in tune, a little flat or a little sharp. Flat means a little low: try a little more air. Sharp means a little high: try a little less.

## What does in tune mean for an ocarina?

Tuning is measured in cents. A semitone, the step between two neighbouring notes on a piano, is 100 cents. A note that is 20 cents flat is a fifth of a semitone below where it should be.

Ocarina maker [Pure Ocarinas gives a useful scale](https://pureocarinas.com/measure-ocarina-breath-curve): "5 to 10 cents is not normally noticeable", while "30 or more will be difficult to compensate for". The tuning test applies those bands to how far each note sits from the pattern your other notes follow: up to 10 cents out of line reads as fine, 10 to 30 cents as a little flat or sharp, and 30 or more as quite flat or sharp. A steady offset shared by every note comes from your breath or the reference pitch, so it does not count against the pattern; a note that reads more than 15 cents sharp even at the softest breath is noted on its own. A chamber with fewer than seven measured notes, such as the top chamber of a double or triple ocarina, is shown but not graded. When no chamber has that many, as in a test stopped part-way, the same bands go on how far each note reads from its own target, and a note outside them is only ever one to try again, never a fault.

## Why does breath change an ocarina's pitch?

An ocarina has no keys or strings that fix its pitch. The note depends on which holes are covered and on how hard you blow: more air makes the note go sharp, less makes it go flat. Pure Ocarinas puts the size of the effect plainly in [its guide to playable ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/identifying-playable-ocarinas): "Better quality instruments will overblow above the named pitch of any fingered note at least a semitone without screeching". That is 100 cents from breath alone.

So a tuner reading is always your ocarina plus your breath today. A beginner who blows a little harder on the high notes can make a well-made ocarina look out of tune, and a careful player can make a poor one look fine. The note-by-note test treats every result as provisional: a note outside the band first reads as "Worth another try", not as "your ocarina is out of tune".

## How do you test whether an ocarina is in tune?

[Pure Ocarinas describes a method](https://pureocarinas.com/measure-ocarina-breath-curve) that separates the instrument from the player: hold one note exactly in tune, then lift the next finger without changing your breath, and note how many cents the new note lands from its target. On a well-tuned ocarina those steps are regular from note to note. A note that jumps out of the pattern every time you repeat it is a reason to check the instrument.

The Play Ocarina test uses a simpler default that suits beginners: it shows the holes for each note of your ocarina's scale, you blow it as a soft, steady tone for about two seconds, and the tuner measures the stable middle of it. On a 12-hole the breath-curve method above is there too, as the finger-lift test for serious players: each finger lift is played three times and averaged before it is graded.

## What range does my ocarina play?

Ocarinas come in several hole systems and sizes, and each plays a different range of notes. The tuner asks how many holes yours has, so it listens in the right place. These are the sounding ranges makers list on their product pages for the most common types, as we found them on 26 and 27 October 2026. Each range links to the page it comes from:

| Ocarina | Sounding range |
| --- | --- |
| 12-hole alto C | [A4 to F6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-fairy-tenor-ocarina) |
| 12-hole soprano C | [A5 to F7](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-soprano-ocarina-little-echo-2-colors-available) |
| 12-hole bass C | [A3 to F5](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-bass-ocarina-with-zelda-songbook) |
| 12-hole in G | [E5 to C7](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-alto-ocarina-in-g-major-by-chen-ching) or [E4 to C6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-tenor-ocarina-in-g-major-labyrinth) (2 sizes) |
| 12-hole in F | [D5 to Bb6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-alto-ocarina-in-f-major-sapling) or [D4 to Bb5](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-tenor-ocarina-in-f-major-by-chen-ching) (2 sizes) |
| 6-hole pendant in C | [C5 to E6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/6-hole-tenor-ocarina-in-c-major-simple-reliable-everyday-play) |
| 6-hole soprano C | [C6 to E7](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/6-hole-soprano-ocarina-in-c-major) |
| 6-hole bass C | [C4 to E5](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/6-hole-bass-ocarina-in-c-major) |
| 4-hole pendant | Varies by maker (not published) |
| Double ocarina in C | [A4 to C7](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/double-ocarina-in-c-major-with-two-octave-range) |
| Triple ocarina in C | [A4 to G7](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/blue-and-white-porcelain-tenor-triple-ocarina) |

The tuner starts out assuming your ocarina is in C, the most common key, and you can change that at the top of the tuner. The test works out the key from its first note.

## Does temperature change ocarina pitch?

Yes, a little. [Pure Ocarinas says](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-air-temperature-pitch) the pitch changes "at about 1 cent per degree Celsius", that ocarinas "are tuned to play at a given temperature, such as 20 °C", and that "plus or minus 15 °C" from that is normally fine. A cold ocarina plays flat, so play it for a minute to warm it up before you test it.

## Which reference pitch do ocarinas use?

Most ocarinas are tuned to concert pitch, A4 = 440 Hz, and the tuner uses that by default. [Pure Ocarinas notes](https://pureocarinas.com/playing-ocarina-in-tune) that "Ocarinas tuned to A442 are relatively common in Asia", so the tuner's settings also offer A442 and A432.

## What does the Play Ocarina tuner do?

- Asks how many holes your ocarina has, once, and remembers it on your device: 12, 11 or 10 holes, a 6-hole or 4-hole pendant, or two or three mouthpieces.
- Shows the note and every fingering on your ocarina as a picture, and lights up the one you are playing. A note within 10 cents of its target reads as in tune.
- Runs the note-by-note test and ends with a report card for your ocarina, which you can save as a link that holds only numbers.
- If the microphone is blocked or missing, shows every note's holes and plays reference notes, so you can still tune by ear.
- Runs in the browser on a phone or a laptop. Inside the Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or Reddit apps the microphone may not work, so open the page in Safari or Chrome.

## Does the tuner record me?

No. The tuner works out the pitch inside your browser. Your microphone turns on only after you choose to check notes or test your ocarina, and the sound is never recorded, stored or sent anywhere: not to us and not to anyone else. Our [privacy page](https://playocarina.com/privacy/) has the details.

## Is my ocarina bad, or is it me?

The Play Ocarina test is built to tell your breath from your ocarina fairly: once enough notes are played, it compares each note with the pattern the other notes follow, so a steady difference in your breath does not count against the instrument, and a note that stands out first reads as one to try again: only a note that reads off on both tries points at the ocarina. Our guide [Is my ocarina out of tune, or is it me?](https://playocarina.com/guides/is-my-ocarina-out-of-tune/) walks through a fair check, and our [guide to choosing an ocarina](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/) covers which ones to buy.

# Ocarina guides

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/

Updated: 2026-10-30

These ocarina guides are for beginners, in three groups: what an ocarina is and how to start playing, why a note sounds wrong and how to fix it, and which ocarina to buy or give. Each guide answers its question in its first lines.

## Getting started on the ocarina

- [What is an ocarina?](https://playocarina.com/guides/what-is-an-ocarina/): the types, hole counts and sizes, and where the ocarina comes from.
- [Ocarina notes and the C major scale](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-notes/): every note a 12-hole, 6-hole and 4-hole ocarina plays, and the scale on each.
- [How to hold an ocarina](https://playocarina.com/guides/how-to-hold-an-ocarina/): which finger covers each hole, where your thumbs go and how loosely to grip.
- [How to play the ocarina: a first-week plan for beginners](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-for-beginners/): a day-by-day plan from your first notes to two easy songs.
- [How to read ocarina tabs](https://playocarina.com/guides/how-to-read-ocarina-tabs/): what the fingering pictures mean, what they leave out, and the same notes on a staff.
- [How to clean an ocarina and look after it](https://playocarina.com/guides/how-to-clean-an-ocarina/): cleaning ceramic, plastic and wood, clearing water from the windway, and storing it safely.
- [How to practise the ocarina quietly](https://playocarina.com/guides/practice-ocarina-quietly/): why soft playing goes flat, what a mute really does, and how to practise without sound.
- [Free ocarina resources on other sites](https://playocarina.com/guides/free-ocarina-resources/): free books, tabs and sheet music on other sites, and what each is good for.

Then the [fingering charts](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/) show every note on a 12-hole, 6-hole or 4-hole ocarina, and the [songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/) give you tunes to play with them.

## Why does my ocarina sound wrong?

- [Is my ocarina out of tune, or is it me?](https://playocarina.com/guides/is-my-ocarina-out-of-tune/): how to tell a badly tuned ocarina from your breath, and when to send it back.
- [Why does my ocarina sound airy or flat?](https://playocarina.com/guides/airy-or-flat-high-notes/): too little breath, a leaking hole or a hovering finger, and how to find which.
- [How hard should you blow an ocarina?](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-breath-control/): gently on the low notes, firmer as you climb, with exercises to learn your ocarina.
- [How do you tongue notes on the ocarina?](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-tonguing/): starting each note with a "tu" instead of a puff of air, and why it keeps notes in tune.

To check a note while you read, the [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) shows which note you are playing, lights up the picture of its holes and says whether it is in tune.

## Which ocarina should I buy?

- [Which ocarina should I buy? An honest guide for beginners](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/): what makes an ocarina playable, which to pick for your situation, and the cheap replica trap.
- [Zelda ocarina replicas: which ones really play?](https://playocarina.com/guides/zelda-ocarina-replicas/): toys, props and real instruments told apart, with a reviewer's scores and checked prices.
- [Electric Ocarina of Time vs a real ocarina](https://playocarina.com/guides/electric-ocarina-of-time-vs-real-ocarina/): what the $49.99 button toy does, what Nintendo says the remake hears, and which to buy.
- [Test your new ocarina while you can still return it](https://playocarina.com/guides/test-a-new-ocarina-before-returning-it/): test a new ocarina in 2 minutes and what the result means for keeping or returning it.
- [Giving an ocarina: a gift guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-gift-guide/): what to give a child, a Zelda fan or an adult beginner, and what to spend.
- [The best ocarina apps for beginners, compared](https://playocarina.com/guides/best-ocarina-apps/): which apps listen to your real ocarina, which are toys, and what each one costs.

# Which ocarina should I buy? An honest guide for beginners

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/

Updated: 2026-11-01

Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through one, the shop pays us a commission, at no extra cost to you. [How we handle them](https://playocarina.com/affiliate-disclosure/).

For most beginners, the best first ocarina is a plastic 12-hole alto C from an established maker, such as the Night by Noble AC or the Focalink Bravura AC, at about $30 to $40. Ocarina reviewer [Andy Cormier calls both in tune](https://andycormier.blog/best-ocarinas/), and they survive being dropped. The one to be careful with is the cheap ceramic Zelda-style replica: it looks the part, but for Amazon US's best-selling ocarina when we checked on 26 October 2026, a $22.99 ceramic replica, [Amazon's summary of reviews](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076DX5PBY) says buyers find only a few of its notes in tune.

We have not measured these instruments ourselves yet. We plan to buy the best-selling replica on Amazon and a Night by Noble, play both into our [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) note by note and publish the numbers here. Until then, this page draws on makers' own pages, Amazon listings and reviews, and an ocarina reviewer, each linked where we use it.

## What makes an ocarina good for a beginner?

A good first ocarina is in tune, plays the music you will learn from, survives being dropped, and can still be sent back if it disappoints.

- It is tuned. Each note should sound in tune with a breath that rises as you go up. Ocarina maker [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/why-does-ocarina-sound-out-of-tune) gives one quick warning sign: "The clearest tell that an ocarina is not tuned correctly is if all of the finger holes are identically sized".
- It plays the music you will use. Every song tab on our site has a 12-hole version. Of the top 50 items on [Amazon US's Ocarinas best-seller list](https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/musical-instruments/11973001) on 26 October 2026 (viewed from the UK, which limits it to items that ship there), 37 were ocarinas whose titles say 12-hole.
- It survives being dropped. Plastic ocarinas bounce; ceramic ones can crack. Ocarina reviewer Andy Cormier, who earns a commission when readers buy from Songbird or Amazon through [his recommendations page](https://andycormier.blog/best-ocarinas/), puts it this way: "if someone jumps head-first into premium ceramic ocarinas, there's a high chance they'll break them while learning to play."
- You can still send it back. Whatever you buy, test it in the first days while the return window is open (how to do that is below).

## Which ocarina should I buy?

Pick by your situation rather than by a ranking. Prices are what we saw on the date shown, in US dollars except the UK school ocarina, which is in pounds: Amazon's as seen from a US location, Songbird's as seen from the UK. They change often.

- To learn properly on a budget: A plastic 12-hole alto C. Our pick for most beginners: A reviewer calls both models named here in tune and hard to break, and every song tab on our site has a 12-hole version. Andy Cormier [recommends both](https://andycormier.blog/best-ocarinas/): "both the Night by Noble and Bravura by Focalink are in-tune, easy to learn on, and indestructible." [Night by Noble AC](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008WYNVAW) was $39.00 at Amazon US on 30 October 2026. [Focalink Bravura AC](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/products/bravura-alto-c-in-white?bg_ref=M9D8DPhSI1&tid1=playocarina&tid2=llms&tid3=buying-guide&tid4=bravura) was $40.00 at Songbird Ocarina on 27 October 2026. Amazon's summary of the Night's reviews, as we read it on 26 October, mentions "accurate pitch".
- For the Zelda look: A replica from a specialist maker. Buy from a specialist maker, not the cheapest listing. Andy Cormier says to ["get a Zelda replica from a reputable vendor"](https://andycormier.blog/best-ocarinas/), naming Songbird and STL. [OoT 12-Hole Alto C (ceramic)](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/products/oot-12-hole-alto-c?bg_ref=M9D8DPhSI1&tid1=playocarina&tid2=llms&tid3=buying-guide&tid4=oot-12-hole) was $150.00 at Songbird Ocarina on 27 October 2026. [Plastic OoT 7-Hole Alto C](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/products/plastic-oot-7-hole-alto-c?bg_ref=M9D8DPhSI1&tid1=playocarina&tid2=llms&tid3=buying-guide&tid4=plastic-oot-7-hole) was $40.00 at Songbird Ocarina on 27 October 2026. The 7-hole uses a pendant-style fingering, so 12-hole tabs do not fit it; Songbird sells [7-hole songbooks](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/products/anime-songbook-vol-1-for-7-hole-ocarina-pdf-download?bg_ref=M9D8DPhSI1&tid1=playocarina&tid2=llms&tid3=buying-guide&tid4=7-hole-songbook).
- To carry in a pocket: A 6-hole pendant. It is smaller, with fewer holes, but ranges vary by maker. [Plastic 6-Hole Alto C](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/products/plastic-6-hole-alto-c-green?bg_ref=M9D8DPhSI1&tid1=playocarina&tid2=llms&tid3=buying-guide&tid4=plastic-6-hole) was $20.00 at Songbird Ocarina on 27 October 2026. STL's 6-hole tenor in C plays [C5 to E6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/6-hole-tenor-ocarina-in-c-major-simple-reliable-everyday-play) (STL's figure on 27 October 2026), about an octave and a third, while Songbird lists its Plastic 6-Hole Alto C at A4 to E6. Pendants use their own fingering, so look for 6-hole tabs.
- For a young child or a UK primary school class: A plastic 4-hole. It plays one octave, low C to high C, and UK schools teach it with [Ocarina Workshop's books](https://www.ocarina.co.uk/ocarinas-at-school/). [Ocarina Workshop single 4-hole ocarina](https://www.ocarina.co.uk/shop/31-plastic-oc) was £16.20 including VAT at Ocarina Workshop on 28 October 2026. Five of the top 50 ocarinas on [Amazon UK's best-seller list](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/musical-instruments/511913031) on 26 October 2026 were 4-hole.

- If you already read music or play another wind instrument: a multi-chamber ocarina, with its wider range, is an option from the start. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/what-type-ocarina-should-learn): "If you are new to music, a single chamber will be simpler as they have fewer notes. For more experienced musicians, a multichamber may be preferable." Single and multichamber ocarinas of the classic transverse shape "use the same fingering system", so you can also start single and move up later.
- If you have RSI, arthritis or stiff hands: look at inline ocarinas. Pure Ocarinas: "If you have RSI, arthritis, or similar disabilities, you may find that the ergonomic advantages of an inline ocarina outweigh the cons." Mountain Ocarinas, a US maker of inline ocarinas, [said on its site](https://www.mountainocarinas.com/) on 26 October 2026 that "we are not selling any of our products at this time".

## Are Zelda ocarina replicas worth buying?

From a specialist maker, yes; the cheapest listings are the risk. The top seller on that Amazon US list was a $22.99 Deekec "Zelda Ocarina 12 Hole Alto C" with 6,131 ratings, and Amazon's own summary of its reviews said: "The tuning is a significant issue, with customers reporting that only 2-3 notes are actually in tune." One UK buyer who sent back a ceramic Zelda-style ocarina [reviewed the plastic Night by Noble](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008WYNVAW) that replaced it as mostly in tune, putting the rest down to their own learning, and sturdy enough not to break.

Our guide to [Zelda ocarina replicas](https://playocarina.com/guides/zelda-ocarina-replicas/) compares them model by model, tells real ones from toys and props, and covers Nintendo's own.

## Where should I buy an ocarina?

Buy from the maker, a music shop that specialises in flutes, or a named brand on Amazon, and check the return terms first. We read these shops' policies on 30 October 2026:

- [Songbird Ocarina](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/?bg_ref=M9D8DPhSI1&tid1=playocarina&tid2=llms&tid3=buying-guide&tid4=home), in the US, makes its ceramic OoT replica in Los Angeles and also sells other makers' ocarinas. You can [return an item](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/policies/refund-policy) "up to 30 days after delivery", and it ships abroad, with duties and import taxes on top. Our links to its products are paid links, and when we tried one on 1 November 2026, Songbird took 10% off the ocarina in our cart.
- [STL Ocarina](https://www.stlocarina.com/), in the US, sells its own range and [ships internationally](https://www.stlocarina.com/pages/shipping). It has the shortest window here: [contact it within 10 days](https://www.stlocarina.com/pages/returnpolicy). Its policy also mentions "a 35% restocking fee for each item", in a sentence about items it deems damaged or unsatisfactory, so ask before you send one back. Its [plastic 12-hole](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-plastic-tenor-ocarina-in-c-major-7-colors) was $30 when we read it on 28 October.
- Amazon sells the [Night by Noble](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008WYNVAW) and the cheap replicas that reviewer Andy Cormier warns against, so search by brand. When we read [its policy](https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GKM69DUUYKQWKWX7) on 28 October, most items could go back within 30 days "as long as they are in original or unused condition", so check the listing before you play it.
- In the UK, [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/shipping) makes and ships its own globally, though its [returns page](https://pureocarinas.com/returns) says plain-finished ocarinas can't come back. [Just Flutes](https://justflutes.com/shop/browse/ocarinas) in London sells Stein ocarinas (Focalink's trading name), with 30-day returns, and [Ocarina Workshop](https://www.ocarina.co.uk/shop/) makes 4-hole ocarinas and sells them to UK schools.

Outside these countries, compare the delivered price before you order. Shipping and import tax can add a lot to a $40 ocarina, so a nearby shop may cost less than the cheaper listing.

## How much does a decent ocarina cost?

About $30 to $40 for a plastic 12-hole alto C that plays in tune, and more for ceramic ocarinas from specialist makers: Songbird's ceramic OoT 12-Hole Alto C was $150.00 on 27 October 2026. Cheaper ocarinas are everywhere: across 47 priced listings on the first page of [an Amazon US search for "ocarina"](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ocarina) on 26 October 2026, the median price was $21.99 and 41 cost under $30. [Pure Ocarinas' view](https://pureocarinas.com/why-ocarina-airy-high-notes): "It really isn't worth skimping because a poor instrument makes your job as a player much more difficult. In relation to other instruments, good ocarinas are not expensive."

## Is a plastic or a ceramic ocarina better for a beginner?

Plastic, for a first ocarina. A good plastic ocarina plays in tune and survives drops, and being ceramic says nothing about whether an ocarina was tuned. Andy Cormier answers the idea that "It's made of ceramic, so it must be better than plastic" with: "Don't do it."

## Which type of ocarina should a beginner start with?

The 12-hole alto C, for most people: it has the widest choice of songs and tabs, and its fingering carries over to multi-chamber ocarinas later. Pure Ocarinas calls the transverse ocarina, the rounded shape every 12-hole has, "the best type of ocarina to learn for playing melodies". These are the sounding ranges makers published for the common types when we checked on 26 and 27 October 2026; each range links to the maker's page:

| Ocarina | Sounding range |
| --- | --- |
| 12-hole alto C | [A4 to F6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-fairy-tenor-ocarina) |
| 12-hole soprano C | [A5 to F7](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-soprano-ocarina-little-echo-2-colors-available) |
| 12-hole bass C | [A3 to F5](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-bass-ocarina-with-zelda-songbook) |
| 12-hole in G | [E5 to C7](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-alto-ocarina-in-g-major-by-chen-ching) or [E4 to C6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-tenor-ocarina-in-g-major-labyrinth) (2 sizes) |
| 12-hole in F | [D5 to Bb6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-alto-ocarina-in-f-major-sapling) or [D4 to Bb5](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-tenor-ocarina-in-f-major-by-chen-ching) (2 sizes) |
| 6-hole pendant in C | [C5 to E6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/6-hole-tenor-ocarina-in-c-major-simple-reliable-everyday-play) |
| 6-hole soprano C | [C6 to E7](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/6-hole-soprano-ocarina-in-c-major) |
| 6-hole bass C | [C4 to E5](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/6-hole-bass-ocarina-in-c-major) |
| 4-hole pendant | Varies by maker (not published) |
| Double ocarina in C | [A4 to C7](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/double-ocarina-in-c-major-with-two-octave-range) |
| Triple ocarina in C | [A4 to G7](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/blue-and-white-porcelain-tenor-triple-ocarina) |

A 4-hole pendant plays [one octave, low C to high C](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/products/pendant-ocarina-course-pdf?bg_ref=M9D8DPhSI1&tid1=playocarina&tid2=llms&tid3=buying-guide&tid4=pendant-course), with the sharps and flats in between. A 6-hole pendant reaches higher with its thumb holes, up to the E above high C. Our page [What is an ocarina?](https://playocarina.com/guides/what-is-an-ocarina/) explains the main types, from inline ocarinas to doubles and triples.

## How do I check a new ocarina before the return window closes?

Test it in the first few days, while you can still send it back. You do not need to play well, only to hold one note steady at a time:

1. Warm it up by playing for a minute. A cold ocarina plays flat.
2. Look at the finger holes. If they are all the same size, that is Pure Ocarinas' clearest sign of an ocarina that was not tuned.
3. Play your lowest note softly into a tuner and bring it in tune. Then, on a 12-hole, lift the next finger without changing your breath, and note how many cents flat the new note reads. Bring that note in tune and repeat, up the scale.
4. Look for a step that jumps out of the pattern. On a well-tuned ocarina [the drops are regular or change only gradually](https://pureocarinas.com/measure-ocarina-breath-curve). A step that stands apart every time you repeat the test, with every hole sealed and every lifted finger clear, points at the instrument. Leave the top two or three notes out of the comparison.
5. Try the top notes in a warm room. [Pure Ocarinas says](https://pureocarinas.com/identifying-playable-ocarinas) a good ocarina will go "at least a semitone" above the named pitch of each note "without screeching". A high note that squeals before it reaches pitch is a bad sign; in a cold room it can be normal.

Our guide [Is my ocarina out of tune, or is it me?](https://playocarina.com/guides/is-my-ocarina-out-of-tune/) explains the step test in more detail, including why the top notes are left out and what to do if your breath will not hold steady yet. On a 12-hole, our free [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) runs this step test for you as its finger-lift test, playing each lift three times, averaging the results and leaving out the top notes. For a quicker test that ends in what to do about the result, use our [test for a new ocarina](https://playocarina.com/guides/test-a-new-ocarina-before-returning-it/).

## What is a good ocarina gift?

A plastic 12-hole alto C from an established maker is a safer present than a cheaper ceramic replica, even for a Zelda fan. For a young child, a small plastic pendant fits better. Our [ocarina gift guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-gift-guide/) covers what to give by age and situation, what else to put in the box, and how to test it before you wrap it, while the return window is open.

## Do you earn money from these recommendations?

From one shop. Our links to Songbird Ocarina's products are affiliate links: [Songbird pays us 10%](https://affiliate.songbirdocarina.com/) on purchases made within 90 days of a click (its terms when we read them on 27 October 2026), at no extra cost to you. Links to other shops earn us nothing, Amazon's included. Our [affiliate disclosure](https://playocarina.com/affiliate-disclosure/) lists the programme. A commission never moves an ocarina up this page.

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Why does my ocarina sound airy or flat?

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/airy-or-flat-high-notes/

Updated: 2026-10-31

An ocarina most often sounds airy or flat because it is getting less breath than it needs, and the high notes show it first. Ocarinas are tuned so that higher notes need more air pressure than low ones, and on many 12-hole ocarinas the top three notes [need a sharp jump](https://pureocarinas.com/intonation-pitch-graph). The other usual causes are dirt or water in the windway, a hole that is not fully sealed, a finger hovering over an open hole, and a cold ocarina. If you have ruled those out and it still sounds airy, the ocarina itself may be badly made.

## Why does my whole ocarina sound airy, not just the high notes?

When every note sounds airy, low ones included, check what the air meets on its way in. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/why-ocarina-airy-high-notes) names dirt first: it "can build up over time, and insects may crawl into the windway", and "Any obstruction in the windway is a problem, as it creates turbulence and increases airiness." Water from your breath does the same. Our guide to [cleaning an ocarina](https://playocarina.com/guides/how-to-clean-an-ocarina/) covers both. The other checks, from the same source unless linked:

- Your blowing angle. Hold the ocarina so the air flows straight into the windway, "without a 'kink' at the lips, as this creates turbulence": head up, ocarina straight in front of you.
- Your tongue. Raising the back of the tongue, or resting its tip too close to the teeth, "results in a noisy tone". Keep it low in the mouth unless you are tonguing a note.
- Your ears. An ocarina sounds different to you than to a listener: the high notes "will sound more airy to you because the ocarina is only inches from your ears", and wind noise "is much less audible to someone listening from a distance". Ask someone to listen from across the room.
- A phone recording. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-sound-airy-recordings) says phone and laptop microphones "are designed to capture a legible human voice for phone or video calls, not to record musical instruments", and a phone lying on the table catches extra hiss because "a large amount of wind noise is projected downwards". Hold the phone a little above the ocarina, at least 30 cm away.

## Why do ocarina high notes need more air?

Each note on an ocarina is in tune at one breath pressure, and on most ocarinas that pressure rises as you open more holes. [Pure Ocarinas explains](https://pureocarinas.com/why-ocarina-high-notes-flat): "As holes are opened, air can escape the chamber, and the high notes become increasingly airy-sounding. To compensate for this, ocarinas are tuned with a pressure curve that ramps up towards the high end." Under-blow a high note and it comes out airy and flat at once. Over-blow it and it goes sharp, then screeches.

Pure Ocarinas [measured the pressure](https://pureocarinas.com/study-ocarina-breath-curves-temperature) every note of one ocarina needed: low C played in tune at 36 units on its gauge, and high F needed 83, more than twice as much. With a tuner, finger a high note and raise your breath slowly until the reading reaches the target. In Pure Ocarinas' words, "you may be surprised just how much pressure is required relative to the low notes."

Chart: Breath pressure for an in-tune note, on one ocarina

| Group | Item | units on Pure Ocarinas' gauge |
| --- | --- | --- |
| In tune at | Low C | 36 |
| In tune at | High F | 83 |

Two of the notes in [Pure Ocarinas' study](https://pureocarinas.com/study-ocarina-breath-curves-temperature), one ocarina.

## What else makes ocarina high notes airy or flat?

- A finger hovering over an open hole makes the note slightly flat. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/why-ocarina-airy-high-notes): "Even if a finger hole is open, there is a notable distance where the presence of a finger will 'shade' the hole, causing the ocarina to play flatter than it should." To test it, play the high note while holding the ocarina by its ends, so no finger is near a hole.
- A hole that is not fully covered is worth ruling out. [Pure Ocarinas warns](https://pureocarinas.com/seven-common-ocarina-mistakes) that lifting your fingers high "increases the risk of miscovering a hole", and recommends covering each hole with the flat pad of the finger, not the tip.
- A note that is too low can mean the side of a finger is resting on one of the two small [sub-holes](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-fingering-system) of a 12-hole ocarina. They exist to "allow you to play lower notes", so covering one by accident pulls a note down.
- A cold ocarina plays every note a little flat. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-air-temperature-pitch) puts the effect "at about 1 cent per degree Celsius". Play for a minute to warm it before you judge, and expect it to sit a little flat in a cold room even then.
- A rushing air noise on the high notes can be your own palm. Pure Ocarinas: "If this fast-moving air hits your left palm, it makes a noise." Keep your hand out of the airstream.
- A high note that screeches often means blowing too hard. If it screeches before it even reaches pitch, the room is too cold or the ocarina is poorly tuned. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/why-ocarina-screech-high-notes): "In very cold environments, the high notes will screech before they reach concert pitch."

Diagram: Our drawing of a 12-hole ocarina from our fingering chart, every hole open, with its two small sub-holes circled.

The two circled holes are a 12-hole's sub-holes, which [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-fingering-system) covers in its page on the fingering system.

## Should I use the acute bend for high notes?

Teachers disagree. Songbird Ocarina [teaches the acute bend](https://songbirdocarina.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/203454064-Playing-the-High-Notes-on-an-Alto-C-Acute-Bend-Technique) for the top notes of an alto C: "tilt your head and ocarina downward, so that the ocarina is parallel to your chest". [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/why-ocarina-airy-high-notes) thinks it mostly changes what the player hears and writes: "I do not recommend using this technique, as it is ergonomically awkward and looks silly in a performance. Any ocarina marketed as 'needing' this technique is a bad instrument." Try the breath and finger checks above first.

## What exercise helps ocarina high notes most?

Stepping up the scale against a tuner. [Pure Ocarinas suggests](https://pureocarinas.com/breath-control-ocarina) a long tone on low C to learn its pressure, then one on D, "noticing the pressure difference between C and D", then both in one breath, "making the pressure change needed so that the D begins in tune". Carry on note by note up to the top, where the jumps in breath get bigger. Our guide to [breath control](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-breath-control/) has more exercises.

On our free [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/), a note within 10 cents reads "In tune" in green, and a flat one reads "A little flat" with "A little more air" under it. Hold a high note: one that starts in tune and then sinks as your breath fades slides from "In tune" to "A little flat" while you watch.

## Is an airy ocarina my fault or the ocarina's?

Usually breath, but not always. [Pure Ocarinas notes](https://pureocarinas.com/why-ocarina-airy-high-notes) that "Airy high notes are also a symptom of badly made ocarinas", and that if the notes are still airy after you have checked your breath, the windway and your angle, the ocarina "is likely poorly made".

The pattern across the scale tells the two apart. High notes that sag further the higher you go point at breath; one note far off on its own may be a leaking hole, a covered sub-hole or the instrument. The test in our tuner reads that pattern. You play each note as softly as it still sounds clean, and the tuner grades each note by how far it sits from the curve the other notes follow, not by its raw cents. A top end that is steep but regular can pass. The one exception is a note still sharp at the softest breath, which the test flags on its own. A note that lands on the next semitone instead is flagged as a fingering to check, and on a 12-hole the tuner adds that a covered sub-hole often does this. Our guide [Is my ocarina out of tune, or is it me?](https://playocarina.com/guides/is-my-ocarina-out-of-tune/) explains the test, and our [buying guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/) covers which ocarinas to buy.

# Is my ocarina out of tune, or is it me?

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/is-my-ocarina-out-of-tune/

Updated: 2026-10-30

It is usually one of two things: your breath, because an ocarina's pitch moves with how hard you blow, or a badly tuned ocarina, which is common among cheap ones. A simple test with a tuner on a 12-hole tells you which: hold one note in tune, lift the next finger without changing your breath, and see how far the new note drops. Repeat up the scale. On a well-tuned ocarina the drops follow a regular pattern; a step that jumps out of it, every time you repeat the test, points at the ocarina.

## How much does breath change an ocarina's pitch?

A lot. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/identifying-playable-ocarinas): "Better quality instruments will overblow above the named pitch of any fingered note at least a semitone without screeching." A semitone is 100 cents. In Pure Ocarinas' [own measurements](https://pureocarinas.com/study-ocarina-breath-curves-temperature) on one ocarina, every note could be played anywhere from 40 cents flat to 20 cents sharp by breath alone. So a beginner who blows a little hard can make a well-tuned ocarina read 20 cents sharp, and a careful player can make a poor one read fine.

## How do I test whether it is me or the ocarina?

1. Warm the ocarina by playing for a minute. A cold ocarina [reads flat](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-air-temperature-pitch).
2. Set a tuner to A4 = 440 Hz, with a numeric cents display.
3. Play your lowest note softly and steadily, and adjust your breath until it reads in tune. Notice how that breath feels.
4. Without changing your breath, lift the finger for the next note up, and write down how many cents flat it reads at the moment you lift. Do not tongue the change.
5. Now bring that new note into tune, and repeat the lift for the note above it. Work up the whole scale this way, one pair of notes at a time. On a well-tuned ocarina the steps are regular, or change only gradually from one end of the scale to the other: [Pure Ocarinas' example](https://pureocarinas.com/measure-ocarina-breath-curve) is "C: 20, D: 21, E: 19, F: 20, G: 20, A: 21, B: 18, C: 20".
6. Repeat it two or three times and average. A step that jumps out of the pattern, as in Pure Ocarinas' bad example "C: 20, D: 0, E: 40, F: 60", points at the ocarina once you have checked that every covering finger seals and every lifted finger is well clear of its hole. The top two or three notes are the exception: on many 12-hole ocarinas they [need a sharp jump in breath](https://pureocarinas.com/intonation-pitch-graph), and on some, like the [Night by Noble](https://andycormier.blog/2024/02/10/what-is-the-breath-curve-of-an-ocarina/), the very top note may need a little less, so judge the pattern on the notes below them.

Chart: How far each note drops when you lift the next finger

| Group | Item | cents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A well-tuned ocarina | C | 20 |
| A well-tuned ocarina | D | 21 |
| A well-tuned ocarina | E | 19 |
| A well-tuned ocarina | F | 20 |
| A well-tuned ocarina | G | 20 |
| A well-tuned ocarina | A | 21 |
| A well-tuned ocarina | B | 18 |
| A well-tuned ocarina | High C | 20 |
| A badly tuned one | C | 20 |
| A badly tuned one | D | 0 |
| A badly tuned one | E | 40 |
| A badly tuned one | F | 60 |

Pure Ocarinas' two [examples](https://pureocarinas.com/measure-ocarina-breath-curve), not our measurements. The steps on the first stay close to one another; on the second the 0, the 40 and the 60 break the pattern.

Holding your breath steady takes practice, and it is the whole point of the test. [Pure Ocarinas explains](https://pureocarinas.com/measure-ocarina-breath-curve) why you cannot simply play the scale normally and judge by feel: "the human body cannot control blowing pressure deterministically". If your readings jump around between tries, practise long tones for a few days with our guide to [breath control](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-breath-control/) and test again.

## How does the Play Ocarina tuning test separate breath from the ocarina?

Our [tuning test](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) doesn't call a note out of line with the others on one reading alone. It shows the holes for each note of the scale in turn and asks you to blow it soft and steady for two seconds. There is no warm-up step, so a cold ocarina can read a little flat on the first notes. In a chamber with at least seven notes, it grades each note by how far it sits from the curve the others follow. A scale that is flat all over, or steeper at the top, still passes, and the curve check flags only a note that breaks the line. When no chamber has that many, as in a test stopped part-way, each note is graded by how far it reads from its target instead, and a note outside the bands only ever as one to try again.

- A flagged note first reads as one to check again. Play it once more and, if the two readings agree within 10 cents, the report confirms it.
- A note still more than 15 cents sharp at the softest clean breath is flagged too, since blowing harder only raises it further.
- A note that lands on a neighbouring semitone twice is shown as a fingering to check, not graded.
- On a 12-hole, the step test above is in it as the finger-lift test for serious players: each finger lift is played three times and averaged before it is graded, and the lifts to the top three notes are left out.

## How many cents out of tune is too much on an ocarina?

[Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/measure-ocarina-breath-curve) gives two marks: "5 to 10 cents is not normally noticeable", and "30 or more will be difficult to compensate for when playing at a moderate tempo." In the step test, the number that counts is how far one step differs from the regular pattern of the others, so a step of 40 among steps of 20 is 20 cents out. A single casual reading includes your breath too, so it can be 30 cents off on a perfect ocarina.

- Up to 10 cents out is fine.
- Between 10 and 30 cents, our test reads a note as a little flat or sharp: you can usually bring it in with breath once you know it is there.
- 30 cents or more reads as quite flat or sharp, and breath alone rarely brings it in.
- If your ocarina's maker says it is tuned to A4 = 442 Hz, a standard [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/playing-ocarina-in-tune) calls "relatively common in Asia", every note will read about 8 cents sharp on a tuner set to 440. That is a different standard, not a fault: set your tuner to 442 for the test.

## How do you tune an ocarina?

You mostly can't, not in the way you tune a guitar. A standard ocarina has no tuning peg or slide, so you bring each note in tune with your breath and by warming the instrument up. [Tunable single-chamber ocarinas do exist](https://pureocarinas.com/tunable-multichamber-double-triple-ocarina), using what Pure Ocarinas calls "a moveable plug to displace chamber volume", but they are the exception. Leave the sharp edge in the mouthpiece alone; [STL warns](https://www.stlocarina.com/blogs/news/ocarina-care-instructions) that damage there "permanently affects sound." If one note jumps out of the pattern in the step test above, every time, the fix is a different ocarina.

## What are the signs of a badly tuned ocarina?

- All the finger holes are the same size. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/why-does-ocarina-sound-out-of-tune): "The clearest tell that an ocarina is not tuned correctly is if all of the finger holes are identically sized".
- One step jumps out of the pattern in the step test above, every time you repeat it.
- A high note screeches before it reaches pitch, even in a warm room.
- Buyer reviews mention tuning. When we checked on 26 October 2026, Amazon's [summary of reviews](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076DX5PBY) for the best-selling Zelda-style replica said "only 2-3 notes are actually in tune"; our [buying guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/) has the details.

## What should I do if my ocarina is out of tune?

If the ocarina is new, send it back while you can, and see our [buying guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/) for which ones to buy instead. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/why-does-ocarina-sound-out-of-tune): "In case you do find that your ocarina is not tuned properly I'd strongly recommend getting a better instrument." If you keep it, you can still learn on it: play the notes that are in tune, and treat the notes that stay off after repeated checks as the instrument's. If the test pointed at breath, practise against a tuner with our guide to [breath control](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-breath-control/).

# How hard should you blow an ocarina?

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-breath-control/

Updated: 2026-11-02

Gently for the low notes, and progressively firmer as you go up. Every note on an ocarina is in tune at one breath pressure only: the lowest notes need the least air, the high notes far more. On many 12-hole ocarinas the top three notes [need a sharp jump](https://pureocarinas.com/intonation-pitch-graph), while others ease off again near the very top. Too little air makes a note flat, and on the high notes airy too; too much makes it sharp, then it screeches. A big part of breath control is learning that curve on your own ocarina.

## What is an ocarina's breath curve?

The breath curve is how the pressure you need changes from note to note. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/why-does-ocarina-sound-out-of-tune): "Each note will sound in tune at only one pressure; the lowest notes need the least, and the highest the most." It differs between instruments: "Breath curves vary enormously from maker to maker, so there is no single definition of what an 'in tune' ocarina is." Not every curve climbs all the way: ocarina reviewer Andy Cormier [describes the Night by Noble's](https://andycormier.blog/2024/02/10/what-is-the-breath-curve-of-an-ocarina/) as flattening near the top, "where the high F may require less air than the high E". So each new ocarina means learning its curve again, with a tuner as the judge.

The top of the curve is also where pitch moves least for the effort. On one ocarina [Pure Ocarinas measured](https://pureocarinas.com/study-ocarina-breath-curves-temperature) with a pressure gauge, pushing high F from in tune to 20 cents sharp took 38 more units of pressure; doing the same on low C took 3. That is why the high notes feel so different from the low ones.

## Should I blow like blowing out a candle or fogging a window?

STL Ocarina's [12-hole booklet](https://site.stlocarina.com/bookletandchart/12HoleFinalPDF.pdf) asks for "a fast, cool air stream (similar to how you would blow out a candle) as opposed to a wide, warm air stream (like when you use your breath to fog up a window)". Whatever image helps you keep the stream steady, let a tuner judge the result. Two things matter for tone whatever you picture: keep "the rear of your tongue at the base of the mouth at all times", as [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/why-ocarina-airy-high-notes) puts it, and keep your throat open.

## How do I practise breath control on the ocarina?

1. Find each note's pressure. Finger a note, play it for a whole breath, and vary your pressure until a tuner reads in tune. On our [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) that is when the reading turns green, within 10 cents, and until then it says whether to give a little more air or a little less. [Songbird's advice](https://songbirdocarina.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/203542580-Using-Proper-Breath-Pressure) for climbing the scale: "blow softly, giving a little more air with each lifted finger".
2. Step between neighbours. Hold a long tone on one note, then on the next, then play the two in one breath and change the pressure so the second note starts in tune. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/breath-control-ocarina) starts this from low C; our guide to [high notes](https://playocarina.com/guides/airy-or-flat-high-notes/) takes it up to the top.
3. Hold long tones. Keep one note steady for several seconds against the tuner. Ours names the note and says "In tune" while it stays within 10 cents. If your breath fades, its meter lights up toward Flat, and if it surges, toward Sharp.
4. Practise leaps. Once scales are steady, play from low C to high C and back, "aiming to eliminate pitch errors caused by the pressure changing too slowly", as Pure Ocarinas puts it.
5. Train the breath away from the ocarina. Pure Ocarinas suggests breathing in fully and then breathing out as slowly as you can through a wide-open mouth, timing it, and trying to beat your time.

Sketch: Sketch of a pitch line over time, not a reading: a steady breath is a flat line inside the in-tune band, a fading breath starts in the band and slopes below it and a shaky breath waves across the band.

What a held note looks like on a tuner that draws pitch over time: flat when your breath is steady, sloping when it fades, a wave when it shakes.

## Does playing softly put an ocarina out of tune?

Yes. Because pitch follows breath, blowing softer to be quiet makes every note flat, so you can't just play more quietly while someone is asleep. Muting attachments exist for this; Andy Cormier [recommends one](https://andycormier.blog/best-ocarinas/) that "can reduce the volume of single-chamber ocarinas by up to 90%", though Pure Ocarinas disputes what such devices do for the pitch. Our guide to [practising quietly](https://playocarina.com/guides/practice-ocarina-quietly/) covers what works instead.

The same fact makes soft playing a useful test. The test in our tuner asks for each note as softly as it still sounds clean. A note that still reads more than 15 cents sharp is hard to bring down with breath, so the report flags it as sharp even at the softest breath: a reason to suspect the instrument, and to check it again. If your high notes are the problem, see [why high notes go airy or flat](https://playocarina.com/guides/airy-or-flat-high-notes/); for starting each note cleanly, see [how to tongue notes](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-tonguing/).

# How do you tongue notes on the ocarina?

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-tonguing/

Updated: 2026-10-28

You start each note by releasing the air with the tip of your tongue, as if saying "tu" or "du", while your breath keeps pushing steadily behind it. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-tongue-posture-articulation) compares the tongue to a tap: the pressure is always there, and the tongue lets it out and stops it. Tonguing gives each note a clean start at the right pitch, and it is how you play the same note twice in a row without the two blurring into one.

## Why shouldn't I just puff each note on the ocarina?

Because an ocarina's pitch follows your breath, a puff is also a pitch slide. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/seven-common-ocarina-mistakes): "Often, the most intuitive way to separate notes on a wind instrument is to 'puff' like blowing out a candle. It can be a valuable technique for effects, but it is generally poor because it causes the volume and pitch to ramp up, then roll off." Ending notes matters too. STL Ocarina's [booklet](https://site.stlocarina.com/bookletandchart/12HoleFinalPDF.pdf): "If the air stream tapers the pitch will sag".

## How do I tongue on the ocarina, step by step?

1. Without the ocarina, breathe out steadily through your mouth, then raise the back of your tongue until the air stops. Keep pushing: you will feel the pressure waiting behind your tongue. Lower it and the air flows at once.
2. Now use the tip instead. Put the tip of your tongue on the ridge just behind your top front teeth, as when you say "tu", with the sides sealed so no air escapes.
3. Finger a note, build the pressure behind your tongue, and drop the tip to start the note. To end it, put the tongue back. STL Ocarina's booklet: "To stop a note seal off the roof of your mouth with your tongue."
4. Play four notes on one breath: "tu, tu, tu, tu". Each should start at the same pitch, with no swoop.
5. If air leaks around your tongue, Pure Ocarinas says the tip is probably too far forward in your mouth, or the middle of your tongue too low.

## Should I tongue with "tu" or "du"?

Both, for different jobs. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-tongue-posture-articulation): "'T', with the tip of the tongue closer to the front of the mouth, produces a harder articulation with a distinct starting pulse of air", while "'D', similar to above, with the tongue farther back, creates a softer articulation." STL Ocarina's booklet uses "du" for smooth, connected playing. Since an ocarina can barely play louder or softer, a harder start is how you give a note emphasis.

## What is double tonguing on the ocarina?

Double tonguing is for fast passages: you alternate the tip and the middle of the tongue, "similar to 'tu - ku - tu - ku ...'", in [Pure Ocarinas' words](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-tongue-posture-articulation). Start slowly, at about 100 beats per minute, and make both syllables equal. Pure Ocarinas warns against shrinking the movement as you speed up: "There is a tendency to make the movements really small, which can restrict the airflow enough to make your high notes flat."

## Can a tuner check my tonguing?

A tuner can show the symptom. Play four tongued notes into a tuner: each should land on the same reading straight away. If the reading swoops up at the start of every note and sags at the end, you are puffing rather than tonguing. A microphone hears pitch very precisely, but it cannot see your tongue, so the fix is still yours to find. Our free [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) shows this, or any chromatic [tuner app](https://playocarina.com/guides/best-ocarina-apps/) works. For the breath behind the tongue, see [breath control](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-breath-control/).

Sketch: Sketch of a pitch line over time, not a reading: four tongued notes each sit level in the band from their start and four puffed notes each swoop up at the start and sag at the end.

Four notes on one breath, as a tuner that draws pitch over time would show them: each tongued note starts level, each puffed one swoops up and sags.

# Giving an ocarina: a gift guide

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-gift-guide/

Updated: 2026-11-01

Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through one, the shop pays us a commission, at no extra cost to you. [How we handle them](https://playocarina.com/affiliate-disclosure/).

Give an ocarina that plays in tune, fits the hands that will hold it, and can still go back to the shop on the day it is first played. For a teenager or an adult, that usually means a plastic 12-hole ocarina in C from an established maker, at about $30 to $40. For a child under 10, the maker STL Ocarina recommends a 6-hole instead. Add a method book, and test it yourself before you wrap it: a return window starts when the parcel arrives, not when the paper comes off.

The number in an ocarina's name is its count of holes. A 12-hole is the familiar rounded ocarina you hold in both hands; a 6-hole or 4-hole is a small pendant that can hang on a cord. "In C" is the key, and the charts and tabs on our site are written for C.

## Ocarina gifts by who they are for

| Who it's for | What to give | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A child under 10 | A plastic 6-hole or 4-hole pendant | Easier for small fingers, and STL recommends its 6-hole for children aged 9 and under. |
| A child of 10 or over, a teenager or an adult beginner | A plastic 12-hole in C | STL recommends its 12-hole from age 10. It plays 21 notes, low A to high F, enough for most melodies. |
| A Zelda fan | A 12-hole from an established ocarina maker, in the Zelda style if they want the look | Amazon's review summary for the best-selling look-alike says only a few of its notes are in tune; our guide to [Zelda ocarina replicas](https://playocarina.com/guides/zelda-ocarina-replicas/) covers which ones play. |
| Someone who would wear it | A pendant on a cord | Songbird sells its [Teardrop Alto C](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/products/teardrop-alto-c-midnight-black?bg_ref=M9D8DPhSI1&tid1=playocarina&tid2=llms&tid3=gift-guide&tid4=teardrop), a 6-hole pendant, as "Jewelry you can play" ($40.00). |
| A musician who plays another instrument | A 12-hole, or a double ocarina for more range | A double adds a second chamber: STL's double in C plays [A4 to C7](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/double-ocarina-in-c-major-with-two-octave-range), against [A4 to F6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-fairy-tenor-ocarina) for a single 12-hole alto (STL's figures when we checked on 27 October 2026). |
| Someone whose taste you can't guess | A gift card from an ocarina maker | Songbird's [gift cards](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/products/gift-card?bg_ref=M9D8DPhSI1&tid1=playocarina&tid2=llms&tid3=gift-guide&tid4=gift-card) come in five amounts from $10 to $125 and arrive by email. |

Prices are what the makers' own shops showed on 28 October 2026, in US dollars, unless another date or currency is marked. Our [buying guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/) compares specific ocarinas and explains what makes one playable.

## What ocarina should I get a child?

A small plastic pendant, until the hands grow. When we checked on 28 October 2026, STL Ocarina's starter bundles put the line at 10: it recommends ["the 6-hole ocarina for children age 9 and under"](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/ocarina-fundamentals-for-6-hole-ocarina) and ["the 12-hole ocarina for children age 10 and up"](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/ocarina-fundamentals-for-12-hole-ocarina). A 12-hole asks a lot of small hands. Its C needs every finger and both thumbs on a hole at once, while a 6-hole pendant is played with the index and middle fingers and the thumbs.

- A 6-hole pendant is the usual choice. [STL's plastic 6-hole](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/6-hole-plastic-ocarina-for-beginners-and-young-musicians-2) cost $12.00, or $14.00 with a set of beginner tabs.
- A 4-hole is the simplest. It plays about one octave, and Ocarina Workshop sells its plastic 4-hole to UK schools with [whole-class lessons for ages 5 to 14](https://www.ocarina.co.uk/shop/teaching-resources/754-beginner-progression). One cost £16.20 including VAT at [its shop](https://www.ocarina.co.uk/shop/).
- Don't swap in a soprano 12-hole for small hands. It sounds an octave above an alto ([A5 to F7](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-soprano-ocarina-little-echo-2-colors-available) against [A4 to F6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-fairy-tenor-ocarina) on STL's pages when we checked on 27 October 2026), so it is shriller, not easier. A 6-hole pendant in C plays at about an alto's pitch (STL's plastic 6-hole plays [C5 to E6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/6-hole-tenor-ocarina-in-c-major-simple-reliable-everyday-play)).

## Ocarina gifts for a Zelda fan

A plastic 12-hole in C, the same as for any beginner, and there are Zelda-style ones: STL sells a [plastic 12-hole made for Zelda fans](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/new-12-hole-plastic-zelda-tenor-ocarina-in-c-major) for $30.00. [Songbird's 12-hole replica](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/products/oot-12-hole-alto-c?bg_ref=M9D8DPhSI1&tid1=playocarina&tid2=llms&tid3=gift-guide&tid4=oot-12-hole) is ceramic, which costs more ($150.00 when our buying guide checked on 27 October 2026) and can crack when dropped; [its plastic replica](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/products/plastic-oot-7-hole-alto-c?bg_ref=M9D8DPhSI1&tid1=playocarina&tid2=llms&tid3=gift-guide&tid4=plastic-oot-7-hole) is a 7-hole, which Songbird says is similar to the 6-hole pendant fingering. Our song pages don't cover it. Our [buying guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/) compares the replicas.

Nintendo's remake of Ocarina of Time for Switch 2, due on 5 November 2026 when we checked on 28 October, listens for music in the room. [Nintendo says](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/you-have-been-summoned-to-watch-the-new-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-overview-trailer/) you can "Hum a melody Link has learned or even play one on an actual instrument, and the Nintendo Switch 2 microphone will hear your song". So a fan can play the game without an ocarina, or play its songs on a real one. All twelve songs with set notes are free on our [Ocarina of Time songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/ocarina-of-time/) pages, with fingerings for 12-hole and 6-hole ocarinas.

Two things to know before buying. The $49.99 Electric OCARINA OF TIME, made by HORI and sold in Nintendo's store, is not an instrument: [Nintendo says](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/electric-ocarina-of-time-129987/) it "is an electronic toy and is not a real ocarina" and "is not played by blowing into it". And [Nintendo has announced](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) "a playable version for the musically inclined" for later this year; when we checked on 28 October 2026, it had not given a price or a date.

## How much should I spend on an ocarina gift?

- About $10 to $20 buys a plastic pendant from a maker, the right size for a young child anyway: STL's 6-hole at $12.00, or Songbird's [plastic 6-hole](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/products/plastic-6-hole-alto-c-green?bg_ref=M9D8DPhSI1&tid1=playocarina&tid2=llms&tid3=gift-guide&tid4=plastic-6-hole) at $20.00.
- About $30 to $40 buys a plastic 12-hole in C from a maker: [STL's plastic 12-hole](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-plastic-tenor-ocarina-in-c-major-7-colors) was $30.00 and the [Focalink Bravura](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/products/bravura-alto-c-in-white?bg_ref=M9D8DPhSI1&tid1=playocarina&tid2=llms&tid3=gift-guide&tid4=bravura) $40.00 at Songbird Ocarina.
- On Amazon, less money buys a ceramic Zelda-style replica: [the best seller](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076DX5PBY) was $22.99 when our buying guide checked on 26 October 2026. The [buying guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/) shows what its reviews say.
- Above $50 you are mostly buying ceramic ocarinas from specialist makers. Ocarina reviewer [Andy Cormier warns](https://andycormier.blog/best-ocarinas/) that a beginner who starts on premium ceramic has "a high chance" of breaking it, so they suit someone who already plays.

## What else should go in the box?

A way to learn. One UK buyer who gave their daughter a ceramic 12-hole [rated it three stars](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09MBL9FP4) and said a proper songbook was what the gift was missing. STL sells a gift bundle, Ocarina FUNdamentals: a plastic ocarina with its method book on CD (the 12-hole bundle adds a DVD), [$39.99 with a 12-hole](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/ocarina-fundamentals-for-12-hole-ocarina) or [$29.99 with a 6-hole](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/ocarina-fundamentals-for-6-hole-ocarina). Two other method books for beginners are the [Hal Leonard Ocarina Method](https://www.halleonard.com/product/146676) by Cris Gale and David Erick Ramos's [How to Play Ocarina](https://www.daviderickramos.com/product-page/how-to-play-ocarina-method-book-digital).

Our site is free and needs no account: [fingering charts](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/) for 12-hole, 6-hole and 4-hole ocarinas, [easy songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/easy/) with tabs, and a [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) that works in a phone's browser. A note in the card with the address saves a new player the search.

## When should I buy an ocarina for Christmas?

In time to test it yourself before you wrap it. The return windows, as each shop's policy read on 28 October 2026, count from delivery and differ a lot:

- [STL Ocarina](https://www.stlocarina.com/pages/returnpolicy): "you must contact us within 10 days of receiving the item". The return postage is yours. When we read the policy again on 30 October 2026, it also mentioned a 35% restocking fee alongside items it deems damaged or unsatisfactory, so ask STL first.
- [Songbird Ocarina](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/policies/refund-policy): "up to 30 days after delivery"; the original shipping is not refunded.
- [Amazon US](https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GKM69DUUYKQWKWX7): "Most items can be returned for a refund or replacement/exchange within 30 days of delivery as long as they are in original or unused condition." Each listing shows its own terms, so check before you play it.

So for an ocarina delivered on 1 December, you have until 11 December to contact STL, and until 31 December to return it to Songbird: test it the week it arrives, not on Christmas morning.

## How do I check an ocarina before I wrap it?

You do not need to play well, only to blow one steady, soft note at a time:

1. Play it for a minute before you measure anything. A parcel off a cold December doorstep reads flat: [Pure Ocarinas puts the change](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-air-temperature-pitch) at about 1 cent per degree Celsius.
2. Look at the finger holes. Ocarina maker [Pure Ocarinas calls](https://pureocarinas.com/why-does-ocarina-sound-out-of-tune) finger holes that are all the same size "The clearest tell that an ocarina is not tuned correctly".
3. Open our [test for a new ocarina](https://playocarina.com/guides/test-a-new-ocarina-before-returning-it/) on your phone and say how many holes it has. It asks for the microphone only then, and nothing it hears is recorded or uploaded.
4. The test shows which holes to close for each note in turn, so nobody needs to know the notes, and Skip this one passes over any note you can't play. Play at least seven notes, or the report can't judge the pattern. The test ends in a report, which you can save as a link and pass on with the gift.
5. If one note stands out, our guide [Is my ocarina out of tune, or is it me?](https://playocarina.com/guides/is-my-ocarina-out-of-tune/) explains how to tell a fault from a shaky breath before you decide to send it back.

## Do these shop links earn you money?

Our links to Songbird Ocarina's products do: Songbird pays us a commission when you buy through one. When we tried one on 1 November 2026, an ocarina in our cart cost 10% less, and a link never costs you more. Links to other shops earn us nothing. Our [affiliate disclosure](https://playocarina.com/affiliate-disclosure/) has the terms.

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# What is an ocarina?

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/what-is-an-ocarina/

Updated: 2026-10-30

An ocarina is a small wind instrument with a closed, hollow body, a mouthpiece and finger holes. You blow into the mouthpiece and cover holes to choose the note, as on a recorder, but the body is a round vessel rather than a tube, so musicians class it as a vessel flute. In Pure Ocarinas' words, "Ceramic ocarinas are probably the most widely available"; some are plastic. Of the kinds held sideways, the 12-hole is the most widely available today; smaller pendants with 4 or 6 holes can hang on a cord.

## How does an ocarina make its sound?

Air goes in through a narrow windway and strikes a sharp edge, the labium, and the whole hollow body resonates at one pitch. Covering holes lowers that pitch and uncovering them raises it. Breath moves it too: [Wikipedia's article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocarina) puts it as "Blowing more softly lowers the pitch; blowing harder raises it", by up to several semitones. That is why an ocarina usually has no tuning mechanism and little range between soft and loud, and why playing one in tune is mostly a matter of giving each note the right breath.

Our guide to [breath control](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-breath-control/) covers how hard to blow on each note.

## Is an ocarina a real instrument?

Yes. It is a flute without a tube: [Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/art/ocarina) calls it a "globular flute", and its entry on [vessel flutes](https://www.britannica.com/art/vessel-flute), wind instruments with a closed, rounded body, discusses ocarinas alongside them. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds an [ocarina from the 5th to 3rd century BCE](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/308419) among its musical instruments. Part of the confusion may come from toy versions: the [Electric OCARINA OF TIME](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/electric-ocarina-of-time-129987/), made by HORI and sold by Nintendo, isn't one. Our guide to [Zelda ocarina replicas](https://playocarina.com/guides/zelda-ocarina-replicas/) sorts them out.

## Where does the ocarina come from?

- Vessel flutes are among the oldest instruments: Wikipedia describes the family as "believed to date back over 12,000 years", with early forms in China, where a relative called the xun is still played, and in Mesoamerica.
- The ocarina as a tuned instrument is Italian. In 1853, 17-year-old Giuseppe Donati of Budrio, near Bologna, turned a toy that played a few notes into a full instrument and named it after the local word ucaréṅna, "little goose".
- Pendant ocarinas are British. In 1964 the mathematician John Taylor worked out a fingering that plays a full chromatic octave on four holes, the system pendants still use.
- The 12-hole came from Asia in the 20th century, [Pure Ocarinas says](https://pureocarinas.com/types-of-ocarina), by adding two small sub-holes to the older 10-hole design.
- Video games brought the ocarina to a new generation: Wikipedia notes that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) has been credited with raising its popularity and sales, and when we checked on 28 October 2026, Nintendo had [dated a remake for Switch 2](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/you-have-been-summoned-to-watch-the-new-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-overview-trailer/) to 5 November 2026.

## What are the types of ocarina?

Ocarinas differ in how you hold them, how many holes they have and how many chambers. The ranges below are for an ocarina in C of the usual size, as makers published them when we checked on 27 October 2026, except where marked; each links to its maker's page:

| Type | How you hold it | Holes | Range in C | Fingerings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 12-hole (transverse) | Sideways across the body, in both hands | 8 finger holes, 2 sub-holes and 2 thumb holes | [A4 to F6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-fairy-tenor-ocarina) | [12-hole chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) |
| 10-hole (transverse) | Sideways, like a 12-hole | 8 finger holes and 2 thumb holes, no sub-holes | About an octave and a fourth: C5 to F6 in Pure Ocarinas' example | [12-hole chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), from C up, except C♯ and D♯ (use your maker's chart) |
| 6-hole pendant | Cupped in both hands; can hang on a cord | 4 finger holes and 2 thumb holes | [C5 to E6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/6-hole-tenor-ocarina-in-c-major-simple-reliable-everyday-play) | [6-hole chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) |
| 4-hole pendant | Cupped in both hands; can hang on a cord | 4 finger holes | One octave, C to high C, at a pitch that varies by maker | [4-hole chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) |
| Inline | Straight out in front, like a recorder | 10 to 12, with a transverse ocarina's fingering | Like a transverse ocarina of the same holes | Your maker's chart |
| Double or triple (multichamber) | Sideways, with two or three mouthpieces side by side | A set of finger holes for each chamber | Double: [A4 to C7](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/double-ocarina-in-c-major-with-two-octave-range); triple: [A4 to G7](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/blue-and-white-porcelain-tenor-triple-ocarina) | Your maker's chart |

- Transverse ocarinas, the 10-hole and 12-hole, are the classic shape, and the one [Pure Ocarinas recommends](https://pureocarinas.com/what-type-ocarina-should-learn) for learning melodies. Single and multichamber transverses share one fingering system, so a player can move up to a double later.
- Pendants trade range for size. Fewer holes look simpler, but Pure Ocarinas finds a pendant no easier to play well than any other ocarina, and warns that pendants are "often produced as novelty items and not properly tuned".
- Inline ocarinas let the hands sit straight, which Pure Ocarinas says may suit players with arthritis or RSI, but fewer makers build them.
- A multichamber ocarina is a transverse with one or more small extra ocarinas joined on, each with its own mouthpiece and finger holes, to reach higher notes. Pure Ocarinas notes that the exact fingerings differ from one maker to the next, so learn them from your maker's chart.
- Pure Ocarinas describes flat souvenir "Peruvian" ocarinas, with eight to ten holes all the same size, as not tuned, and says replicas of the Zelda game's ocarina vary enormously in quality. Our [buying guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/) explains how to tell a playable one.

## What sizes do ocarinas come in?

Ocarinas come in soprano, alto and bass sizes, an octave apart and all played with the same fingerings; the smaller the ocarina, the higher it plays. For a 12-hole in C, as STL Ocarina listed its sizes when we checked on 27 October 2026:

| 12-hole ocarina in C | Range |
| --- | --- |
| 12-hole bass C | [A3 to F5](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-bass-ocarina-with-zelda-songbook) |
| 12-hole alto C | [A4 to F6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-fairy-tenor-ocarina) |
| 12-hole soprano C | [A5 to F7](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-soprano-ocarina-little-echo-2-colors-available) |

[Pure Ocarinas describes](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-keys-and-pitch-ranges) the sound of the two ends: "Bass ocarinas are dark and sombre in tone", while "Sopranos, on the other hand, are piercing and always take the lead in a mix." The middle size is the alto, which some makers, STL Ocarina among them, sell as a tenor. Our charts and tabs are written for the alto C.

## What does the key of an ocarina mean?

An ocarina's key is the scale it plays with no cross-fingered notes: a C ocarina plays a C major scale and a G ocarina a G major scale, with the same fingerings. A tuned ocarina can still play sharps and flats, so the key is mostly about which notes are in reach: a 12-hole in G plays [E4 to C6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-tenor-ocarina-in-g-major-labyrinth) or [E5 to C7](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-alto-ocarina-in-g-major-by-chen-ching), depending on its size (STL's figures when we checked on 26 October 2026), against A4 to F6 for an alto C. Our [fingering charts](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/) are written for C and work on any key.

## How do you find out which ocarina you have?

Count the holes first. The types table on this page tells them apart. The key and size are harder to tell by eye. Our free [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) can find them by ear: choose Test my whole ocarina, say how many holes it has, and play the note it asks for, with the main holes covered. From that one note it names the ocarina, an alto C for example, or, if the key isn't one we list, tells you the key it heard and tests it in that key.

## What are ocarinas made of?

Traditionally clay, fired into ceramic; today some are plastic. Wikipedia lists "plastic, wood, glass, metal, or bone" as other materials. [Pure Ocarinas finds](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-materials-finish-differences) that the material changes an ocarina's sound far less than it changes a guitar's, because the body only contains the vibrating air; it matters more for durability, and a plastic ocarina can survive being dropped, though far fewer plastic models are made. Our [buying guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/) compares them for a first ocarina, and our [gift guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-gift-guide/) covers buying one for someone else. If you have just got one, our [plan for the first week](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-for-beginners/) starts from holding it.

# Ocarina notes and the C major scale

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-notes/

Updated: 2026-10-28

The notes of an ocarina in C are the C major scale, C, D, E, F, G, A, B and high C, with the sharps and flats between them. Cover every main hole for C, then open holes to climb. The count depends on the type. A 12-hole has 21 notes (low A to high F), a 6-hole pendant 17 (C to high E) and a 4-hole pendant 13 (C to high C).

## Which notes does each ocarina play?

Every note of the three is in this table, with its pitch on an alto C ocarina ([some makers sell that size as a tenor](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-fairy-tenor-ocarina)) and its frequency at concert pitch (A4 = 440 Hz). A 4-hole pendant's pitch varies by maker. "Low" notes sit below the all-covered C, "high" ones in the octave above it.

| Note | Pitch on an alto C | Frequency | 12-hole | 6-hole | 4-hole |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| low A | A4 | 440.0 Hz | Yes | No | No |
| low A♯ / B♭ | A♯4 | 466.2 Hz | Yes | No | No |
| low B | B4 | 493.9 Hz | Yes | No | No |
| C | C5 | 523.3 Hz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| C♯ / D♭ | C♯5 | 554.4 Hz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| D | D5 | 587.3 Hz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| D♯ / E♭ | D♯5 | 622.3 Hz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| E | E5 | 659.3 Hz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| F | F5 | 698.5 Hz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| F♯ / G♭ | F♯5 | 740.0 Hz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| G | G5 | 784.0 Hz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| G♯ / A♭ | G♯5 | 830.6 Hz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| A | A5 | 880.0 Hz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| A♯ / B♭ | A♯5 | 932.3 Hz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| B | B5 | 987.8 Hz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| high C | C6 | 1046.5 Hz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| high C♯ / D♭ | C♯6 | 1108.7 Hz | Yes | Yes | No |
| high D | D6 | 1174.7 Hz | Yes | Yes | No |
| high D♯ / E♭ | D♯6 | 1244.5 Hz | Yes | Yes | No |
| high E | E6 | 1318.5 Hz | Yes | Yes | No |
| high F | F6 | 1396.9 Hz | Yes | No | No |

## How do you play the C major scale on an ocarina?

Start with every main hole covered and a gentle breath for C. On a 12-hole you then lift one finger at a time, right pinky first; a pendant uses its own combinations of four holes. Blow a little harder as you go up. The pictures show the scale up and back down on each kind of ocarina:

12-hole alto C tabs: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, high C | B, A, G, F, E, D, C
1. C (cover every main hole)
2. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
3. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
4. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
9. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
10. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
11. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
12. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
13. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
14. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
15. C (cover every main hole)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, high C | B, A, G, F, E, D, C
1. C (cover every hole)
2. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. E (cover every hole but the right index)
4. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
5. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
6. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
8. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
9. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
10. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
11. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
12. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
13. E (cover every hole but the right index)
14. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
15. C (cover every hole)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, high C | B, A, G, F, E, D, C
1. C (cover every hole)
2. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. E (cover every hole but the right index)
4. F (cover the left middle and left index)
5. G (cover the left index and right index)
6. A (cover the left index)
7. B (cover the right middle)
8. high C (all holes open)
9. B (cover the right middle)
10. A (cover the left index)
11. G (cover the left index and right index)
12. F (cover the left middle and left index)
13. E (cover every hole but the right index)
14. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
15. C (cover every hole)

Each [fingering chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/) has the sharps and flats in between: the [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), the [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) and the [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/).

## Why does a C ocarina go down to A?

A 12-hole's two sub-holes add three notes below its C: low A, low A♯ / B♭ and low B. They extend the range without changing the key. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-keys-and-pitch-ranges): "an alto C does not become an alto B when a subhole is added." Expect them to be harder to play cleanly than the notes above them: Pure Ocarinas says sub-hole notes "can also tend to sound quiet, have very unstable pitch, are often unclear or 'muddy'". The 4-hole and 6-hole pendants on our charts have no sub-holes, so their lowest note is the C.

## What do C5 and A4 mean?

C5 and A4 are [scientific pitch notation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_pitch_notation): a letter for the note and a number for the octave, where middle C on a piano is C4 and the number goes up by one at each C. An alto C ocarina's all-covered C is C5, the C above middle C, at 523.3 Hz. A soprano plays the same fingerings an octave higher ([A5 to F7](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-soprano-ocarina-little-echo-2-colors-available) against the alto's [A4 to F6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-fairy-tenor-ocarina), STL's figures when we checked on 27 October 2026), and each octave doubles the frequency. Our [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) shows notes this way, with the octave number.

## What notes does an ocarina in G or F play?

The same fingerings, moved to a new starting note. Pure Ocarinas: "a C ocarina would produce a C scale, whereas the same fingerings on a G ocarina would produce a G scale." Step 1 is every main hole covered:

| Fingering step | C ocarina | G ocarina | F ocarina |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | C | G | F |
| 2 | D | A | G |
| 3 | E | B | A |
| 4 | F | C | B♭ |
| 5 | G | D | C |
| 6 | A | E | D |
| 7 | B | F♯ | E |
| 8 | C | G | F |

So a tab or [fingering chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/) written for C works on any key. The fingers move the same way, and only the sound is higher or lower.

# How to play the ocarina: a first-week plan for beginners

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-for-beginners/

Updated: 2026-10-30

To play the ocarina, cover the holes with the pads of your fingers, blow gently into the mouthpiece, and open holes in the order your fingering chart shows to go up the scale. In your first week, aim for one clean note, then the C major scale, then two short songs. Spend day 1 on holding it and blowing a single note, days 2 to 4 on breath, the scale and tonguing, days 5 and 6 on Mary Had a Little Lamb and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, and day 7 on checking your ocarina with a tuner. Each day below links to the page that goes deeper on that step, and everything here is free and works on a 12-hole, a 6-hole or a 4-hole ocarina.

Before you start, find somewhere you can play without worrying who hears. An ocarina is loud and can't play quietly in tune: blowing softer makes every note flat, and [Pure Ocarinas warns](https://pureocarinas.com/how-to-play-ocarina) that playing timidly builds bad habits. Our guide to [practising quietly](https://playocarina.com/guides/practice-ocarina-quietly/) has what to do when you can't be heard.

## Day 1: hold it and play one note

Learn the grip first, from our page on [how to hold an ocarina](https://playocarina.com/guides/how-to-hold-an-ocarina/): pads of the fingers on the holes, thumbs underneath, a loose hold. Then rest the mouthpiece against your lips without putting it in your mouth; Pure Ocarinas suggests lips shaped "as if you were saying the word 'boo'", and the mouthpiece never touching your teeth. Blow gently and steadily. Start on G rather than on C: fewer holes are covered, so there are fewer to leak. The [fingering charts](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/) show G on a 12-hole, a 6-hole and a 4-hole.

## Day 2: find where each note sounds right

Finger G, start blowing very softly and slowly blow harder. The note goes from weak, to clear, to a screech; Pure Ocarinas uses this sweep to find where a note sits. Watch it on a tuner, such as our free [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/): somewhere in the middle it reads G, and above or below that it reads a different note. Every note has its own in-tune breath, low notes softer and high notes harder, and finding them is most of what breath control means. Our guide to [breath control](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-breath-control/) explains why, with exercises.

## Day 3: the C major scale

Play C, D, E, F, G, A, B and high C, one long note per breath, and back down. Give each note a little more air than the one below it (a few ocarinas ease off again at the very top), and stop on any note that squeaks or sounds airy until it is clean. Our page on [ocarina notes and the scale](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-notes/) has the scale as pictures for 12-hole, 6-hole and 4-hole ocarinas.

## Day 4: start each note with your tongue

Instead of puffing each note, release it with the tip of your tongue, as if saying "tu", and keep the breath steady behind it. Play the scale again with four "tu" notes on each step. Our guide to [tonguing](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-tonguing/) walks through it; it is what keeps repeated notes in a song separate and in tune.

## Day 5: your first song, Mary Had a Little Lamb

[Mary Had a Little Lamb](https://playocarina.com/songs/mary-had-a-little-lamb/) uses only 4 notes, C, D, E and G, and needs no high notes. Play it slowly from the [tabs](https://playocarina.com/guides/how-to-read-ocarina-tabs/), a fingering picture for each note, and listen to it on the page first if you don't know the tune.

## Day 6: a second song, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

[Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star](https://playocarina.com/songs/twinkle-twinkle-little-star/) uses 6 notes, C, D, E, F, G and A, and starts with a leap from C up to G, so it practises moving your breath as well as your fingers. Warm up first with a few long notes, holding each one steady against the tuner.

## Day 7: check your ocarina, and yourself

Run the note-by-note test on our [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/). It shows which holes to close for each note in turn, starting on C with every main hole closed, and leaves the notes that need the small sub-holes for last, so you don't need the [fingering chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/) beside it. Skip any note you haven't learned, but play at least seven, or the report can't judge the pattern. A note that stands out may be your breath or may be the instrument; our guide [Is my ocarina out of tune, or is it me?](https://playocarina.com/guides/is-my-ocarina-out-of-tune/) tells the two apart. That matters most while the ocarina is new and you may still be able to return it.

## Is the ocarina hard to learn?

Getting a sound is easy, and playing in tune is the hard part. [Pure Ocarinas says](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-easy-to-play) "It is easy to make sound on an ocarina", then warns against ocarinas being marketed as easy. This plan reaches Mary Had a Little Lamb by day 5 with no music reading. Since breath moves the pitch, the skill that takes longer is [blowing each note the right amount](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-breath-control/).

## What if something goes wrong in the first week?

- A squeak or a weak, breathy sound. On a playable ocarina, Pure Ocarinas says, "you are either blowing far too hard, or far too softly". Go back to day 2.
- A note that turns airy mid-session. Water may have collected in the windway; see [how to clean an ocarina](https://playocarina.com/guides/how-to-clean-an-ocarina/).
- Airy or flat high notes. They need much more breath than the low ones, and every finger sealed; see [why high notes go airy or flat](https://playocarina.com/guides/airy-or-flat-high-notes/).
- Sore hands. [Pure Ocarinas says](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-hand-pain) some ache is normal while you are new to the instrument and goes away after a few weeks. Beyond that, check that you aren't gripping too hard or looking down at the ocarina, both covered in [how to hold an ocarina](https://playocarina.com/guides/how-to-hold-an-ocarina/).

## What should you learn after the first week?

More songs from our [easy ocarina songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/easy/), the high notes up to the top of your ocarina, and longer, steadier notes.

# How to hold an ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/how-to-hold-an-ocarina/

Updated: 2026-10-28

Hold a 12-hole ocarina level, with the mouthpiece towards you and your hands coming at it from opposite sides: the left palm facing you, the right palm facing away. Each finger covers its hole with the flat pad, and the right thumb, kept straight, carries most of the weight. A pendant is simpler: index and middle fingers on the four holes on top, thumbs underneath. Either way, hold it loosely; a well-made ocarina balances in your hands.

The diagrams on this page are drawn from our fingering charts, with each hole numbered, beside a table of which finger covers it. If you don't know which kind you have, our page [What is an ocarina?](https://playocarina.com/guides/what-is-an-ocarina/) shows the types.

## Which finger covers which hole on a 12-hole ocarina?

Each finger has its own hole. On each hand the pinky, ring, middle and index fingers cover the four holes on top from the outside in, each thumb covers a hole underneath, and the two small sub-holes sit beside the middle fingers: 12 holes in all. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-fingering-system) calls that layout, the one drawn here, Taiwanese; on an ocarina with Japanese sub-holes, the right-hand sub-hole sits by the right index finger instead. In the diagram the mouthpiece is the stub at the bottom edge, nearest you, and the thumb holes on the underside are drawn below it.

| Hole | Covered by | Where |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Left pinky | On top |
| 2 | Left ring | On top |
| 3 | Left middle | On top |
| 4 | Left index | On top |
| 5 | Left middle finger, slid forward | Small hole beside the left middle hole |
| 6 | Right index | On top |
| 7 | Right middle | On top |
| 8 | Right ring | On top |
| 9 | Right pinky | On top |
| 10 | Right middle finger, slid forward | Small hole beside the right middle hole |
| 11 | Left thumb | Underneath |
| 12 | Right thumb | Underneath |

- Cover each hole with the pad of your finger, the flat part opposite the nail. You can feel the edge of the hole under the pad; keep the hole in the middle of it.
- For a sub-hole, [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-tutorial/how-to-hold-an-ocarina) describes "sliding a finger forwards, covering two holes at once": the middle finger keeps its own hole covered and reaches the small one beside it too.
- There is one more hole underneath, the voicing, where the sound comes out. It is never covered.

## How can you tell if your fingers are covering the holes?

When a note doesn't sound true, Howard [Fosdick's course](https://folkfluteworld.com/Ocarina_Course_Pendants.pdf) names a hole left even slightly uncovered as the most likely cause. Play a slow scale into a tuner such as our free [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) and watch for a note that sits out of line with its neighbours every time you play it; a note that only wobbles is more likely your breath. Then check that each covering finger seals its hole, and play the note again. If it is still off with every hole sealed, see [Is my ocarina out of tune, or is it me?](https://playocarina.com/guides/is-my-ocarina-out-of-tune/). Pure Ocarinas lists covering a hole with the tip of the finger under poor hand posture, one of its [seven common ocarina mistakes](https://pureocarinas.com/seven-common-ocarina-mistakes), because it tends to force the fingers into a scrunched position.

## Where does the right hand go?

The right hand does most of the holding. Its thumb covers the thumb hole nearest the tail and should stay straight and as level as you can make it, because it carries most of the ocarina's weight. Slant the hand a little to the left, and let the ring finger overhang its hole if that makes the pinky hole easier to reach. In a mirror, your fingers should look roughly parallel, each with a gentle curve.

If your thumbs bend backwards (hitchhiker's thumb), keep the right one straight in your resting hold. [Pure Ocarinas warns](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-tutorial/how-to-hold-an-ocarina) that a bent-back thumb supports the ocarina poorly and can make the joint ache, and that holding it straight becomes automatic after a few days.

## Where does the left hand go?

The left hand is the right hand turned round: palm towards you, fingers gently curved over the four left holes. It is hard to see from where you are, so check it in a mirror. Pure Ocarinas: "I strongly recommend using a mirror to check the position of your left hand, as it is near impossible to see otherwise." On ocarinas whose pinky hole sits on the side, keep the left palm fairly upright so the pinky can brace the instrument; if the left thumb hole is flat on the bottom, that may mean covering it with the tip of the thumb.

## How tightly should you hold an ocarina?

Lightly. New players often grip hard for fear of dropping it, which stiffens the fingers and makes the hands ache. Try both ends: hold it so loosely that it wobbles, then so tightly that your fingertips turn white, then settle between the two. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-tutorial/how-to-hold-an-ocarina): "Ocarinas are designed to balance between the right thumb and pinky finger when held parallel to the ground."

Keep the ocarina level and look straight ahead. Looking down tips the weight onto the left pinky, one of your weakest fingers, and Pure Ocarinas names that as [one cause of sore hands](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-hand-pain); a music stand at eye level helps. Stand, or sit upright on the front edge of a chair, with your wrists straight and your elbows down and a little away from your body.

## How do you hold an ocarina on the high notes?

On the high notes most holes are open, so fewer fingers are holding on. Pure Ocarinas' [method](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-tutorial/play-hold-ocarina-high-notes) on a C ocarina: from G upwards, rest the right pinky on the tail beside its hole, which is enough support up to high D. For high E and F, press the left index finger, held upright, against the ocarina at the spot Pure Ocarinas calls the cappello, then roll the right thumb off its hole. Practise the change with the four top notes in a loop: high C, D, E, F, E, D. Our [12-hole chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) shows those fingerings, and if the high notes still sound thin, see [why high notes go airy or flat](https://playocarina.com/guides/airy-or-flat-high-notes/).

## How do you hold a pendant ocarina?

On a pendant only the index and middle fingers cover the holes on top: index fingers on the two nearest the mouthpiece, middle fingers on the two beyond them. A 6-hole adds a thumb hole for each thumb on the underside, which this diagram draws either side of the mouthpiece.

| Hole | Covered by | Where |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Left middle | On top |
| 2 | Right middle | On top |
| 3 | Left index | On top |
| 4 | Right index | On top |
| 5 | Left thumb | Underneath |
| 6 | Right thumb | Underneath |

The ring and little fingers have no holes. Howard Fosdick's [pendant course](https://folkfluteworld.com/Ocarina_Course_Pendants.pdf) says to use them "to steady your hold, or just let them dangle." On a 6-hole, the thumbs cover the two holes underneath, and stay down for most notes. A 4-hole has no thumb holes, so rest your thumbs underneath wherever feels comfortable.

Keep your fingers "flat across the ocarina", in Fosdick's words, "not curled above the holes". The [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) and [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) charts show which holes each note covers.

# The best ocarina apps for beginners, compared

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/best-ocarina-apps/

Updated: 2026-10-29

For a beginner learning a real 12-hole ocarina, [Ocarina Studio](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ocarina-studio-tabs-tuner/id6776352791) (iPhone, $9.99 once) is the most complete app: a 12-lesson course that listens and grades each note. On Android or the web, or for a 6-hole, [Ocarina Notes & Tablatures](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ocarina-notes-tablatures/id1529424749) has the biggest tab library and can score your playing, on a subscription. For free tabs on an iPhone with no ads, [Ocarina Pocket](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ocarina-pocket-tabs-tuner/id6816441577) has 40 songs. Prices and features are as each app's store page showed them when we checked on 29 October 2026, in US dollars.

## What makes an ocarina app worth using?

- A good ocarina app knows what you need from it. Apps that listen through the microphone can tell you whether each note on your real ocarina was right. Tab apps show you what to play. Toy apps make the sound themselves, so they can't teach the instrument in your hands.
- A good app fits your ocarina. Most are written for a 12-hole in C. If you play a 6-hole or 4-hole pendant, check before you pay: Ocarina Studio, Ocarina Notes & Tablatures and Ocarina Pocket all leave out the 4-hole.
- A good app charges in a way you're happy with: once, by subscription, or with ads.
- A good app has the songs you want. Ocarina Studio, Ocarina Notes & Tablatures and Ocarina Pocket describe their songs as traditional or classic tunes. The Ocarina of Time songs with real-ocarina fingerings are free on our [Ocarina of Time page](https://playocarina.com/songs/ocarina-of-time/).

## Which ocarina app should I pick?

On an iPhone with a 12-hole, pick Ocarina Studio: of these apps it is the one with a full course that grades each note, and its free version already grades 12 songs. Pick Ocarina Notes & Tablatures instead if you're on Android or a computer, play a 6-hole or 10-hole, or want more than 150 songs. For free tabs and a tuner without ads, pick Ocarina Pocket. On a 4-hole, none of these apps covers your ocarina; our charts and songs below do.

| App: where it runs, which ocarinas | Price | Grades you? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Ocarina Studio](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ocarina-studio-tabs-tuner/id6776352791): iPhone; 12-hole | Free, or $9.99 once | Yes |
| [Ocarina Notes & Tablatures](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ocarina-notes-tablatures/id1529424749): iPhone, Android, web; 12-, 10-, 6-hole | Free with ads; $2.99 a month or $17.99 a year | Yes |
| [Ocarina Pocket](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ocarina-pocket-tabs-tuner/id6816441577): iPhone; 12-, 6-hole | Free | No, tuner only |
| [Smule's Ocarina](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ocarina/id293053479): iPhone; a toy on screen | Free | No |
| [Egert's Ocarina](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.egert.ocarina): Android; a toy on screen | Free with ads | No, it makes the sound |
| [Play Ocarina](https://playocarina.com/tuner/): a web browser; 12-, 6-, 4-hole | Free | Not yet; tuner only |

## Ocarina Studio: the most complete course that listens (iPhone)

[Ocarina Studio](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ocarina-studio-tabs-tuner/id6776352791) is built for a 12-hole alto C ocarina. When we checked on 29 October 2026, its App Store page listed "12 playable lessons across four progressive units" and 36 songs. While you play, it listens and gives "note-by-note clean, timing, off-note and missed results", and when it can't hear well enough it marks the take "Not graded" rather than guess. The free version has a tuner, a coach for holding one note steady (it shows your pitch against a band 10 cents either side of the note), the first 3 lessons and 12 songs with graded takes. Pro unlocks the rest for $9.99; the App Store still lists older monthly and yearly plans, but Playsoloist's [terms](https://playsoloist.com/ocarina/terms) say "There is no subscription to start. In the United States it is US$9.99 once." It has no ads.

The catch: it runs on iPhone only and teaches the 12-hole only. It first came out in June 2026 and had no App Store ratings yet when we checked, so there are no user reviews to go on.

## Ocarina Notes & Tablatures: the biggest tab library (iPhone, Android, web)

[Ocarina Notes & Tablatures](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ocarina-notes-tablatures/id1529424749) had more than 150 traditional melodies for 12-, 10- and 6-hole ocarinas when we checked on 29 October 2026, each shown as notes and tabs, with playback at an adjustable speed and an option to change the key. Its training mode does "recognition via the microphone of the music you play on a real world ocarina, and scoring it against the music sheet". It is the one app here on iPhone, [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=studio.birdofprey.ocarina_tabs_12h) and the [web](https://ocarina.music-tabs.com/), which makes it the pick for Android.

The catch is the price. By the app's own description it is "supported by advertisements, and only a handful of melodies are accessible for free"; a subscription unlocks the rest and removes the ads. On iPhone that is $2.99 a month, $7.99 for three months, $12.99 for six or $17.99 a year; Google Play lists in-app purchases from $0.99 to $14.99. On Google Play it was rated 2.6 stars from 273 reviews that day.

## Ocarina Pocket: free tabs and a tuner, no ads (iPhone)

[Ocarina Pocket](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ocarina-pocket-tabs-tuner/id6816441577) had 40 classic songs written as ocarina tabs when we checked on 29 October 2026, with animated fingerings, slow playback and repeats, fingering charts for 12-hole and 6-hole ocarinas, and a tuner for your real ocarina. Its page says "No ads. No in-app purchases." You can also play the ocarina on screen by blowing into the phone. Its page describes no grading of your playing. It came out on 2 October 2026 and had 3 App Store ratings.

## Can a toy app like Smule's Ocarina replace a real ocarina?

No. Toy ocarina apps make the sound for you. When we checked on 29 October 2026, [Smule's Ocarina](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ocarina/id293053479), free on iPhone, played when you "Blow air into your mic" and touch the holes on screen; it was last updated on 11 May 2017. On Android the most installed ones carry ads: [Egert's Ocarina](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.egert.ocarina), one of them, showed 500K+ downloads and 2.9 stars from 5.82K reviews. They are fun while you wait for a real one, but since the phone makes the note, they can't teach the breath a real ocarina needs (see [breath control](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-breath-control/)).

## Where does Play Ocarina fit?

Play Ocarina is a website, not an app: it is free and runs in a current Safari, Chrome or Firefox on a phone or computer. The [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) listens to your real ocarina, shows how far sharp or flat each note is, and tests your ocarina note by note. The [fingering charts](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/) cover 12-hole, 6-hole and 4-hole ocarinas, and the [songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/) have tabs for every hole count a tune fits, including the [4-hole songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/4-hole/) and a [4-hole chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/), which Ocarina Studio, Ocarina Notes & Tablatures and Ocarina Pocket all leave out. Our songs don't listen to you yet: a player that follows you as you play is something we are building now. Nothing the microphone hears is recorded or uploaded.

No ocarina yet? Start with [which ocarina to buy](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/). Just got one? Check each note with the [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/), then follow [your first week](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-for-beginners/).

# How to read ocarina tabs

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/how-to-read-ocarina-tabs/

Updated: 2026-10-30

To read an ocarina tab, go left to right and copy each picture with your fingers: a filled hole is covered and a hollow one is open (on a pendant, a half-filled hole is half covered). The letter under the picture names the note. You don't need to read music to play from tabs, but they rarely tell you how long to hold each note, so listen to the tune first.

## What does an ocarina tab look like?

An ocarina tab is a row of small ocarina pictures, one for each note, with the note's letter underneath. Here is the first line of [Mary Had a Little Lamb](https://playocarina.com/songs/mary-had-a-little-lamb/) in our tabs. Switch to your hole count, press play, and follow the pictures while it sounds:

12-hole alto C tabs: E, D, C, D | E, E, E
1. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
2. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
3. C (cover every main hole)
4. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
5. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
6. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
7. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: E, D, C, D | E, E, E
1. E (cover every hole but the right index)
2. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. C (cover every hole)
4. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
5. E (cover every hole but the right index)
6. E (cover every hole but the right index)
7. E (cover every hole but the right index)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: E, D, C, D | E, E, E
1. E (cover every hole but the right index)
2. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. C (cover every hole)
4. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
5. E (cover every hole but the right index)
6. E (cover every hole but the right index)
7. E (cover every hole but the right index)

1. Find the first picture and cover the filled holes. It starts on E.
2. Blow gently and steadily, then change your fingers to match the next picture. Two of the same note in a row need a separate start, a light "tu" with your tongue.
3. When you reach a vertical line, carry on. It marks the end of a bar, a group of beats, and is not a pause.
4. Go slowly enough that every note sounds clean. Speed comes after the fingers know the way.

## When tab pictures don't match your ocarina

Our pictures show the ocarina from above, with the holes in the positions on our [how to hold](https://playocarina.com/guides/how-to-hold-an-ocarina/) diagrams. Tabs from another site or a songbook may draw it differently, so read that tab's key before you trust it. Sub-holes can be a mismatch on a 12-hole, because their position varies by layout, so go by the note name rather than where the small hole sits on the page. If a tab uses a note your ocarina doesn't have, our [chart for your hole count](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/) shows what it can play.

Tabs written for a C ocarina still work on an ocarina in G or F, as our guide to [ocarina notes](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-notes/) explains. The fingers are the same. The letters under the pictures name what a C ocarina would sound, not what yours does.

## What do ocarina tabs leave out?

Tabs show which holes to cover, and little else. [Pure Ocarinas says](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-tabs): "They don't tell you about the rhythm, phrasing or note emphasis of a melody, leaving you to work them out by ear or from memory." That is the reason to hear a tune before you play it.

Our tabs carry a little of the rhythm. Bar lines group the beats, a note that lasts two beats or more gets a wider picture on a 12-hole, and "keep holding" under a picture means the note before it carries on. Every song page, the Zelda ones too, has a Just listen button that plays the rhythm for the rest.

The same article points out a second gap, the belief that "if I am using the right fingering, I am playing the correct note". A tab can't show how hard to blow, and your breath moves the pitch. If you are following the pictures and a note still sounds wrong, see [is my ocarina out of tune, or is it me?](https://playocarina.com/guides/is-my-ocarina-out-of-tune/)

## How do you read sheet music on an ocarina?

Sheet music works like a graph, in Pure Ocarinas' description: height on the staff gives the note, and the shape of the note gives its length. Read it left to right, as with a tab. On a C ocarina, each height is one fingering. This is where the notes of the C major scale sit in the treble clef, the staff with the curly sign at its start:

| Note on a C ocarina | Where it sits on the staff |
| --- | --- |
| Low A (on our charts, 12-hole only) | Second space from the bottom |
| Low B (on our charts, 12-hole only) | Middle line |
| C, all main holes covered | Third space from the bottom |
| D | Fourth line |
| E | Top space |
| F | Top line |
| G | Just above the top line |
| A | On a short extra line above the staff |
| B | Just above that extra line |
| High C | On the second extra line |

Use the [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) chart for the fingering at each height. Pure Ocarinas suggests learning rhythms before pitches, because "A melody is a rhythm with a series of pitches played to it."

## Should you learn sheet music or stay with tabs?

Stay with tabs while they get you playing songs you love; that is what they are good at. Pure Ocarinas argues for moving on, since "Only a tiny portion of the world's music will ever be transcribed into ocarina tabs." When the tune you want has no tab, learning to read a staff or to play by ear is what frees you from waiting for someone to write one. Neither has to happen in your first month.

A good way in is to play from a tab while looking at the note names, until you can say them without the pictures. Our [easy songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/easy/) are short enough to do this, and the full [song list](https://playocarina.com/songs/) shows which hole counts each song fits.

# How to clean an ocarina and look after it

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/how-to-clean-an-ocarina/

Updated: 2026-10-30

Most of the time, cleaning an ocarina means wiping the outside with a damp, lint-free cloth and letting it dry in the open after you play. The inside looks after itself if it dries. A plastic ocarina can also be washed; a wooden one should stay out of water. Never use a dishwasher, and never push anything hard into the windway, the narrow air channel in the mouthpiece.

We read the care advice of two makers, Pure Ocarinas and STL Ocarina, and of the shop Instruments du Monde on 30 October 2026. They don't all agree, so this page shows where they differ on the questions you are most likely to ask.

## Why has my ocarina suddenly gone airy or quiet?

Water in the windway is the first thing to suspect, especially on a plastic ocarina. Your breath is full of water vapour, and [Pure Ocarinas explains](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-saliva-moisture) that it "condenses inside the ocarina when the instrument is cold". Ceramic soaks most of it up, because earthenware is porous. Plastic can't, so a long session can clog the channel. [STL's advice](https://www.stlocarina.com/blogs/news/ocarina-care-instructions) for the airy sound this causes: "Tilt and gently drain the instrument, then allow it to air dry completely."

1. Stop and tilt the ocarina so the water drains.
2. Give it a gentle shake if tilting doesn't work. Pure suggests shaking; STL says not to shake aggressively, so keep it gentle and hold on tight.
3. Leave it out to dry. STL says 20 to 30 minutes.
4. If it's a ceramic ocarina that keeps clogging, look at how you play. Pure Ocarinas names two causes of saliva in the windway: looking down, and putting too much of the mouthpiece in your mouth. Our guide to [holding an ocarina](https://playocarina.com/guides/how-to-hold-an-ocarina/) covers the first.

If the notes stay airy once it's dry, the cause is more likely breath, a leaking hole or the instrument: try our guide to [airy or flat high notes](https://playocarina.com/guides/airy-or-flat-high-notes/).

## How do you clean a ceramic ocarina?

Wipe it with water on a lint-free cloth. Skip scented products: [Pure Ocarinas warns](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-materials-finish-differences) that "Earthenware is porous and will absorb the cleaner, which will gradually seep out over time, leaving a lingering smell". Pure adds that alcohol-based cleaners damage a shellac finish. If you can't tell what the finish is, treat it as delicate and use only water.

## How do you clean a plastic ocarina?

Plastic is the forgiving one. [STL says](https://www.stlocarina.com/blogs/news/ocarina-care-instructions) to "Wash with mild soap and lukewarm water", then rinse it and let it dry fully. Don't boil it or put it in a dishwasher: STL rules out both, and Pure Ocarinas warns that a dishwasher can melt or deform some plastics. Pure's own advice is to skip soap, though its reason is about porous earthenware.

## Can you get a wooden ocarina wet?

Keep it out of water. Pure Ocarinas calls washing one out "ill-advised because exposing wood to excessive moisture may cause it to crack", and STL says wooden and metal ocarinas "should not be submerged in water".

## How do you clean the inside and the windway?

Usually you don't. Pure Ocarinas: "Under normal playing, there isn't any need to clean the inside of an ocarina because if they are allowed to dry after playing, the chamber will stay clean." If dirt has got into the windway, Pure suggests folding a strip of paper and pushing it through, and removing layers if it sticks rather than forcing it. STL allows a thin strip only "If absolutely necessary".

STL is firm on what not to do: "Never scrape the labium edge", the sharp edge that splits the air, because "Damage here permanently affects sound." It also says never to use metal objects or anything sharp. If a note went wrong after you poked around in there, a [fair tuner check](https://playocarina.com/guides/is-my-ocarina-out-of-tune/) will show you how far off it is.

## Where ocarina makers disagree about cleaning

They disagree on water and soap on ceramic, shaking out water and hair dryers, and all three rule out the dishwasher. Choose the gentler option if the ocarina is one you would hate to lose:

| Question | Pure Ocarinas | STL Ocarina | Instruments du Monde |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Water through a ceramic? | Fine under the tap if dried for several days | A light rinse if needed; avoid soaking a delicate finish | Never immerse it |
| Soap on ceramic? | No | Lists water only | Mild soap, outside only |
| Shake out water? | Yes | Not aggressively | Not covered in what we read |
| Hair dryer? | Not covered in what we read | Never | Lists one for blowing out debris |
| Dishwasher? | No | No | No |

The [Instruments du Monde column](https://instruments-du-monde.com/en-us/blogs/ocarina/how-to-properly-clean-maintain-ocarina) comes from a shop's blog, updated 15 October 2026, not a maker's. The dishwasher is the one row where all three agree. Pure's reason is that "Thermal shock can cause the material or glazes to crack."

## Should you disinfect an ocarina after someone else plays it?

Yes, if it has been shared, or if you've been ill. [STL limits disinfecting](https://www.stlocarina.com/blogs/news/ocarina-care-instructions) to those cases and an unusual smell: a mild diluted soap solution on plastic, rinsed thoroughly, and a damp cloth only on ceramic, with no strong chemicals. It rules out bleach, boiling water and alcohol on finished surfaces. The shop Instruments du Monde goes further and says to disinfect after each use. We found no maker who publishes a tested way to sanitise ceramic, so with a shared ceramic ocarina the safest choice is not to share the mouthpiece at all.

## How should you store an ocarina?

- Dry it first, then keep it out of sun, hot cars and sudden temperature changes, all of which [STL warns against](https://www.stlocarina.com/blogs/news/ocarina-care-instructions). Temperature also moves the pitch, so let a cold ocarina warm up before you check it on the [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).
- Use a hard case for travel. [Pure Ocarinas says](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-materials-finish-differences): "Do not trust thin soft cases to protect ocarinas from drops, though." It suggests repurposing hard cases made for glasses or game consoles.
- Keep ceramic off table edges and be careful with neck cords. Pure notes that a ceramic ocarina breaks if dropped on a hard surface, and that one swinging on a cord can knock into things and break too.

## Can you repair a cracked or chipped ocarina?

We don't have a reliable answer yet. On 30 October 2026 we read Pure Ocarinas' and STL's care pages and the list of pages on Songbird's site, and found no repair advice or service from a maker. A crack near the mouthpiece or the sharp edge is the one to worry about, because that is where the sound is made. Ask the maker before you glue anything.

# How to practise the ocarina quietly

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/practice-ocarina-quietly/

Updated: 2026-10-30

You can't simply play an ocarina quietly, because blowing softer makes it go flat. The best quiet practice is silent: run the fingerings without blowing, which still trains your hands. For the notes themselves, pick a time and place where a full sound bothers no one. A mute lowers the volume, and one ocarina maker warns that it costs you the pitch, so save it for the days you have no other choice.

## Why does an ocarina go flat when you play softly?

An ocarina's pitch follows your breath pressure, with no separate control for volume. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/how-mute-ocarina) gives the size of the problem: "Many ocarinas will play in tune with themselves when muted, but will be a semitone or more flat of the intended pitch." A semitone is 100 cents, about the gap between two neighbouring piano keys. The high notes give out first, too: "you can only lower the pressure so much before the high notes stop working."

You can see this for yourself in a minute. Hold one note on our [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) at your normal breath, then let the breath fall away and watch the reading drop. Our guide to [breath control](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-breath-control/) has you find the right pressure for each note.

## How do you practise the ocarina without making a sound?

Finger the song and don't blow. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/practising-ocarina-effectively) recommends it: "Practise fingering a sequence of notes without blowing. You can even do this without an instrument!" This counts as real practice, because changing fingers cleanly is a large part of learning a new tune.

1. Pick the awkward moment in a song, or two rows of a [fingering chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/).
2. Say each note's name in your head as you finger it, slowly and in time.
3. Loop it until your fingers land together, with no finger arriving late.
4. Next time you can play out loud, play that passage first, to check it holds up with real breath.

You can practise your [tonguing](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-tonguing/) silently too, with a whispered "tu" on each note and no ocarina at your lips.

## Do ocarina mutes work?

They lower the volume; whether the notes stay true is disputed, and nobody we read publishes a measurement. One attachment is Mr. Mute, [$30.00 on Amazon US](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07649DT2Q) on 30 October 2026. Its listing promises "approximately 10% of its normal level (20 decibels)" while "maintaining the same pitch and tone". Reviewer Andy Cormier, who earns a commission on Amazon sales, [recommends it](https://andycormier.blog/best-ocarinas/) for practising in hotel rooms. The listing warns that it may not fit very small soprano or very large bass ocarinas.

[Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/how-mute-ocarina), which sells ocarinas rather than mutes, disagrees about the whole type of device, without naming this one. It says a mute that restricts the air "functions in the same way as blowing softly and doesn't do anything that can't be achieved by just blowing softly." Its verdict on muted practice: "adequate for practising fingerings, but not much more than that." If you buy one, check your notes with and without it on a tuner, and judge by what you read.

## Home-made ocarina mutes to avoid

Don't stuff folded paper into the mouthpiece. Pure Ocarinas warns that "there is a risk that the paper will become stuck in the windway, ruining the instrument." Of tape over the sound hole, Pure says "This will result in an airy tone".

## When and where can you play an ocarina out loud?

- Somewhere away from the walls you share. Pure Ocarinas suggests "a basement, a car, or in a field". A parked car is a small, private room that goes with you.
- At a time you've agreed. Tell a neighbour or flatmate which half hour you practise, so the sound isn't a surprise.
- In short sessions at full breath, rather than long ones of careful, flat notes. Pure Ocarinas says it is still essential to practise everything at normal pressure.

## Are some ocarinas quieter than others?

Yes. Low ones are gentler: [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/choosing-first-ocarina) calls bass ocarinas "much more mellow and generally quieter", and it describes sopranos as "piercing". Pure also says that a smaller chamber and sound hole play quieter and at lower pressure. We found no published decibel figure for any ocarina, so we can't give you a number here.

If silence really matters, an electronic ocarina with headphones is a different route. [Pure Ocarinas makes the case for one](https://pureocarinas.com/electronic-ocarina-benefits): "acoustic ocarinas are loud, and attempting to mute one mostly makes it sound bad."

## Protecting your own ears

Pure Ocarinas suggests musician's earplugs if the volume bothers you up close. They don't make you quieter for anyone else, but they let you keep your normal breath in a small room.

# Zelda ocarina replicas: which ones really play?

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/zelda-ocarina-replicas/

Updated: 2026-10-30

Zelda ocarina replicas you blow into are real ocarinas, but they aren't all worth playing. Reviewer Andy Cormier warns against ceramic replicas under $40 and calls STL's $70 ceramic 12-hole the best value. Some things sold under the name are not instruments at all: the $49.99 Electric OCARINA OF TIME, made by HORI and sold by Nintendo, is a toy with buttons. We haven't measured any replica ourselves yet.

## Is a Zelda ocarina a real ocarina?

Usually, if you blow into it and cover holes, but the name also covers toys and props. Three different things are sold as Zelda ocarinas:

- An electronic toy. [Nintendo lists it](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/electric-ocarina-of-time-129987/) at $49.99 and says it is not played by blowing; our [guide to the Electric OCARINA OF TIME](https://playocarina.com/guides/electric-ocarina-of-time-vs-real-ocarina/) compares it with a real ocarina.
- A prop. Some are made only to look right, such as [3D-print files](https://waxskink.gumroad.com/l/jlqasn) described as props for cosplay. If a listing talks about display, cosplay or printing and never mentions notes or range, assume it is one.
- A real ocarina shaped like the one in the game. You blow it and cover holes like any other, and whether it plays in tune depends on who made it. The rest of this page is about these.

## Zelda ocarina replicas compared

Scores run from 16 out of 40 for a cheap ceramic to 38 for a Spencer alto C in [Andy Cormier's review](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX-rNRowtEE), published on 25 October 2026, which rates tone, tuning, ergonomics and looks. He earns a commission on Songbird and Amazon sales, which you should weigh. The scores below are his, and the prices are the latest we could find on the date shown.

| Replica | Holes | Price | Andy Cormier's score | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cheap ceramic, such as [Ohuhu](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0148EQYA8) | 12 | $22.99, Amazon US, 30 Oct | 16 | He says don't buy one |
| OcarinaWind plastic | 12 | $18-24, eBay, his figure | 21 | Cosplay, more than playing |
| [Songbird plastic](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/products/plastic-oot-7-hole-alto-c) | 7 | $40.00, Songbird, 30 Oct | 24 | The Nintendo 64 look |
| [STL ceramic](https://www.stlocarina.com/collections/for-legend-of-zelda-fans) | 12 | $70, STL via Google, 30 Oct | 30 | Value, in his view |
| [Songbird ceramic alto C](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/products/oot-12-hole-alto-c) | 12 | $150.00, Songbird, 30 Oct | 34 | Looks for the money |
| Songbird double | Double | $200, his figure | 36 | Performing |
| [Spencer alto C](https://spencerocarina.com/collections/frontpage/products/ocarina-of-time) | 12 | $450.00, Spencer, 30 Oct | 38 | Best overall, and in short supply |

STL also sells a plastic 12-hole Zelda ocarina, which Google listed at $30 from STL on 30 October 2026. It wasn't in Andy Cormier's scores. We read these scores from the video's captions, so watch it if one of them decides your purchase.

## Are cheap Zelda replicas in tune?

Often not, on the evidence so far. Andy Cormier says he has bought three cheap ceramic replicas and found two of them poorly tuned. When we read the reviews of the best-selling replica on Amazon US on 26 October 2026, [Amazon's own summary](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076DX5PBY) reported buyers saying that only a few of its notes are in tune. Listings don't warn you, and the wording can be nearly identical: on 30 October 2026 [Ohuhu's](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0148EQYA8) said "tuned by professional" and the Deekec listing "tuned by professional musicians".

A cheap one can still be a fine shelf piece, or a way to try the shape. As a first ocarina it is harder to learn on, because you can't tell your mistakes from the instrument's. Reviews are no substitute for a measurement, and we have not measured one yet.

## Which Zelda replica should a beginner buy?

If you want to play it, buy a 12-hole from a specialist maker: STL's ceramic, or Songbird's if the looks are worth $150. STL's plastic is the cheaper way in, though Andy Cormier didn't score it. All our [Ocarina of Time song pages](https://playocarina.com/songs/ocarina-of-time/) work on a 12-hole in C. Songbird's plastic is a 7-hole with different fingerings, so check that it has tabs for what you want to play; Andy Cormier found it in tune but harder to play in tune without practice.

If the Zelda shape doesn't matter, a plain plastic 12-hole does the same job for about $40, and our [guide to which ocarina to buy](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/) compares those. Whatever arrives, [test it](https://playocarina.com/guides/test-a-new-ocarina-before-returning-it/) before the return window closes, and use the [fair test for a bad-sounding ocarina](https://playocarina.com/guides/is-my-ocarina-out-of-tune/) if a note worries you.

## Will a replica work with the Ocarina of Time remake?

Probably, but Nintendo hasn't said how fussy the game is. [Nintendo's store page](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-switch-2/) invites you to try "playing your own instruments into the Nintendo Switch 2 microphone", and [its announcement](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) says humming works too, which suggests some tolerance. Nintendo has published no pitch tolerance or list of instruments that we could find on 30 October 2026, and the game isn't out until 5 November.

[Songbird says](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/products/oot-12-hole-alto-c) its 12-hole "will be perfectly compatible" with the game's detection. That is a seller's statement made before release. Our [post on playing the remake with a real ocarina](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/) has more on which notes the game uses.

## Should you wait for Nintendo's playable ocarina?

Nintendo has announced "a playable version for the musically inclined" for later this year. In [the Direct's text](https://www.nintendo.com/jp/nintendo-direct/description/20260908_en-US.html) Eiji Aonuma shows "an ocarina like the one in the game" and says "It'll be available for purchase on Nintendo Store." On 30 October 2026 we could find no price, hole count or exact date on Nintendo's pages. It is worth waiting if you want the official one; if you want to learn this winter, buy from a specialist now.

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Electric Ocarina of Time vs a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/electric-ocarina-of-time-vs-real-ocarina/

Updated: 2026-11-02

The Electric OCARINA OF TIME is a battery toy you play with buttons, and a real ocarina is an instrument you blow. [Nintendo sells the toy](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/electric-ocarina-of-time-129987/) for $49.99, made by HORI, with a release date of 5 November 2026. Both are meant to be heard by the Ocarina of Time remake, so the choice is whether you want to learn an instrument or press buttons. We haven't tested the game's microphone with a real ocarina yet.

## What is the Electric Ocarina of Time?

The Electric OCARINA OF TIME is a toy made by HORI for the Switch 2 remake, model NSX-261U on [HORI's store](https://stores.horiusa.com/nsx-261/). It has two modes, as [Nintendo describes them](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/electric-ocarina-of-time-129987/): Free Play, where you touch finger-hole buttons to play notes, and Auto-Play, which plays 12 in-game songs when you press a button. It has a volume dial and a headphone jack. Three AA batteries and a screwdriver are not in the box.

Nintendo says it plainly: the toy "is not a real ocarina" and "is not played by blowing into it", and it is not a game controller. It works by sound: you play it, and the Switch 2 picks up the sound and triggers the matching action in the game.

On 2 November 2026 Nintendo's page showed it as out of stock, and HORI's store said it was currently unavailable with 5 November as the expected release date. Both listed $49.99. Prices outside the US weren't on those pages.

## Electric Ocarina of Time vs a real ocarina: what is the difference?

Four things separate them: how you make a note, what you learn, what you pay and what you can use it for. The table gives each as the makers state it, with what we could not find marked.

|  | Electric OCARINA OF TIME | A real ocarina |
| --- | --- | --- |
| How you play it | Press the mouthpiece button and touch the finger buttons. No blowing. | Blow into the mouthpiece and cover holes with your fingers. |
| Notes | Free Play for any notes, or Auto-Play for 12 in-game songs. | The notes its holes give you, by changing your fingering and your breath. |
| Does it teach real fingering? | Not stated. Neither Nintendo's nor HORI's page says the buttons follow a real ocarina's fingerings (looked 2 November 2026). | Yes: the fingerings are the instrument. |
| Power | Three AA batteries, not included. | None. |
| Price | $49.99, Nintendo US and HORI USA, 2 November 2026. | About $30 to $40 for a plastic 12-hole, as our buying guide finds. |
| Works with the remake? | Made for it: Nintendo says it is designed for the game's sound recognition. | Nintendo says the game will respond to instruments, and invites your own, but has published no pitch tolerance. |

The real-ocarina price is the going rate for a beginner plastic 12-hole, which our [buying guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/) compares maker by maker. With no blowing, the toy has no breath to control, and breath is the part of an ocarina that takes practice.

## Does the Ocarina of Time remake hear a real ocarina?

Nintendo says so, without detail. [Its store page for the game](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-switch-2/) says you can "try humming, or even playing your own instruments into the Nintendo Switch 2 microphone!". [Its announcement](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) says to "play (or simply hum)" one of Link's melodies near the console's built-in microphone, and that "The game will also respond to instruments like the new playable and electric ocarinas coming later this year." A hummed tune doesn't have to be exact, so the game is probably forgiving, but that is our reading, not Nintendo's statement.

When we looked on 2 November 2026, Nintendo had published no pitch tolerance and no list of instruments beyond its own two ocarinas, on the game page, the announcement or the [Direct's text](https://www.nintendo.com/jp/nintendo-direct/description/20260908_en-US.html). We haven't tried a real ocarina against the game yet, because it isn't out until 5 November. We will say here what we find.

## Which real ocarina should I use with the remake?

Our [post on playing the remake with a real ocarina](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/) covers which ocarinas and notes the game uses, and our [guide to Zelda replicas](https://playocarina.com/guides/zelda-ocarina-replicas/) sorts the real instruments from the toys and props.

## Should I buy the toy or a real ocarina?

Choose by what you want out of it:

- You want to learn to play: a real ocarina. It is the only one of the two that teaches breath, and our lessons, songs and tuner are built for it.
- You want the game's songs at a button press, or a collector's piece: the toy, once it is in stock. Nintendo made it for the game.
- You can't decide: start with a real plastic 12-hole, which costs about $30 to $40, and check it with our [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) before the return window ends.

Whichever you pick, [test a new ocarina](https://playocarina.com/guides/test-a-new-ocarina-before-returning-it/) in the first days, while you can still send it back.

## Is Nintendo making a playable ocarina too?

Yes, it has said so. [Nintendo's announcement](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) names "two ocarinas later this year: a playable version for the musically inclined and an electric version from HORI". Our [replicas guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/zelda-ocarina-replicas/) covers whether to wait for it, and what we found about its price.

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Free ocarina resources on other sites

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/free-ocarina-resources/

Updated: 2026-11-02

Free ocarina books, tabs and sheet music on other sites: two free ocarina books from [FolkFluteWorld](https://folkfluteworld.com/free_books.html), a method book you can read online at [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-method-book), tab libraries at [OcarinaTabs.org](https://ocarinatabs.org/) and [12HoleOcarina.com](https://12holeocarina.com/), and sheet music at [IMSLP](https://imslp.org/) and [The Mutopia Project](https://www.mutopiaproject.org/). We picked each for what a learner can use. None of them pays us.

Our own pages are free too: the [songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/) show the fingering for every note on each hole count they fit, and the [fingering charts](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/) show every note on a 12-hole, 6-hole and 4-hole ocarina. If you are starting from nothing, begin with the [first-week plan](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-for-beginners/) and come back here when you want more.

## Where can I learn the ocarina for free?

Two free books teach the ocarina from the first note: a course from FolkFluteWorld and a method book from Pure Ocarinas.

- [FolkFluteWorld](https://folkfluteworld.com/free_books.html) offered two free ocarina books to download when we checked on 2 November 2026: one for transverse and inline ocarinas, with 32 lessons and 180 songs, and one for pendants, with 25 lessons and 140 songs. Pick the one for the shape of your ocarina.
- When we checked on 2 November 2026, [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-method-book), an ocarina maker, had put its method book, Serious Ocarina Player, on its site as chapters you can read, from holding the ocarina to playing by ear and reading sheet music. The book is also sold as a PDF and in print.

## Where can I find free ocarina tabs?

Tabs are pictures or numbers that show which holes to cover for each note; our guide to [reading ocarina tabs](https://playocarina.com/guides/how-to-read-ocarina-tabs/) explains them. Two sites collect free ones.

- When we checked on 2 November 2026, [OcarinaTabs.org](https://ocarinatabs.org/) had free tabs and sheet music for 4-, 6- and 12-hole ocarinas, sorted by kind of tune, such as Celtic, children's songs, Christmas and hymns. You can browse it by your number of holes.
- [12HoleOcarina.com](https://12holeocarina.com/) has free tablature for 12-hole ocarinas, as tables of fingerings where you can click a note to hear it, with five short lessons that add a few notes at a time. It listed 63 songs when we checked on 2 November 2026. For free tabs on a phone, see our guide to [ocarina apps](https://playocarina.com/guides/best-ocarina-apps/).

## Where can I find free sheet music for the ocarina?

These libraries are free, and they need you to read music. Check a tune's lowest and highest notes against your ocarina's range before you start, and transpose it if it does not fit; [Pure Ocarinas has a chapter on transposing](https://pureocarinas.com/transposing-music-ocarina).

- [IMSLP](https://imslp.org/) is a library of free sheet music in PDF, which you can browse by composer or by instrument.
- When we checked on 2 November 2026, [The Mutopia Project](https://www.mutopiaproject.org/) had 2,124 pieces that are free to download, print and perform, as PDF and MIDI files. The MIDI file lets you hear a piece before you learn it.
- [The Session](https://thesession.org/) is a community site for traditional Irish music, so it is the place for jigs and reels. A tune page shows the tune as sheet music, and joining, which is free, lets you add tunes.

# Test your new ocarina while you can still return it

URL: https://playocarina.com/guides/test-a-new-ocarina-before-returning-it/

Updated: 2026-10-31

Play every note into the tuner below and read the report it ends in: that is the whole test, and it takes about 2 minutes. A note that reads off on both tries points at the ocarina, while one that reads off once is usually your breath. If the report worries you, contact the seller while the return window is still open.

## How long do I have to return a new ocarina?

It depends on the shop, and the clock usually starts when the parcel arrives, not when you first play. Each line shows the day we read that shop's policy:

- [Songbird Ocarina](https://www.songbirdocarina.com/policies/refund-policy) takes a return "up to 30 days after delivery" and does not refund the original shipping (read on 31 October 2026).
- [STL Ocarina](https://www.stlocarina.com/pages/returnpolicy) wants you to get in touch within 10 days of receiving the item, and its policy mentions a 35% restocking fee, so ask what applies before you send one back (read on 30 October 2026).
- [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/returns) will not take back a plain-finished ocarina, because that finish stains easily (read on 31 October 2026).
- On [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GKM69DUUYKQWKWX7), most items can go back within 30 days if they are in original or unused condition (read on 28 October 2026).

Testing means playing the ocarina. Where a policy says unused, ask the seller before you test.

## What does the report mean for keeping or returning it?

The report grades each note against the pattern your other notes follow, using [bands from the maker Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/measure-ocarina-breath-curve): a note is fine within 10 cents of that pattern, a little flat or sharp from 10 to 30 cents, and quite flat or sharp from 30 cents. A cent is a hundredth of the step between two neighbouring piano keys, so these bands are small.

What decides keeping is how often a note reads off. A note that read off once is listed under "Worth another try", and breath often explains it. A note that keeps reading off on a second try is the reason to contact the seller while the window is open, and once enough notes were played to compare them, the report lists it under "Off on both tries". If no note keeps reading off, keep the ocarina. Our [tuner page](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) explains the grading in full.

## Can one test show that an ocarina is badly made?

No. Your breath, the room and a cold ocarina all move the pitch; [Pure Ocarinas puts the effect of warmth](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-air-temperature-pitch) at about 1 cent per degree Celsius. That is why the report asks you to play a doubtful note again with a steady, soft breath before it calls the note off, and why it never judges a maker from one run. If a single note keeps reading off, our guide [Is my ocarina out of tune, or is it me?](https://playocarina.com/guides/is-my-ocarina-out-of-tune/) shows how to tell a fault from a shaky breath.

## Why test an ocarina I have just bought?

Some cheap listings are the ones to worry about: our guide to [Zelda ocarina replicas](https://playocarina.com/guides/zelda-ocarina-replicas/) shows what reviewers found and what each cost. If you are buying one as a present, the [gift guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-gift-guide/) covers testing it before you wrap it, and the [buying guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/) covers what to pick in the first place.

## What does the test keep about me?

Nothing you play leaves your device, because the pitch is worked out in your browser and no sound is recorded or uploaded. If you fill in the days field, we add that one number to the counts for the test, and a report you save as a link holds only note readings, never sound. The [privacy page](https://playocarina.com/privacy/) has the details.

# Privacy

URL: https://playocarina.com/privacy/

Updated: 2026-11-01

Play Ocarina collects what it needs to run the site and make it better, and nothing from your microphone. This page says what that means, in plain words. If anything changes, we update this page before the change goes live.

## The short version

- Your microphone audio never leaves your device.
- With your permission, we use analytics cookies and record how pages are used, to make the site better. Say no and we still count visits and clicks anonymously, without cookies.
- If you join the email list, we keep your address until you unsubscribe, then delete it within 30 days.
- If you sign in to an account, WorkOS, our sign-in provider, holds your email address, your name if you give one, and a record of each sign-in. We keep how far you got in each song and lesson, and a tuner result if you save one, as numbers, so it follows you to any device.
- We never sell your data and there are no advertising trackers.

## What happens to my microphone audio?

The tuner, the lessons, the play-along in the song player and the Check mine button on a fingering chart note use your microphone only after you choose to listen, by pressing the button that starts it. Your browser works out the pitch on your own device. The sound is never recorded, stored, uploaded or sent to us or anyone else, and it is never part of analytics or session recordings. Playing along adds to the analytics only which song or lesson you started or finished, never a pitch or any sound. If you save a test result as a link, the link holds only numbers (for example "C6: 12 cents sharp") in the part of the address after the "#", which your browser does not send to us, and we keep it out of analytics, session recordings and error reports. When you save a tuning result, to your account or in your browser, it keeps only the numbers, never any sound.

The site remembers which ocarina you have, from the tuner or from picking one on a song page or in a lesson: its hole count, its key and its tuning standard, in your browser's storage. That way the tuner doesn't ask again, song pages and lessons open on your ocarina, and the fingering charts point to yours. It stays on your device.

## Which cookies does Play Ocarina use?

- Analytics cookies, only if you accept them: PostHog, our analytics provider, sets a cookie named "ph_", then our project key, then "_posthog", which [PostHog says](https://posthog.com/docs/libraries/js/persistence) expires after 365 days, and keeps its other analytics state in your browser's local storage.
- Two sign-in cookies, only if you sign in to an account. "wos-session" keeps you signed in. It is encrypted so only our server can read it, and it holds the sign-in keys WorkOS gives us and your account details from WorkOS, such as your email address and name. Your browser keeps it for up to 400 days after the site last renewed your sign-in, but it stops signing you in sooner, when you sign out or when WorkOS ends the session. "wos-auth-verifier-" followed by a short code is set when you press sign in and deleted when WorkOS sends you back, after 10 minutes at most. It stops another site from starting a sign-in that finishes in your browser.
- Both sign-in cookies are sent only to playocarina.com, only over a secure connection, and the page's scripts cannot read them. They are strictly necessary for signing in, so we do not ask for consent to them, and a visitor who never starts a sign-in gets neither.
- When you press sign in, you go to WorkOS's sign-in page, which sets its own cookies on its own sites (authkit.app and workos.com): one that keeps track of the sign-in for up to a day, and Cloudflare cookies that protect the page from bots. [WorkOS's privacy policy](https://workos.com/privacy) covers them.
- Your cookie choice itself, kept in your browser's local storage so we do not ask again on every page.
- On our own devices only, a marker in local storage that leaves our own visits out of the visitor counts.
- Your ocarina, once you tell the tuner how many holes it has or pick one on a song page: the hole count, its key and its tuning standard, in your browser's local storage, so the tuner, song pages and lessons don't ask again.
- How far you got in each song on each ocarina (the furthest note, and how many notes in a row a play-along heard from the first), and which lessons you finished, and a tuner result if you chose to save it: numbers only, in your browser's local storage, so the site can show where you left off. Until you sign in it stays on your device. When you sign in it moves to your account, and while you are signed in the browser keeps, under a name that includes your account's ID, a copy of whatever has not yet reached your account. It also keeps a copy of the progress your account last sent back, with your account's ID inside, so the site can still show where you left off when it cannot reach your account or cannot tell who is signed in, as it shows the progress of a browser nobody is signed in on. That second copy is removed when this browser learns you are signed out, which happens on the next page you open after you sign out or delete your account, and when someone else signs in on this browser. If you delete your account on another device, it stays here until this browser next learns you are signed out.
- If you accept analytics cookies, PostHog also keeps details of your current visit in your browser's session storage, which clears when you close the tab.

## What do the analytics count?

We use PostHog to see how the site is used, so we can make it better: page views, the page you arrived on, the site that linked you here, your browser and device type, your screen size, language and time zone, the buttons and links you press, where on a page you click and how far you scroll, and steps such as allowing the microphone, finishing the tuner test, starting or finishing a song or lesson, or joining the email list. For the tuner we also count which microphone settings your browser gave it (for example whether noise suppression was on), as yes or no values and numbers. If you tell the return-window test how many days ago you bought your ocarina, we add that number to the events we count when you see a test report and, for a test played to the end, next to how many notes you played, never to how any note sounded. Like any web server, PostHog receives your IP address with each request. If you accept analytics cookies, PostHog stores your IP address with these events and works out a rough location from it, such as your country and city.

If you accept analytics cookies, PostHog also records sessions: a replay of how you move through a page, so we can see where the site is confusing. Anything you type into a form is hidden from these recordings, and they never include microphone sound.

If you say no, or have not chosen yet, PostHog still counts your visit and the pages, buttons and links you use, but sets no cookies and keeps nothing in your browser except your "no". It tells visits apart with what [it calls](https://posthog.com/tutorials/cookieless-tracking) "a privacy-preserving hash, calculated on PostHog's servers" from your IP address and browser, using a random value that changes every day; it works out no location, and there are no session recordings. PostHog processes this data only for us.

## How do I change my cookie choice?

The privacy page has cookie settings, just below this answer, where you can accept analytics cookies or turn them off at any time. Turning them off also stops session recordings.

To change your cookie choice, use the cookie settings in this section on the page itself.

## What happens when something on the site breaks?

When the site hits an error, an error report goes to Sentry, our error tracking service, so we can fix it. A report says what went wrong in the code, on which page, in which browser and operating system, your browser's language and time zone, the last few things that happened on the page before the error (pages opened, buttons pressed, requests made, messages the site logged), and for tuner errors which microphone settings the browser gave it, as yes or no values and numbers. [Sentry works out](https://docs.sentry.io/security-legal-pii/scrubbing/server-side-scrubbing/) roughly where you are, your country and city, from the connection the report arrives on, and keeps that with the report. It also counts visits that end in an error against those that do not, so we can tell how often the site breaks, and measures how fast pages load on some visits. Error reports never include sound, and we do not store your IP address with them.

## What do you keep when I create an account?

An account keeps your email address, and your name if you give one, so you can sign in. WorkOS, our sign-in provider, holds them, makes the code you sign in with (it emails it to you, or has us email it through Resend), and keeps [a record of each sign-in](https://workos.com/docs/reference/authkit/session): when it happened, and the IP address and browser it came from. We keep no copy of your email address or name on our own servers: our server reads them from WorkOS when you sign in and keeps them only inside your encrypted sign-in cookie.

If you have accepted analytics cookies, signing in links what PostHog counts and records, session recordings included, to your account by the ID WorkOS gives it, never by your email address or name. Signing out unlinks that browser, so whoever uses it next is counted as a new visitor. If your sign-in runs out instead, the next page you open unlinks it.

An account keeps how far you got in each song you played (the furthest note, how many notes in a row a play-along heard from the first, whether you finished it, and when you last played it), which ocarina you played it on, and when you first finished each lesson. If you press "Save this result to my account" under a tuner report, it also keeps that result for the ocarina you tested: how far each note read from its pitch in cents, the tuning standard it was measured against, and when you saved it, newer replacing older. Those are numbers in our own database, never sound, and they are tied to the ID WorkOS gives your account, not to your email address or name. [Supabase hosts that database](https://supabase.com/privacy). Before you sign in, your progress is kept only in your browser. Whenever you sign in, what the browser holds moves into your account and the browser forgets it, except the copy of your account's last answer described below.

## How do I get a copy of my account or delete it?

To get a copy of your progress, sign in, choose Your account in the menu at the top right of any page, and press Export my progress: you get a file. To delete your account, sign in, choose Your account in the same menu, press Delete my account, and confirm. Your saved progress is deleted from our database and your account is deleted at WorkOS straight away, which removes your email address and name, and you are signed out. We keep only the account's ID and the date it was deleted, for about 30 days, so a device still signed in to it cannot save progress to it again. Nobody can sign in to it again, and WorkOS does not say how long it keeps its record of each sign-in after that. For a copy of everything your account holds, or if you cannot delete it yourself, email [hello@playocarina.com](mailto:hello@playocarina.com) from the address you sign in with, and we will do it within one month.

## How do email updates work?

- You tick a box to say you want the updates; it is never ticked for you.
- We email you a link to confirm. Your address joins the list only when you press it, and the link stops working after 7 days.
- We use your address only to send what you asked for (the updates, or the profile below) and to limit repeat sign-ups, and we never sell or share it. Our email provider is Resend.
- A test report used to offer Save my ocarina profile, which emailed you your results. It is no longer offered, but a confirmation link it already sent still works until it runs out, 7 days after it was sent. That link carries your results: your ocarina, how each note read in cents, the date and the tuning standard, never sound. When you press it we email them to you, with a link that opens the same result on the site. If you did not tick the second box for the updates, your address joins no list, and we email you only what you asked for. We keep the result nowhere else; Resend keeps a record of the email we sent you, as it does of every email.
- Every update email has an unsubscribe link. When you use it, the emails stop straight away and we delete your address within 30 days.
- We keep the list only while we send updates: if a year passes without one, we delete the whole list.

## What happens if I offer to talk about my ocarina?

- Under a finished test report, the site may ask whether you bought your ocarina in the last 3 months and would tell Igor how your first weeks went in a 15-minute call. It asks whether you are 18 or older before it shows any field. Answer no and the page thanks you. Your answer is sent to no server of ours and we keep nothing about it; the analytics described above may still count the click, as they count any click on a page.
- If you are 18 or older and send your email, one email with your address in it goes through Resend to Igor's playocarina.com address, which ImprovMX forwards to his own inbox. The email holds nothing else about you: no sound, no test result and no page. You tick a box to say you want Igor to email you to arrange a call. We use it only to write to you about the call. Your address joins no list, and we never sell or share it.
- If Igor follows up, he asks screening questions (your age, when and where you bought your ocarina, which one, whether it is your first, who it was for, what made you want one and whether you play anything else) and notes your address, any name, username or phone number you give, and your answers in private project files, kept in a private repository on GitHub that the AI coding tools helping to run the project can read. If you take part in the call and agree to it being recorded, the recording, a transcript and his notes go in the same files under a participant number, not your name, and nothing is published with your name on it. How long it all is kept is under "How long do you keep my data?".
- To withdraw your offer, email [hello@playocarina.com](mailto:hello@playocarina.com) and we delete your address.

## What gives you the right to use my data?

- Analytics cookies, session recordings, email updates, the profile email of a test result and an offer to talk about your ocarina: your consent. You can withdraw it at any time: for cookies in the cookie settings above, for updates with the unsubscribe link, and for an offer to talk by emailing us. A profile sent on its own comes with no list to unsubscribe from.
- Counting visits without cookies, error reports with their visit counts and page-load timings, limiting sign-ups to stop abuse, and the technical details the host needs to deliver the page: our legitimate interest in running a working, safe site and knowing how it is used.
- An account, its saved progress, its sign-in cookies and the sign-in records WorkOS keeps: providing the account you asked for. The ID and deletion date we keep after you delete it: our legitimate interest in not saving progress for an account that no longer exists.

## Who processes data for us?

- Vercel hosts the site and, like every host, processes the technical details of each request, such as your IP address and browser, to deliver the page and keep the site secure.
- PostHog runs our analytics and session recordings.
- Sentry receives error reports, visit counts and page-load timings.
- WorkOS handles sign-in: it holds your account's email address and your name if you give one, makes the sign-in code (it emails it, or has us email it), and keeps a record of each sign-in. See [WorkOS's privacy policy](https://workos.com/privacy).
- Resend sends our emails, including the profile email that holds your test results and the sign-in code when WorkOS has us send it, and holds the email list.
- Supabase hosts the database that holds your saved progress. See [Supabase's privacy policy](https://supabase.com/privacy).
- ImprovMX forwards email sent to our playocarina.com addresses, such as mail to hello@playocarina.com and every offer to talk about your ocarina, to Igor's own inbox. [It receives each message in France and deletes it once delivered](https://improvmx.com/transparency/gdpr-compliance), and [keeps a log of who sent it, to whom and its subject, never its content, for 7 days](https://improvmx.com/transparency/what-do-we-log).
- If you offer to talk about your ocarina, Igor's own email provider holds the inbox your offer arrives in. If Igor follows up and you take part in a call, the video or phone tool you agree on for it may hold the recording and your name or number. If he follows up, GitHub holds our private repository of project files, and the AI coding tools that help run the project (Anthropic's Claude and OpenAI's Codex) can read those files.

PostHog, Sentry, Vercel, Resend and WorkOS are companies in the United States. PostHog, Sentry, Resend and WorkOS store what they hold for us in the US, and [Vercel runs the site's server code there](https://vercel.com/docs/functions/configuring-functions/region). [PostHog](https://posthog.com/privacy), [Sentry](https://sentry.io/legal/dpa/) and [Resend](https://resend.com/legal/dpa) are certified under the UK-US data bridge (the UK Extension to the EU-US Data Privacy Framework), and their terms also include standard contractual clauses. [Vercel](https://vercel.com/legal/dpa) and [WorkOS](https://workos.com/legal/dpa) use standard contractual clauses with the UK's International Data Transfer Addendum. GitHub, Anthropic and OpenAI are US companies too; they see an address only if Igor followed up with you. Igor's email provider holds every offer. We have not yet checked the transfer terms of these four for this page. Each link goes to that company's terms, as we read them on 28 October 2026. [Supabase](https://supabase.com/legal/dpa), which hosts the database that holds your saved progress, provides for transfers under the European Commission's standard contractual clauses and the UK's approved addendum to them, as we read its terms on 31 October 2026. ImprovMX is a US company: it receives email in France and may send it on from servers in the US. [Its data processing agreement for paying customers includes standard contractual clauses](https://improvmx.com/transparency/gdpr-compliance), and it [says it follows the principles of the EU-US Data Privacy Framework but is not certified under it](https://improvmx.com/transparency/privacy-policy), as we read its pages on 31 October 2026.

## How long do you keep my data?

The periods below for PostHog, Sentry, Vercel, Resend and WorkOS are from each company's own pages, linked in each line, as we read them on 28 October 2026; ImprovMX's is from its page as we read it on 31 October 2026.

- [PostHog keeps analytics events](https://posthog.com/docs/data/events-retention) for at least the period its plan sets: 1 year on its free plan, 7 years on its paid plans. It does not promise to delete them when that period ends, and we cannot choose a shorter one.
- [PostHog keeps session recordings](https://posthog.com/docs/session-replay/recording-retention) for 30 days, then deletes them. PostHog says the deletion can take a short while.
- [Sentry keeps](https://sentry.io/pricing/) error reports, visit counts and page-load timings for 30 to 90 days, depending on its plan.
- The [request logs Vercel keeps](https://vercel.com/docs/logs/runtime) for us last 30 days at most.
- When you sign up for emails or offer to talk about your ocarina, the server counts sign-ups by your IP address and by a scrambled form of the email address you typed, to limit how many come from one connection in an hour, how many confirmation emails go to one address in an hour, and how many interview offers one address makes in a day. It keeps these only in its memory, never on disk, and they are gone when that copy of the server stops.
- [Resend keeps](https://resend.com/pricing) a record of each email it sends, the confirmation email, the profile email with your test results and any sign-in code email included, with the address it went to, for 30 days, even if you never press the link or enter the code.
- If you offered to talk about your ocarina, [Resend keeps](https://resend.com/pricing) the email to Igor, with your address in it, for 30 days. Igor deletes your address, and the name, username, phone number and screening answers kept with it, from his inbox and from the project files when the interview round ends, unless you agreed to be asked about a later round; older versions of a file stay in the repository's history. The recording, transcript and notes of a call are kept, under a participant number.
- If you email us, [ImprovMX keeps](https://improvmx.com/transparency/what-do-we-log) your address and the subject line in its delivery log for 7 days; it deletes the email itself once it reaches Igor's inbox.
- We keep your email address on the update list, if you joined it, until you unsubscribe (we then delete it within 30 days), or until we delete the whole list after a year without an update.
- Your saved progress stays in our database until you delete your account, which deletes it.
- When you delete your account we keep its ID and the date of the deletion, and nothing else, for about 30 days, so a device still signed in to it cannot save progress again. Then we delete this record.
- WorkOS keeps your account until you delete it. It does not say how long it keeps the record of each sign-in: [its privacy policy](https://workos.com/privacy) says only that it keeps personal data for as long as it needs it.
- Your browser keeps the "wos-session" sign-in cookie for up to 400 days after the site last renewed your sign-in, or until you sign out or clear your cookies, and the "wos-auth-verifier-" cookie for 10 minutes at most.
- Your browser keeps your cookie choice, and the ocarina you told the tuner about, until you clear its storage. Until you sign in it also keeps your progress there, and a copy of whatever has not yet reached your account, which stays until it has, even after you sign out. While you are signed in it also keeps a copy of the progress your account last sent back, which goes when this browser learns you are signed out or another person signs in.

## Is Play Ocarina for children?

Play Ocarina is for a general audience aged 13 and over. If you are under 13, please do not join the email list, create an account or accept analytics cookies. The tuner works without any of them, and nothing it hears leaves your device. If you are a parent and think your child has joined the email list or created an account, email [hello@playocarina.com](mailto:hello@playocarina.com) and we will delete their address and account. If they accepted analytics cookies, turn them off in the cookie settings on their device. From then on their visits are only counted anonymously, with no cookie, session recording, stored IP address or location, as for anyone who says no. Visits recorded before hold no name or email address, and are kept as described under "How long do you keep my data?".

## Who is responsible for my data?

Igor Luchenkov runs Play Ocarina from the United Kingdom and is responsible for the personal data it collects (in data protection law, the controller). You can reach him at [hello@playocarina.com](mailto:hello@playocarina.com).

## How do I contact you about my data?

Email [hello@playocarina.com](mailto:hello@playocarina.com). You can ask for a copy of what we hold about you, ask us to correct or delete it, ask us to limit how we use it, object to how we use it, or ask for it in a form you can take to another service. If you are unhappy with how we handled your data, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's data protection regulator, at [ico.org.uk](https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/data-protection-complaints/).

# Affiliate disclosure

URL: https://playocarina.com/affiliate-disclosure/

Updated: 2026-11-01

Some links on Play Ocarina are affiliate links: if you buy something after clicking one, the shop pays us a commission, at no extra cost to you. It helps keep the tuner and the lessons free.

## How can I tell which pages have affiliate links?

Every page that carries one says so in a line at the top, before its first affiliate link, and that line links back to this page.

## Does a commission change your recommendations?

No. We recommend ocarinas based on what players report, what makers publish and, as our own tests come in, what we measure, and we say where each fact came from. A shop paying a commission does not move an ocarina up our list, and we tell you when a cheaper option is good enough.

## Where will you never put affiliate links?

- Inside or next to your tuning test result: if your ocarina reads out of tune, we want you to trust that, not to wonder whether we are selling you a new one. Our [buying guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/) is one link away instead.

## Which programmes do you use?

One: Songbird Ocarina, an ocarina shop. [Its affiliate programme](https://affiliate.songbirdocarina.com/) pays us 10% on purchases made within 90 days of a click on one of our Songbird links, as its terms read on 27 October 2026. When we tried one on 1 November 2026, Songbird also took 10% off the ocarina in our cart, without a code. Questions: [hello@playocarina.com](mailto:hello@playocarina.com).

# Ocarina fingering chart

URL: https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/

Updated: 2026-10-29

An ocarina fingering chart shows which holes to cover for each note. Pick the chart for your ocarina below: each one lists every note with a picture, the holes in words and a button to hear it, following [STL Ocarina's 12-hole chart](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0103/7756/0119/files/12_Hole_Ocarina_Instructions.pdf?v=1766252736) and [Howard Fosdick's pendant course](https://folkfluteworld.com/Ocarina_Course_Pendants.pdf). Below is the C major scale, the first thing to learn on any of them.

| Your ocarina | What it looks like | Notes | Chart |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 12-hole | Long and curved, eight holes on top, two tiny sub-holes and two thumb holes | low A to high F | [12-hole chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [print the PDF](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole-ocarina-fingering-chart.pdf) |
| 6-hole pendant | Round, four holes on top and two thumb holes underneath | C to high E | [6-hole chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [print the PDF](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole-ocarina-fingering-chart.pdf) |
| 4-hole pendant | Round, four holes on top and none underneath | C to high C | [4-hole chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) or [print the PDF](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole-ocarina-fingering-chart.pdf) |

12-hole alto C tabs: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, high C
1. C (cover every main hole)
2. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
3. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
4. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, high C
1. C (cover every hole)
2. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. E (cover every hole but the right index)
4. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
5. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
6. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
8. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, high C
1. C (cover every hole)
2. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. E (cover every hole but the right index)
4. F (cover the left middle and left index)
5. G (cover the left index and right index)
6. A (cover the left index)
7. B (cover the right middle)
8. high C (all holes open)

## Where are all the notes listed side by side?

Our page on [ocarina notes and the scale](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-notes/) puts the notes of the 12-hole, 6-hole and 4-hole in one table with their pitches, and shows the scale on G and F ocarinas. For where each finger goes, see [how to hold an ocarina](https://playocarina.com/guides/how-to-hold-an-ocarina/).

## How many notes can an ocarina play?

A 12-hole ocarina plays 21 notes, a 6-hole pendant 17 and a 4-hole pendant 13, counting every sharp and flat. That is enough for most folk songs and carols. A 4-hole plays the in-game phrases of 6 of the 12 [Ocarina of Time songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/ocarina-of-time/); the others reach high D, which needs a 12-hole or 6-hole.

## Do the charts work for ocarinas in G or F?

Yes. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-fingering-system): "the same fingerings apply to ocarinas in any key; just substitute the notes of that key". The fingerings stay the same and only the pitch changes, so you can read these charts and any tabs written for C.

## What about 10-hole and 7-hole ocarinas?

A 10-hole ocarina is a 12-hole without the sub-holes: Pure Ocarinas says the "eight finger holes and two thumb holes are universal across all single chambered ocarinas, regardless of if you have a 10, 11, or 12 hole ocarina". Use the [12-hole chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) from C upwards. We have not made a 7-hole chart yet.

## Where can I find songs to play?

On our [songs page](https://playocarina.com/songs/), where every song shows which ocarinas it fits. The [easy ocarina songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/easy/) are the place to begin, and the [Ocarina of Time songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/ocarina-of-time/) have their own list.

# 12-hole ocarina fingering chart

URL: https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/

Updated: 2026-10-27

This chart shows every note of a 12-hole ocarina in C, from low A to high F: 21 notes. Filled holes are covered and hollow holes are open; the two circles below the body are the thumb holes underneath. Press Hear it on a note to hear it. The same fingerings work on a 12-hole soprano, alto or bass, and on ocarinas in G or F: only the pitch changes.

[Printable 12-hole fingering chart (PDF)](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole-ocarina-fingering-chart.pdf): every note on one page.

| Note | Sounds | Fingering |
| --- | --- | --- |
| low A | A4 | Cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole |
| low A♯ | A#4 | Cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole |
| low B | B4 | Cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole |
| C | C5 | Cover every main hole |
| C♯ | C#5 | Cover every main hole but the right pinky, plus the right sub-hole |
| D | D5 | Cover every main hole but the right pinky |
| D♯ | D#5 | Cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky, plus the right sub-hole |
| E | E5 | Cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky |
| F | F5 | Cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky |
| F♯ | F#5 | Cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky |
| G | G5 | Cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky |
| G♯ | G#5 | Cover every main hole but the left ring, right index, right middle and right pinky |
| A | A5 | Cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb |
| A♯ | A#5 | Cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb |
| B | B5 | Cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb |
| high C | C6 | Cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb |
| high C♯ | C#6 | Cover the left pinky, right ring and right thumb |
| high D | D6 | Cover the left pinky and right thumb |
| high D♯ | D#6 | Cover the left pinky and right ring |
| high E | E6 | Cover the left pinky |
| high F | F6 | All holes open |

![12-hole ocarina fingering chart: the fingering for each of its 21 notes, low A to high F](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole-ocarina-fingering-chart.png)

The whole 12-hole chart as one picture, to save to your phone.

## How do you read a 12-hole fingering chart?

The picture shows the ocarina from above, with the mouthpiece towards you. The four holes on the left are for your left hand, with the pinky hole furthest out and the index hole nearest the middle; the four on the right are for your right hand in the same order. The two small holes next to your middle fingers are the sub-holes. Your thumbs cover the two holes underneath.

## What are the notes on a 12-hole ocarina?

A 12-hole alto C plays from low A to high F, which STL Ocarina [lists as A4 to F6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-fairy-tenor-ocarina) on its product page (we checked on 27 October 2026). The main scale starts on C with all ten main holes covered. Each step up lifts one more finger: the right hand from the pinky inwards for D, E, F and G, then the left ring, middle and index fingers for A, B and high C. Above that you lift the left thumb for high D, the right thumb for high E, and finally the left pinky for high F, the note with every hole open.

[Pure Ocarinas describes](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-fingering-system) this as the most common layout: "The Asian system is the most common". In the Italian system, Pure says, "Instead of playing the E on the right thumb (assuming a C instrument), you play it on the pinky."

## How do the sub-holes work on a 12-hole ocarina?

The sub-holes play the three notes below C. Cover the ten main holes and the right sub-hole for low B; add the left sub-hole for low A; cover the left sub-hole alone, with the ten main holes, for low A♯. Pure Ocarinas says they are played "by sliding the finger forwards, covering two holes with the pad of one finger". Keep them open for every other note except the lower C♯ and D♯, which also cover the right sub-hole. (STL Ocarina's booklet prints the C♯ picture under low B as well; the low B here covers one sub-hole, the way Pure Ocarinas describes it.)

On most 12-hole ocarinas each sub-hole sits next to a middle finger. Pure Ocarinas calls a second sub-hole beside the right index finger the "Japanese" layout; if yours looks like that, check your maker's chart.

## How do you play sharps and flats on a 12-hole ocarina?

Most sharps and flats use cross-fingerings, where you cover holes out of order; C♯ and D♯ add the right sub-hole instead. Each sharp is also the flat of the note above it, so C♯ is the same note as D♭. Pure Ocarinas warns that "the best tuned fingerings vary from one ocarina to another". The sharps here follow [STL Ocarina's chart](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0103/7756/0119/files/12_Hole_Ocarina_Instructions.pdf?v=1766252736); if one sounds off on your ocarina, check it with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) and your maker's chart.

## Why are the high notes hard on a 12-hole ocarina?

The high notes leave few fingers on the ocarina, so it is harder to hold, and they need more breath. STL Ocarina's booklet says: "When you reach the two highest notes you won't be able to support the ocarina with your thumbs covering the holes, so try pivoting your right thumb so that the ocarina balances on the inner knuckle." [Pure Ocarinas adds](https://pureocarinas.com/why-ocarina-high-notes-flat) that "pressure must increase as you play higher notes", so a high note that sounds flat usually wants a little more air.

## Do G and F ocarinas use the same fingerings?

Yes. Pure Ocarinas: "the same fingerings apply to ocarinas in any key; just substitute the notes of that key, such as G A B C D E F♯ G for a G ocarina." STL Ocarina puts it the other way round: on a 12-hole in F or G, music written for C "will sound a fourth or fifth lower than written". So you can use this chart and any C tab on an alto G or alto F.

## What can I play with these notes?

Every song on this site: our [12-hole songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/12-hole/) list them in the order to learn them, from tunes inside one octave to the sub-holes. Ready for a tune? Start with the [easy ocarina songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/easy/), browse [all the songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/), or learn the [Ocarina of Time songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/ocarina-of-time/).

# 6-hole ocarina fingering chart

URL: https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/

Updated: 2026-10-27

This chart shows every note of a 6-hole pendant ocarina in C, from C to high E: 17 notes. A 6-hole pendant has four holes on top, for your index and middle fingers, and two thumb holes underneath. Filled holes are covered, hollow holes are open and a half-filled hole is half covered. Press Hear it on a note to hear it.

[Printable 6-hole fingering chart (PDF)](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole-ocarina-fingering-chart.pdf): every note on one page.

| Note | Sounds | Fingering |
| --- | --- | --- |
| C | C5 | Cover every hole |
| C♯ | C#5 | Cover the left middle, left index, right index, left thumb and right thumb; half-cover the right middle |
| D | D5 | Cover every hole but the right middle |
| D♯ | D#5 | Cover the left middle, right middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb; half-cover the right index |
| E | E5 | Cover every hole but the right index |
| F | F5 | Cover every hole but the right middle and right index |
| F♯ | F#5 | Cover every hole but the left middle |
| G | G5 | Cover every hole but the left middle and right middle |
| G♯ | G#5 | Cover every hole but the left middle and right index |
| A | A5 | Cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb |
| A♯ | A#5 | Cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb |
| B | B5 | Cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb |
| high C | C6 | Cover the left thumb and right thumb |
| high C♯ | C#6 | Cover the right middle and left thumb |
| high D | D6 | Cover the left thumb |
| high D♯ | D#6 | Cover the right middle |
| high E | E6 | All holes open |

![6-hole ocarina fingering chart: the fingering for each of its 17 notes, C to high E](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole-ocarina-fingering-chart.png)

The whole 6-hole chart as one picture, to save to your phone.

## How do you read a 6-hole fingering chart?

Pendant charts are drawn with the mouthpiece at the bottom. [Howard Fosdick's pendant course](https://folkfluteworld.com/Ocarina_Course_Pendants.pdf) explains: "the two bottom-most holes represent the fingering holes for your first two fingers (your index fingers). The two topmost holes are those you would cover with your middle fingers." The two circles beside the mouthpiece are the thumb holes underneath.

## What are the notes on a 6-hole ocarina?

A 6-hole pendant in C plays every note from C to high E; when we checked on 27 October 2026, STL Ocarina [listed its 6-hole tenor in C](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/6-hole-tenor-ocarina-in-c-major-simple-reliable-everyday-play) as C5 to E6. With both thumbs covered, the four top holes play C to high C. In Fosdick's words, "The 6 hole oc extends this range with two more whole notes on the high end with its two thumb holes": lift the right thumb for high C♯ and D, then both thumbs for high D♯ and E.

## How do you play C♯ and D♯ on a pendant ocarina?

By half-holing: cover half of one hole. For C♯, half cover the right middle finger's hole; for D♯, half cover the right index finger's hole. Rolling the finger back off the hole is steadier than lifting it. Half-holes are easy to play out of tune, so check them with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Can I play 12-hole songs on a 6-hole ocarina?

Many, as long as the tune stays between C and high E. The fingerings are different, but the notes are the same, and every song page on this site shows 6-hole tabs whenever the tune fits; our [6-hole songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/6-hole/) list every one that does. Ready for a tune? Start with the [easy ocarina songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/easy/), browse [all the songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/), or learn the [Ocarina of Time songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/ocarina-of-time/).

# 4-hole ocarina fingering chart

URL: https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/

Updated: 2026-10-29

This chart shows every note of a 4-hole pendant ocarina in C, from C to high C: 13 notes, every sharp and flat included. A 4-hole pendant has four holes on top and none underneath. [Howard Fosdick's pendant course](https://folkfluteworld.com/Ocarina_Course_Pendants.pdf): "These eight notes -- from low C to high C -- constitute the complete range of the 4 hole C pendant", and 4 and 6-hole pendants "play all sharps and flats within their range". Press Hear it on a note to hear it.

[Printable 4-hole fingering chart (PDF)](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole-ocarina-fingering-chart.pdf): every note on one page.

| Note | Sounds | Fingering |
| --- | --- | --- |
| C | C5 | Cover every hole |
| C♯ | C#5 | Cover the left middle, left index and right index; half-cover the right middle |
| D | D5 | Cover every hole but the right middle |
| D♯ | D#5 | Cover the left middle, right middle and left index; half-cover the right index |
| E | E5 | Cover every hole but the right index |
| F | F5 | Cover the left middle and left index |
| F♯ | F#5 | Cover every hole but the left middle |
| G | G5 | Cover the left index and right index |
| G♯ | G#5 | Cover the right middle and left index |
| A | A5 | Cover the left index |
| A♯ | A#5 | Cover the right index |
| B | B5 | Cover the right middle |
| high C | C6 | All holes open |

![4-hole ocarina fingering chart: the fingering for each of its 13 notes, C to high C](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole-ocarina-fingering-chart.png)

The whole 4-hole chart as one picture, to save to your phone.

## How do you read a 4-hole fingering chart?

The mouthpiece is at the bottom of the picture. The two bottom holes are for your index fingers and the two top holes for your middle fingers, left hand on the left. Your thumbs simply hold the ocarina from underneath.

## How do you play the sharps on a 4-hole ocarina?

Most sharps are cross-fingerings, where you cover holes out of order. C♯ and D♯ are half-holed: half cover the right middle finger's hole for C♯ and the right index finger's hole for D♯. Check half-holed notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/), because a little more or less cover moves the pitch a lot.

## What songs can I play on a 4-hole ocarina?

Any tune that stays within one octave, from C to high C. Our [4-hole songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/4-hole/) list every song on this site that does, with 4-hole tabs. Ready for a tune? Start with the [easy ocarina songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/easy/), browse [all the songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/), or learn the [Ocarina of Time songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/ocarina-of-time/).

# Ocarina songs and tabs

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/

Updated: 2026-10-29

Every song here has tabs: a fingering picture for each note, so you can play without reading music. Each page shows which ocarinas the tune fits, 12-hole, 6-hole or 4-hole, and every song page can play the tune for you first. New to the ocarina? Start with the [easy songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/easy/).

- [Easy songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/easy/): Short tunes with no sharps or flats, for your first week.

- [Christmas songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/christmas/): The Christmas songs, easiest first, with the ones that fit a 4-hole or 6-hole.

- [Ocarina of Time songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/ocarina-of-time/): Every song with set notes, from Zelda's Lullaby to the warp songs.

- [Majora's Mask songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/majoras-mask/): The ocarina songs from the next game, from the Song of Healing to the Song of Double Time.

- [12-hole songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/12-hole/): Every song, in the order to learn them: one octave, then the thumbs, then the sub-holes.

- [6-hole songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/6-hole/): The songs from C to high E, the ones on the four top holes first.

- [4-hole songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/4-hole/): The songs that stay inside one octave, C to high C.

| Song | Fits | Difficulty | Kind |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Amazing Grace](https://playocarina.com/songs/amazing-grace/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [Arirang](https://playocarina.com/songs/arirang/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | easy | Classic songs |
| [Auld Lang Syne](https://playocarina.com/songs/auld-lang-syne/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | easy | Classic songs |
| [Aura Lea](https://playocarina.com/songs/aura-lea/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [Ballad of the Wind Fish](https://playocarina.com/songs/ballad-of-the-wind-fish/) | 12-hole | medium | Game songs |
| [Bolero of Fire](https://playocarina.com/songs/bolero-of-fire/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | easy | Game songs |
| [Brahms' Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/brahms-lullaby/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [Can-can](https://playocarina.com/songs/can-can/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [Canon in D](https://playocarina.com/songs/canon-in-d/) | 12-hole | hard | Classic songs |
| [Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy](https://playocarina.com/songs/dance-of-the-sugar-plum-fairy/) | 12-hole | hard | Classic songs |
| [Danny Boy](https://playocarina.com/songs/danny-boy/) | 12-hole | hard | Classic songs |
| [Drunken Sailor](https://playocarina.com/songs/drunken-sailor/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | easy | Classic songs |
| [Elegy of Emptiness](https://playocarina.com/songs/elegy-of-emptiness/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | medium | Game songs |
| [Epona's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/eponas-song/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | easy | Game songs |
| [Frère Jacques](https://playocarina.com/songs/frere-jacques/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [Für Elise](https://playocarina.com/songs/fur-elise/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | hard | Classic songs |
| [Gerudo Valley](https://playocarina.com/songs/gerudo-valley/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | medium | Game songs |
| [Good King Wenceslas](https://playocarina.com/songs/good-king-wenceslas/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [Goron Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/goron-lullaby/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | medium | Game songs |
| [Great Fairy Fountain](https://playocarina.com/songs/great-fairy-fountain/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | medium | Game songs |
| [Greensleeves](https://playocarina.com/songs/greensleeves/) | 12-hole | hard | Classic songs |
| [Gymnopédie No. 1](https://playocarina.com/songs/gymnopedie-no-1/) | 12-hole | hard | Classic songs |
| [Hallelujah Chorus](https://playocarina.com/songs/hallelujah-chorus/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [Happy Birthday](https://playocarina.com/songs/happy-birthday/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [Hark! The Herald Angels Sing](https://playocarina.com/songs/hark-the-herald-angels-sing/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [In the Hall of the Mountain King](https://playocarina.com/songs/in-the-hall-of-the-mountain-king/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [Inverted Song of Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/inverted-song-of-time/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | easy | Game songs |
| [Jingle Bells](https://playocarina.com/songs/jingle-bells/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | easy | Classic songs |
| [Joy to the World](https://playocarina.com/songs/joy-to-the-world/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [London Bridge Is Falling Down](https://playocarina.com/songs/london-bridge/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | easy | Classic songs |
| [Mary Had a Little Lamb](https://playocarina.com/songs/mary-had-a-little-lamb/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | easy | Classic songs |
| [Minuet in G](https://playocarina.com/songs/minuet-in-g/) | 12-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [Minuet of Forest](https://playocarina.com/songs/minuet-of-forest/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | medium | Game songs |
| [Morning Mood](https://playocarina.com/songs/morning-mood/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [New Wave Bossa Nova](https://playocarina.com/songs/new-wave-bossa-nova/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | medium | Game songs |
| [New World Symphony Largo](https://playocarina.com/songs/new-world-symphony-largo/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [Nocturne of Shadow](https://playocarina.com/songs/nocturne-of-shadow/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | easy | Game songs |
| [O Christmas Tree](https://playocarina.com/songs/o-christmas-tree/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [O Come, All Ye Faithful](https://playocarina.com/songs/o-come-all-ye-faithful/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [Oath to Order](https://playocarina.com/songs/oath-to-order/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | easy | Game songs |
| [Ode to Joy](https://playocarina.com/songs/ode-to-joy/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | easy | Classic songs |
| [Oh! Susanna](https://playocarina.com/songs/oh-susanna/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | easy | Classic songs |
| [Pomp and Circumstance](https://playocarina.com/songs/pomp-and-circumstance/) | 12-hole | hard | Classic songs |
| [Pop Goes the Weasel](https://playocarina.com/songs/pop-goes-the-weasel/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | easy | Classic songs |
| [Prelude of Light](https://playocarina.com/songs/prelude-of-light/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | easy | Game songs |
| [Requiem of Spirit](https://playocarina.com/songs/requiem-of-spirit/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | easy | Game songs |
| [Row, Row, Row Your Boat](https://playocarina.com/songs/row-row-row-your-boat/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | easy | Classic songs |
| [Sakura Sakura](https://playocarina.com/songs/sakura-sakura/) | 12-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [Saria's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/sarias-song/) | 12-hole | medium | Game songs |
| [Scarecrow's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/scarecrows-song/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | easy | Game songs |
| [Serenade of Water](https://playocarina.com/songs/serenade-of-water/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | easy | Game songs |
| [Silent Night](https://playocarina.com/songs/silent-night/) | 12-hole | hard | Classic songs |
| [Sonata of Awakening](https://playocarina.com/songs/sonata-of-awakening/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | medium | Game songs |
| [Song of Double Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-double-time/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | easy | Game songs |
| [Song of Healing](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-healing/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | easy | Game songs |
| [Song of Soaring](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-soaring/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | easy | Game songs |
| [Song of Storms](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-storms/) | 12-hole | medium | Game songs |
| [Song of Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-time/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | easy | Game songs |
| [Sun's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/suns-song/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | easy | Game songs |
| [Swing Low, Sweet Chariot](https://playocarina.com/songs/swing-low-sweet-chariot/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [The Entertainer](https://playocarina.com/songs/the-entertainer/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | hard | Classic songs |
| [The Irish Washerwoman](https://playocarina.com/songs/irish-washerwoman/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star](https://playocarina.com/songs/twinkle-twinkle-little-star/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | easy | Classic songs |
| [William Tell Overture](https://playocarina.com/songs/william-tell-overture/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | medium | Classic songs |
| [Yankee Doodle](https://playocarina.com/songs/yankee-doodle/) | 12-hole | hard | Classic songs |
| [Zelda Main Theme](https://playocarina.com/songs/zelda-main-theme/) | 12-hole | hard | Game songs |
| [Zelda's Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/zeldas-lullaby/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | easy | Game songs |

## Which ocarina songs can I play?

The songs here are folk songs, hymns, carols and classics, plus the Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask songs and a tune each from Link's Awakening and the first Zelda game. The list shows which ocarinas each one fits in the key we wrote it in, and how hard it is.

## Where are the Zelda songs?

The Ocarina of Time songs have their own page: [Ocarina of Time songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/ocarina-of-time/), from Zelda's Lullaby to the warp songs. Each page shows the in-game phrase as fingerings, because [the in-game ocarina has just five notes](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)), and the whole song for the ones that have it, so far [Saria's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/sarias-song/) and [Song of Storms](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-storms/). The [Majora's Mask songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/majoras-mask/), from the Song of Healing to the Song of Double Time, have a page of their own, and so does the [Scarecrow's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/scarecrows-song/), the one Ocarina of Time song you make up yourself, and so do [Gerudo Valley](https://playocarina.com/songs/gerudo-valley/) and the [Great Fairy Fountain](https://playocarina.com/songs/great-fairy-fountain/), two tunes from the game's music, and the [Ballad of the Wind Fish](https://playocarina.com/songs/ballad-of-the-wind-fish/), the song Marin sings in Link's Awakening, and the [Zelda Main Theme](https://playocarina.com/songs/zelda-main-theme/), the overworld theme of the first game.

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda*, *Ocarina of Time*, *Majora's Mask* and *Link's Awakening* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are Nintendo's. Koji Kondo is credited with the music of Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask and the 1986 The Legend of Zelda. Kazumi Totaka, Minako Hamano and Kozue Ishikawa are credited with the music of Link's Awakening. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

## How do you read ocarina tabs?

Each picture is the ocarina seen from above: a filled hole is covered and a hollow one is open. Read the pictures from left to right; the letter under each one is the note. The [fingering chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/) for your ocarina has every note on its own, and our guide to [reading tabs](https://playocarina.com/guides/how-to-read-ocarina-tabs/) goes further.

# Easy ocarina songs for beginners

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/easy/

Updated: 2026-10-29

The easiest ocarina songs use only plain notes, no sharps or flats, and move mostly between neighbouring notes, so on a 12-hole each new note is usually one finger away. Start with Mary Had a Little Lamb (four notes), then Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Jingle Bells and Ode to Joy. All of them fit a 12-hole ocarina, and most fit a 6-hole or 4-hole pendant too.

| Song | Fits | Key |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Ode to Joy](https://playocarina.com/songs/ode-to-joy/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | G major |
| [Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star](https://playocarina.com/songs/twinkle-twinkle-little-star/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | C major |
| [Mary Had a Little Lamb](https://playocarina.com/songs/mary-had-a-little-lamb/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | C major |
| [Jingle Bells](https://playocarina.com/songs/jingle-bells/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | C major |
| [Drunken Sailor](https://playocarina.com/songs/drunken-sailor/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | D Dorian |
| [Auld Lang Syne](https://playocarina.com/songs/auld-lang-syne/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | F major |
| [Oh! Susanna](https://playocarina.com/songs/oh-susanna/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | C major |
| [London Bridge Is Falling Down](https://playocarina.com/songs/london-bridge/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | C major |
| [Row, Row, Row Your Boat](https://playocarina.com/songs/row-row-row-your-boat/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | C major |
| [Pop Goes the Weasel](https://playocarina.com/songs/pop-goes-the-weasel/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | C major |
| [Arirang](https://playocarina.com/songs/arirang/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | G major |

## What is the easiest song to play on the ocarina?

[Mary Had a Little Lamb](https://playocarina.com/songs/mary-had-a-little-lamb/): it uses four notes, C, D, E and G, and on a 12-hole only your right hand moves, as [STL Ocarina's fingering chart](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0103/7756/0119/files/12_Hole_Ocarina_Instructions.pdf?v=1766252736) shows. Learn those notes on the [12-hole fingering chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) first.

## Which Ocarina of Time songs are easy?

[Bolero of Fire](https://playocarina.com/songs/bolero-of-fire/), [Epona's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/eponas-song/), [Nocturne of Shadow](https://playocarina.com/songs/nocturne-of-shadow/), [Prelude of Light](https://playocarina.com/songs/prelude-of-light/), [Requiem of Spirit](https://playocarina.com/songs/requiem-of-spirit/), [Serenade of Water](https://playocarina.com/songs/serenade-of-water/), [Song of Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-time/), [Sun's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/suns-song/) and [Zelda's Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/zeldas-lullaby/) are easy: their in-game phrases are drawn from [just five notes](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)), D, F, A, B and high D. Their pages show the phrase as fingerings, and the [Ocarina of Time songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/ocarina-of-time/) page has all twelve.

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

## What should I learn after the easy songs?

Try a slower song with long held notes, like [Amazing Grace](https://playocarina.com/songs/amazing-grace/). The [songs page](https://playocarina.com/songs/) lists every song with its difficulty.

# Christmas songs for the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/christmas/

Updated: 2026-10-29

These 8 Christmas songs have ocarina tabs on our site, each with a fingering picture for every note and a Just listen button so you can hear the tune first. They are listed easiest first: one is easy enough for your first week, 4 fit a 4-hole pendant, 6 a 6-hole, and every one a 12-hole.

| Song | Fits | Difficulty |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Jingle Bells](https://playocarina.com/songs/jingle-bells/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | easy |
| [Good King Wenceslas](https://playocarina.com/songs/good-king-wenceslas/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | medium |
| [Hark! The Herald Angels Sing](https://playocarina.com/songs/hark-the-herald-angels-sing/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | medium |
| [Joy to the World](https://playocarina.com/songs/joy-to-the-world/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | medium |
| [O Christmas Tree](https://playocarina.com/songs/o-christmas-tree/) | 12-hole, 6-hole | medium |
| [O Come, All Ye Faithful](https://playocarina.com/songs/o-come-all-ye-faithful/) | 12-hole, 6-hole, 4-hole | medium |
| [Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy](https://playocarina.com/songs/dance-of-the-sugar-plum-fairy/) | 12-hole | hard |
| [Silent Night](https://playocarina.com/songs/silent-night/) | 12-hole | hard |

## Which Christmas song is easiest on the ocarina?

The easiest is [Jingle Bells](https://playocarina.com/songs/jingle-bells/): five notes, C to G, mostly one note repeated, so the tongue does more work than the fingers. Then come the medium ones, [Good King Wenceslas](https://playocarina.com/songs/good-king-wenceslas/), [Hark! The Herald Angels Sing](https://playocarina.com/songs/hark-the-herald-angels-sing/), [Joy to the World](https://playocarina.com/songs/joy-to-the-world/), [O Christmas Tree](https://playocarina.com/songs/o-christmas-tree/) and [O Come, All Ye Faithful](https://playocarina.com/songs/o-come-all-ye-faithful/); each song's page names its tricky spot and how to practise it. The hardest are [Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy](https://playocarina.com/songs/dance-of-the-sugar-plum-fairy/) and [Silent Night](https://playocarina.com/songs/silent-night/). Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy: reaches high F, the top note of a 12-hole, with a leap from D straight up to it, and its falling semitones need two cross-fingered notes, B flat and high C sharp, and C sharp on the right sub-hole. Silent Night: climbs to high F, the top note of a 12-hole, with every hole open.

## Which Christmas songs can I play on a 4-hole or 6-hole ocarina?

On a 4-hole pendant: [Jingle Bells](https://playocarina.com/songs/jingle-bells/), [Good King Wenceslas](https://playocarina.com/songs/good-king-wenceslas/), [Joy to the World](https://playocarina.com/songs/joy-to-the-world/) and [O Come, All Ye Faithful](https://playocarina.com/songs/o-come-all-ye-faithful/), which stay between C and high C. A 6-hole adds [Hark! The Herald Angels Sing](https://playocarina.com/songs/hark-the-herald-angels-sing/) and [O Christmas Tree](https://playocarina.com/songs/o-christmas-tree/), which climb past high C. [Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy](https://playocarina.com/songs/dance-of-the-sugar-plum-fairy/) (C♯ to high F) and [Silent Night](https://playocarina.com/songs/silent-night/) (C to high F) need a 12-hole. The [4-hole songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/4-hole/) and [6-hole songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/6-hole/) pages have the rest of the year's tunes.

## What can I play on New Year's Eve?

[Auld Lang Syne](https://playocarina.com/songs/auld-lang-syne/), the Scottish song [sung at the stroke of midnight](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auld_Lang_Syne) to see the old year out. On our site it is rated easy, so it makes a good last tune of the holidays.

# Songs for a 12-hole ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/12-hole/

Updated: 2026-10-29

A 12-hole alto C plays [A4 to F6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-fairy-tenor-ocarina) (STL Ocarina's figure when we checked on 27 October 2026), low A to high F, so all 67 songs on our site fit it, each with 12-hole tabs. This list puts them in the order a 12-hole player meets the harder holes: 26 need only the eight finger holes, with both thumb holes covered; 28 lift a thumb, for the notes above high C; 4 cover a sub-hole, for a note below C or a C♯ or D♯; and 9 need both.

| Song | Range | Uses | Difficulty |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Bolero of Fire](https://playocarina.com/songs/bolero-of-fire/) | D to A | fingers only | easy |
| [Inverted Song of Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/inverted-song-of-time/) | D to A | fingers only | easy |
| [Jingle Bells](https://playocarina.com/songs/jingle-bells/) | C to G | fingers only | easy |
| [London Bridge Is Falling Down](https://playocarina.com/songs/london-bridge/) | C to A | fingers only | easy |
| [Mary Had a Little Lamb](https://playocarina.com/songs/mary-had-a-little-lamb/) | C to G | fingers only | easy |
| [Nocturne of Shadow](https://playocarina.com/songs/nocturne-of-shadow/) | D to B | fingers only | easy |
| [Oh! Susanna](https://playocarina.com/songs/oh-susanna/) | C to A | fingers only | easy |
| [Pop Goes the Weasel](https://playocarina.com/songs/pop-goes-the-weasel/) | C to A | fingers only | easy |
| [Requiem of Spirit](https://playocarina.com/songs/requiem-of-spirit/) | D to A | fingers only | easy |
| [Row, Row, Row Your Boat](https://playocarina.com/songs/row-row-row-your-boat/) | C to high C | fingers only | easy |
| [Serenade of Water](https://playocarina.com/songs/serenade-of-water/) | D to B | fingers only | easy |
| [Song of Double Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-double-time/) | D to A | fingers only | easy |
| [Song of Healing](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-healing/) | F to B | fingers only | easy |
| [Song of Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-time/) | D to A | fingers only | easy |
| [Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star](https://playocarina.com/songs/twinkle-twinkle-little-star/) | C to A | fingers only | easy |
| [Amazing Grace](https://playocarina.com/songs/amazing-grace/) | C to high C | fingers only | medium |
| [Aura Lea](https://playocarina.com/songs/aura-lea/) | D to high C | fingers only | medium |
| [Brahms' Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/brahms-lullaby/) | C to high C | fingers only | medium |
| [Can-can](https://playocarina.com/songs/can-can/) | C to high C | fingers only | medium |
| [Good King Wenceslas](https://playocarina.com/songs/good-king-wenceslas/) | C to high C | fingers only | medium |
| [Goron Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/goron-lullaby/) | D to B | fingers only | medium |
| [Joy to the World](https://playocarina.com/songs/joy-to-the-world/) | C to high C | fingers only | medium |
| [Morning Mood](https://playocarina.com/songs/morning-mood/) | C to B | fingers only | medium |
| [O Come, All Ye Faithful](https://playocarina.com/songs/o-come-all-ye-faithful/) | C to high C | fingers only | medium |
| [Swing Low, Sweet Chariot](https://playocarina.com/songs/swing-low-sweet-chariot/) | C to high C | fingers only | medium |
| [William Tell Overture](https://playocarina.com/songs/william-tell-overture/) | C to high C | fingers only | medium |
| [Arirang](https://playocarina.com/songs/arirang/) | D to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Auld Lang Syne](https://playocarina.com/songs/auld-lang-syne/) | C to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Drunken Sailor](https://playocarina.com/songs/drunken-sailor/) | C to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Epona's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/eponas-song/) | A to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Oath to Order](https://playocarina.com/songs/oath-to-order/) | D to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Ode to Joy](https://playocarina.com/songs/ode-to-joy/) | D to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Prelude of Light](https://playocarina.com/songs/prelude-of-light/) | A to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Scarecrow's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/scarecrows-song/) | D to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Song of Soaring](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-soaring/) | F to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Sun's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/suns-song/) | F to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Zelda's Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/zeldas-lullaby/) | A to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Elegy of Emptiness](https://playocarina.com/songs/elegy-of-emptiness/) | F to high D | thumb holes | medium |
| [Frère Jacques](https://playocarina.com/songs/frere-jacques/) | D to high E | thumb holes | medium |
| [Gerudo Valley](https://playocarina.com/songs/gerudo-valley/) | D to high D | thumb holes | medium |
| [Hallelujah Chorus](https://playocarina.com/songs/hallelujah-chorus/) | C to high E | thumb holes | medium |
| [Happy Birthday](https://playocarina.com/songs/happy-birthday/) | D to high D | thumb holes | medium |
| [Hark! The Herald Angels Sing](https://playocarina.com/songs/hark-the-herald-angels-sing/) | D to high E | thumb holes | medium |
| [Minuet of Forest](https://playocarina.com/songs/minuet-of-forest/) | D to high D | thumb holes | medium |
| [New Wave Bossa Nova](https://playocarina.com/songs/new-wave-bossa-nova/) | F to high D | thumb holes | medium |
| [New World Symphony Largo](https://playocarina.com/songs/new-world-symphony-largo/) | C to high E | thumb holes | medium |
| [O Christmas Tree](https://playocarina.com/songs/o-christmas-tree/) | C to high D | thumb holes | medium |
| [Sonata of Awakening](https://playocarina.com/songs/sonata-of-awakening/) | D to high D | thumb holes | medium |
| [Song of Storms](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-storms/) | D to high F | thumb holes | medium |
| [The Irish Washerwoman](https://playocarina.com/songs/irish-washerwoman/) | C to high E | thumb holes | medium |
| [Für Elise](https://playocarina.com/songs/fur-elise/) | C to high E | thumb holes | hard |
| [Pomp and Circumstance](https://playocarina.com/songs/pomp-and-circumstance/) | D to high F | thumb holes | hard |
| [Silent Night](https://playocarina.com/songs/silent-night/) | C to high F | thumb holes | hard |
| [Yankee Doodle](https://playocarina.com/songs/yankee-doodle/) | E to high F | thumb holes | hard |
| [Great Fairy Fountain](https://playocarina.com/songs/great-fairy-fountain/) | C♯ to high C | sub-holes | medium |
| [Minuet in G](https://playocarina.com/songs/minuet-in-g/) | low B to high C | sub-holes | medium |
| [Sakura Sakura](https://playocarina.com/songs/sakura-sakura/) | low B to high C | sub-holes | medium |
| [Greensleeves](https://playocarina.com/songs/greensleeves/) | low A to high C | sub-holes | hard |
| [Ballad of the Wind Fish](https://playocarina.com/songs/ballad-of-the-wind-fish/) | low A♯ to high F | sub-holes and thumb holes | medium |
| [In the Hall of the Mountain King](https://playocarina.com/songs/in-the-hall-of-the-mountain-king/) | D to high D | sub-holes and thumb holes | medium |
| [Saria's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/sarias-song/) | low A to high D | sub-holes and thumb holes | medium |
| [Canon in D](https://playocarina.com/songs/canon-in-d/) | low A to high E | sub-holes and thumb holes | hard |
| [Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy](https://playocarina.com/songs/dance-of-the-sugar-plum-fairy/) | C♯ to high F | sub-holes and thumb holes | hard |
| [Danny Boy](https://playocarina.com/songs/danny-boy/) | low A to high E | sub-holes and thumb holes | hard |
| [Gymnopédie No. 1](https://playocarina.com/songs/gymnopedie-no-1/) | low A to high D | sub-holes and thumb holes | hard |
| [The Entertainer](https://playocarina.com/songs/the-entertainer/) | D to high E | sub-holes and thumb holes | hard |
| [Zelda Main Theme](https://playocarina.com/songs/zelda-main-theme/) | low A to high F | sub-holes and thumb holes | hard |

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda*, *Ocarina of Time*, *Majora's Mask* and *Link's Awakening* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are Nintendo's. Koji Kondo is credited with the music of Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask and the 1986 The Legend of Zelda. Kazumi Totaka, Minako Hamano and Kozue Ishikawa are credited with the music of Link's Awakening. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

## Which songs use the sub-holes on a 12-hole ocarina?

[Ballad of the Wind Fish](https://playocarina.com/songs/ballad-of-the-wind-fish/) (low A♯), [Canon in D](https://playocarina.com/songs/canon-in-d/) (low A), [Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy](https://playocarina.com/songs/dance-of-the-sugar-plum-fairy/) (C♯), [Danny Boy](https://playocarina.com/songs/danny-boy/) (low A and low B), [Great Fairy Fountain](https://playocarina.com/songs/great-fairy-fountain/) (C♯ and D♯), [Greensleeves](https://playocarina.com/songs/greensleeves/) (low A, low B and C♯), [Gymnopédie No. 1](https://playocarina.com/songs/gymnopedie-no-1/) (low A and low B), [In the Hall of the Mountain King](https://playocarina.com/songs/in-the-hall-of-the-mountain-king/) (D♯), [Minuet in G](https://playocarina.com/songs/minuet-in-g/) (low B), [Sakura Sakura](https://playocarina.com/songs/sakura-sakura/) (low B), [Saria's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/sarias-song/) (low A and low B), [The Entertainer](https://playocarina.com/songs/the-entertainer/) (D♯) and [Zelda Main Theme](https://playocarina.com/songs/zelda-main-theme/) (low A). The sub-holes are the two small holes beside your middle fingers: low B covers the right one as well as the ten main holes, low A covers both, low A♯ the left one alone, and the lower C♯ and D♯ add the right one to their fingerings. The [12-hole chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) shows each fingering; seal every hole, or the low notes squeak.

## Which songs reach the top notes of a 12-hole ocarina?

[Ballad of the Wind Fish](https://playocarina.com/songs/ballad-of-the-wind-fish/) (up to high F), [Canon in D](https://playocarina.com/songs/canon-in-d/) (up to high E), [Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy](https://playocarina.com/songs/dance-of-the-sugar-plum-fairy/) (up to high F), [Danny Boy](https://playocarina.com/songs/danny-boy/) (up to high E), [Frère Jacques](https://playocarina.com/songs/frere-jacques/) (up to high E), [Für Elise](https://playocarina.com/songs/fur-elise/) (up to high E), [Hallelujah Chorus](https://playocarina.com/songs/hallelujah-chorus/) (up to high E), [Hark! The Herald Angels Sing](https://playocarina.com/songs/hark-the-herald-angels-sing/) (up to high E), [New World Symphony Largo](https://playocarina.com/songs/new-world-symphony-largo/) (up to high E), [Pomp and Circumstance](https://playocarina.com/songs/pomp-and-circumstance/) (up to high F), [Silent Night](https://playocarina.com/songs/silent-night/) (up to high F), [Song of Storms](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-storms/) (up to high F), [The Entertainer](https://playocarina.com/songs/the-entertainer/) (up to high E), [The Irish Washerwoman](https://playocarina.com/songs/irish-washerwoman/) (up to high E), [Yankee Doodle](https://playocarina.com/songs/yankee-doodle/) (up to high F) and [Zelda Main Theme](https://playocarina.com/songs/zelda-main-theme/) (up to high F) climb to high E or F, the last two notes a 12-hole has. High E is played with only the left pinky down, and high F with every hole open, so they need a faster, firmer breath than anything below; our guide to [squeaky high notes](https://playocarina.com/guides/airy-or-flat-high-notes/) covers how.

## Which songs need a 12-hole ocarina?

14 of them: [Ballad of the Wind Fish](https://playocarina.com/songs/ballad-of-the-wind-fish/), [Canon in D](https://playocarina.com/songs/canon-in-d/), [Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy](https://playocarina.com/songs/dance-of-the-sugar-plum-fairy/), [Danny Boy](https://playocarina.com/songs/danny-boy/), [Greensleeves](https://playocarina.com/songs/greensleeves/), [Gymnopédie No. 1](https://playocarina.com/songs/gymnopedie-no-1/), [Minuet in G](https://playocarina.com/songs/minuet-in-g/), [Pomp and Circumstance](https://playocarina.com/songs/pomp-and-circumstance/), [Sakura Sakura](https://playocarina.com/songs/sakura-sakura/), [Saria's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/sarias-song/), [Silent Night](https://playocarina.com/songs/silent-night/), [Song of Storms](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-storms/), [Yankee Doodle](https://playocarina.com/songs/yankee-doodle/) and [Zelda Main Theme](https://playocarina.com/songs/zelda-main-theme/). Our 6-hole tabs are for a pendant in C like STL's 6-hole tenor, listed at [C5 to E6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/6-hole-tenor-ocarina-in-c-major-simple-reliable-everyday-play) when we checked on 27 October 2026: C to high E. A song that dips below C or climbs to high F is out of its reach; if your 6-hole is a different model, its maker's chart shows its range. A 4-hole [stops at high C](https://folkfluteworld.com/Ocarina_Course_Pendants.pdf). Every other song in the list also fits a 6-hole, as the [6-hole songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/6-hole/) show, and the [4-hole songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/4-hole/) are the ones that fit the smallest pendant.

# Songs for a 6-hole ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/6-hole/

Updated: 2026-10-29

A 6-hole pendant in C plays from C to high E (STL lists its 6-hole tenor at [C5 to E6](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/6-hole-tenor-ocarina-in-c-major-simple-reliable-everyday-play), as we checked on 27 October 2026), so it plays any song that stays in that range. 53 of the 67 songs on our site do: 31 folk songs, hymns, carols and classics you can hear before you play, 10 of the Ocarina of Time songs, Great Fairy Fountain from Ocarina of Time, Scarecrow's Song from Ocarina of Time, Gerudo Valley from Ocarina of Time and 9 of the Majora's Mask songs. The list starts with the 27 that stay on the four holes on top, from C to high C, then the 26 that lift a thumb for the notes above.

| Song | Range | Uses | Difficulty |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Bolero of Fire](https://playocarina.com/songs/bolero-of-fire/) | D to A | top holes only | easy |
| [Inverted Song of Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/inverted-song-of-time/) | D to A | top holes only | easy |
| [Jingle Bells](https://playocarina.com/songs/jingle-bells/) | C to G | top holes only | easy |
| [London Bridge Is Falling Down](https://playocarina.com/songs/london-bridge/) | C to A | top holes only | easy |
| [Mary Had a Little Lamb](https://playocarina.com/songs/mary-had-a-little-lamb/) | C to G | top holes only | easy |
| [Nocturne of Shadow](https://playocarina.com/songs/nocturne-of-shadow/) | D to B | top holes only | easy |
| [Oh! Susanna](https://playocarina.com/songs/oh-susanna/) | C to A | top holes only | easy |
| [Pop Goes the Weasel](https://playocarina.com/songs/pop-goes-the-weasel/) | C to A | top holes only | easy |
| [Requiem of Spirit](https://playocarina.com/songs/requiem-of-spirit/) | D to A | top holes only | easy |
| [Row, Row, Row Your Boat](https://playocarina.com/songs/row-row-row-your-boat/) | C to high C | top holes only | easy |
| [Serenade of Water](https://playocarina.com/songs/serenade-of-water/) | D to B | top holes only | easy |
| [Song of Double Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-double-time/) | D to A | top holes only | easy |
| [Song of Healing](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-healing/) | F to B | top holes only | easy |
| [Song of Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-time/) | D to A | top holes only | easy |
| [Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star](https://playocarina.com/songs/twinkle-twinkle-little-star/) | C to A | top holes only | easy |
| [Amazing Grace](https://playocarina.com/songs/amazing-grace/) | C to high C | top holes only | medium |
| [Aura Lea](https://playocarina.com/songs/aura-lea/) | D to high C | top holes only | medium |
| [Brahms' Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/brahms-lullaby/) | C to high C | top holes only | medium |
| [Can-can](https://playocarina.com/songs/can-can/) | C to high C | top holes only | medium |
| [Good King Wenceslas](https://playocarina.com/songs/good-king-wenceslas/) | C to high C | top holes only | medium |
| [Goron Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/goron-lullaby/) | D to B | top holes only | medium |
| [Great Fairy Fountain](https://playocarina.com/songs/great-fairy-fountain/) | C♯ to high C | top holes only | medium |
| [Joy to the World](https://playocarina.com/songs/joy-to-the-world/) | C to high C | top holes only | medium |
| [Morning Mood](https://playocarina.com/songs/morning-mood/) | C to B | top holes only | medium |
| [O Come, All Ye Faithful](https://playocarina.com/songs/o-come-all-ye-faithful/) | C to high C | top holes only | medium |
| [Swing Low, Sweet Chariot](https://playocarina.com/songs/swing-low-sweet-chariot/) | C to high C | top holes only | medium |
| [William Tell Overture](https://playocarina.com/songs/william-tell-overture/) | C to high C | top holes only | medium |
| [Arirang](https://playocarina.com/songs/arirang/) | D to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Auld Lang Syne](https://playocarina.com/songs/auld-lang-syne/) | C to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Drunken Sailor](https://playocarina.com/songs/drunken-sailor/) | C to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Epona's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/eponas-song/) | A to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Oath to Order](https://playocarina.com/songs/oath-to-order/) | D to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Ode to Joy](https://playocarina.com/songs/ode-to-joy/) | D to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Prelude of Light](https://playocarina.com/songs/prelude-of-light/) | A to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Scarecrow's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/scarecrows-song/) | D to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Song of Soaring](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-soaring/) | F to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Sun's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/suns-song/) | F to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Zelda's Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/zeldas-lullaby/) | A to high D | thumb holes | easy |
| [Elegy of Emptiness](https://playocarina.com/songs/elegy-of-emptiness/) | F to high D | thumb holes | medium |
| [Frère Jacques](https://playocarina.com/songs/frere-jacques/) | D to high E | thumb holes | medium |
| [Gerudo Valley](https://playocarina.com/songs/gerudo-valley/) | D to high D | thumb holes | medium |
| [Hallelujah Chorus](https://playocarina.com/songs/hallelujah-chorus/) | C to high E | thumb holes | medium |
| [Happy Birthday](https://playocarina.com/songs/happy-birthday/) | D to high D | thumb holes | medium |
| [Hark! The Herald Angels Sing](https://playocarina.com/songs/hark-the-herald-angels-sing/) | D to high E | thumb holes | medium |
| [In the Hall of the Mountain King](https://playocarina.com/songs/in-the-hall-of-the-mountain-king/) | D to high D | thumb holes | medium |
| [Minuet of Forest](https://playocarina.com/songs/minuet-of-forest/) | D to high D | thumb holes | medium |
| [New Wave Bossa Nova](https://playocarina.com/songs/new-wave-bossa-nova/) | F to high D | thumb holes | medium |
| [New World Symphony Largo](https://playocarina.com/songs/new-world-symphony-largo/) | C to high E | thumb holes | medium |
| [O Christmas Tree](https://playocarina.com/songs/o-christmas-tree/) | C to high D | thumb holes | medium |
| [Sonata of Awakening](https://playocarina.com/songs/sonata-of-awakening/) | D to high D | thumb holes | medium |
| [The Irish Washerwoman](https://playocarina.com/songs/irish-washerwoman/) | C to high E | thumb holes | medium |
| [Für Elise](https://playocarina.com/songs/fur-elise/) | C to high E | thumb holes | hard |
| [The Entertainer](https://playocarina.com/songs/the-entertainer/) | D to high E | thumb holes | hard |

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda*, *Ocarina of Time* and *Majora's Mask* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are Nintendo's; Koji Kondo is credited with the music of both games. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

## Which songs use the thumb holes on a 6-hole ocarina?

[Arirang](https://playocarina.com/songs/arirang/) (up to high D), [Auld Lang Syne](https://playocarina.com/songs/auld-lang-syne/) (up to high D), [Drunken Sailor](https://playocarina.com/songs/drunken-sailor/) (up to high D), [Elegy of Emptiness](https://playocarina.com/songs/elegy-of-emptiness/) (up to high D), [Epona's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/eponas-song/) (up to high D), [Frère Jacques](https://playocarina.com/songs/frere-jacques/) (up to high E), [Für Elise](https://playocarina.com/songs/fur-elise/) (up to high E), [Gerudo Valley](https://playocarina.com/songs/gerudo-valley/) (up to high D), [Hallelujah Chorus](https://playocarina.com/songs/hallelujah-chorus/) (up to high E), [Happy Birthday](https://playocarina.com/songs/happy-birthday/) (up to high D), [Hark! The Herald Angels Sing](https://playocarina.com/songs/hark-the-herald-angels-sing/) (up to high E), [In the Hall of the Mountain King](https://playocarina.com/songs/in-the-hall-of-the-mountain-king/) (up to high D), [Minuet of Forest](https://playocarina.com/songs/minuet-of-forest/) (up to high D), [New Wave Bossa Nova](https://playocarina.com/songs/new-wave-bossa-nova/) (up to high D), [New World Symphony Largo](https://playocarina.com/songs/new-world-symphony-largo/) (up to high E), [O Christmas Tree](https://playocarina.com/songs/o-christmas-tree/) (up to high D), [Oath to Order](https://playocarina.com/songs/oath-to-order/) (up to high D), [Ode to Joy](https://playocarina.com/songs/ode-to-joy/) (up to high D), [Prelude of Light](https://playocarina.com/songs/prelude-of-light/) (up to high D), [Scarecrow's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/scarecrows-song/) (up to high D), [Sonata of Awakening](https://playocarina.com/songs/sonata-of-awakening/) (up to high D), [Song of Soaring](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-soaring/) (up to high D), [Sun's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/suns-song/) (up to high D), [The Entertainer](https://playocarina.com/songs/the-entertainer/) (up to high E), [The Irish Washerwoman](https://playocarina.com/songs/irish-washerwoman/) (up to high E) and [Zelda's Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/zeldas-lullaby/) (up to high D). Everything up to high C is played on the four holes on top with both thumbs down. Past it, the thumbs take over: the right thumb lifts for high C♯ and D, and both thumbs lift for high D♯ and E, as the [6-hole chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) shows.

## Which songs need a half-holed note on a 6-hole ocarina?

[Great Fairy Fountain](https://playocarina.com/songs/great-fairy-fountain/) (C♯ and D♯), [In the Hall of the Mountain King](https://playocarina.com/songs/in-the-hall-of-the-mountain-king/) (D♯) and [The Entertainer](https://playocarina.com/songs/the-entertainer/) (D♯). A 6-hole plays its lower C♯ and D♯ by covering half of one hole, as the [6-hole chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) shows, which takes practice to land in tune; play them slowly against a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) until your finger finds the spot. Every other song in the list needs no half-holes at all.

## Which songs don't fit a 6-hole ocarina?

The ones that leave the C to high E range. [Ballad of the Wind Fish](https://playocarina.com/songs/ballad-of-the-wind-fish/) (down to low A♯, and up to high F), [Canon in D](https://playocarina.com/songs/canon-in-d/) (down to low A), [Danny Boy](https://playocarina.com/songs/danny-boy/) (down to low A), [Greensleeves](https://playocarina.com/songs/greensleeves/) (down to low A), [Gymnopédie No. 1](https://playocarina.com/songs/gymnopedie-no-1/) (down to low A), [Minuet in G](https://playocarina.com/songs/minuet-in-g/) (down to low B), [Sakura Sakura](https://playocarina.com/songs/sakura-sakura/) (down to low B), [Saria's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/sarias-song/) (down to low A) and [Zelda Main Theme](https://playocarina.com/songs/zelda-main-theme/) (down to low A, and up to high F) go below C, and [Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy](https://playocarina.com/songs/dance-of-the-sugar-plum-fairy/) (up to high F), [Pomp and Circumstance](https://playocarina.com/songs/pomp-and-circumstance/) (up to high F), [Silent Night](https://playocarina.com/songs/silent-night/) (up to high F), [Song of Storms](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-storms/) (up to high F) and [Yankee Doodle](https://playocarina.com/songs/yankee-doodle/) (up to high F) climb past high E. A [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/songs/12-hole/) plays them all.

# Songs for a 4-hole ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/4-hole/

Updated: 2026-10-29

A 4-hole ocarina in C [plays one octave](https://folkfluteworld.com/Ocarina_Course_Pendants.pdf), from C to high C, so it plays any song that stays inside it. These 27 songs on our site do: 17 folk songs, hymns, carols and classics you can hear before you play, 5 of the Ocarina of Time songs, Great Fairy Fountain from Ocarina of Time and 4 of the Majora's Mask songs. Each song page has 4-hole tabs, a picture of the four holes for every note.

| Song | Range | Difficulty |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Amazing Grace](https://playocarina.com/songs/amazing-grace/) | C to high C | medium |
| [Aura Lea](https://playocarina.com/songs/aura-lea/) | D to high C | medium |
| [Bolero of Fire](https://playocarina.com/songs/bolero-of-fire/) | D to A | easy |
| [Brahms' Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/brahms-lullaby/) | C to high C | medium |
| [Can-can](https://playocarina.com/songs/can-can/) | C to high C | medium |
| [Good King Wenceslas](https://playocarina.com/songs/good-king-wenceslas/) | C to high C | medium |
| [Goron Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/goron-lullaby/) | D to B | medium |
| [Great Fairy Fountain](https://playocarina.com/songs/great-fairy-fountain/) | C♯ to high C | medium |
| [Inverted Song of Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/inverted-song-of-time/) | D to A | easy |
| [Jingle Bells](https://playocarina.com/songs/jingle-bells/) | C to G | easy |
| [Joy to the World](https://playocarina.com/songs/joy-to-the-world/) | C to high C | medium |
| [London Bridge Is Falling Down](https://playocarina.com/songs/london-bridge/) | C to A | easy |
| [Mary Had a Little Lamb](https://playocarina.com/songs/mary-had-a-little-lamb/) | C to G | easy |
| [Morning Mood](https://playocarina.com/songs/morning-mood/) | C to B | medium |
| [Nocturne of Shadow](https://playocarina.com/songs/nocturne-of-shadow/) | D to B | easy |
| [O Come, All Ye Faithful](https://playocarina.com/songs/o-come-all-ye-faithful/) | C to high C | medium |
| [Oh! Susanna](https://playocarina.com/songs/oh-susanna/) | C to A | easy |
| [Pop Goes the Weasel](https://playocarina.com/songs/pop-goes-the-weasel/) | C to A | easy |
| [Requiem of Spirit](https://playocarina.com/songs/requiem-of-spirit/) | D to A | easy |
| [Row, Row, Row Your Boat](https://playocarina.com/songs/row-row-row-your-boat/) | C to high C | easy |
| [Serenade of Water](https://playocarina.com/songs/serenade-of-water/) | D to B | easy |
| [Song of Double Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-double-time/) | D to A | easy |
| [Song of Healing](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-healing/) | F to B | easy |
| [Song of Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-time/) | D to A | easy |
| [Swing Low, Sweet Chariot](https://playocarina.com/songs/swing-low-sweet-chariot/) | C to high C | medium |
| [Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star](https://playocarina.com/songs/twinkle-twinkle-little-star/) | C to A | easy |
| [William Tell Overture](https://playocarina.com/songs/william-tell-overture/) | C to high C | medium |

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda*, *Ocarina of Time* and *Majora's Mask* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are Nintendo's; Koji Kondo is credited with the music of both games. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

## Which songs are too high for a 4-hole ocarina?

Any song that goes past high C. 37 of the 67 songs on this site do. 19 of them go just one step higher, to high D, among them [Arirang](https://playocarina.com/songs/arirang/), [Auld Lang Syne](https://playocarina.com/songs/auld-lang-syne/) and [Drunken Sailor](https://playocarina.com/songs/drunken-sailor/); a 4-hole has no fingering for high D, but a [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) ocarina plays them. Each song page says which ocarinas it fits.

## Do any of these songs need a sharp or flat on a 4-hole ocarina?

[Aura Lea](https://playocarina.com/songs/aura-lea/) (F♯), [Good King Wenceslas](https://playocarina.com/songs/good-king-wenceslas/) (B♭), [Great Fairy Fountain](https://playocarina.com/songs/great-fairy-fountain/) (F♯, D♯, C♯, A♯ and G♯), [Morning Mood](https://playocarina.com/songs/morning-mood/) (G♯ and F♯), [O Come, All Ye Faithful](https://playocarina.com/songs/o-come-all-ye-faithful/) (B♭) and [William Tell Overture](https://playocarina.com/songs/william-tell-overture/) (B♭) do; every other song here uses only the eight plain notes. On a 4-hole most sharps and flats are cross-fingerings, and C♯ and D♯ (D♭ and E♭) are half-holed; the [4-hole fingering chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) shows each one.

# Ode to Joy on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/ode-to-joy/

Updated: 2026-10-27

On a 12-hole it starts B, B, high C, high D. Easy, 62 notes, in G major.

## What are the notes for Ode to Joy?

12-hole alto C tabs: B, B, high C, high D | high D, high C, B, A | G, G, A, B | B, A, A | B, B, high C, high D | high D, high C, B, A | G, G, A, B | A, G, G | A, A, B, G | A, B, high C, B, G | A, B, high C, B, A | G, A, D | B, B, high C, high D | high D, high C, B, A | G, G, A, B | A, G, G
1. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
4. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
5. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
6. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
7. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
9. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
10. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
11. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
14. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
15. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
16. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
17. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
18. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
19. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
20. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
21. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
22. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
23. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
25. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
26. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
27. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
30. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
31. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
33. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
34. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
35. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
36. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
37. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
38. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
39. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
40. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
41. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
42. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
43. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
44. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
45. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
46. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
47. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
48. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
49. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
50. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
51. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
52. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
53. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
54. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
55. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
56. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
57. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
58. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
59. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
60. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
61. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
62. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: B, B, high C, high D | high D, high C, B, A | G, G, A, B | B, A, A | B, B, high C, high D | high D, high C, B, A | G, G, A, B | A, G, G | A, A, B, G | A, B, high C, B, G | A, B, high C, B, A | G, A, D | B, B, high C, high D | high D, high C, B, A | G, G, A, B | A, G, G
1. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
2. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
3. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
4. high D (cover the left thumb)
5. high D (cover the left thumb)
6. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
7. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
8. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
9. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
10. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
11. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
13. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
14. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
15. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
16. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
17. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
18. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
19. high D (cover the left thumb)
20. high D (cover the left thumb)
21. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
22. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
23. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
25. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
26. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
27. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
28. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
30. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
31. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
33. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
34. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
35. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
36. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
37. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
38. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
39. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
40. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
41. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
42. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
43. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
44. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
45. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
46. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
47. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
48. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
49. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
50. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
51. high D (cover the left thumb)
52. high D (cover the left thumb)
53. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
54. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
55. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
56. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
57. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
58. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
59. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
60. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
61. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
62. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)

Ode to Joy is one of the best first tunes for the ocarina: it moves mostly step by step, so on a 12-hole each new note is usually one finger away from the last. Here it is in G major, the full 16-bar theme, from D up to high D.

![Ode to Joy ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/ode-to-joy-ocarina-tabs.png)

Ode to Joy as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Ode to Joy?

The end of the third line, where the tune drops from A to D and then leaps straight up to B to start the last line. D up to B is the biggest jump in the piece. On a 12-hole, Ode to Joy goes from D to B: you lift the left ring, left middle, right index, right middle and right ring. On a 6-hole, you lift the left middle, left index and right index and cover the right middle.

Practise the end of the third line on its own, slowly: A, D, then B, until the D speaks cleanly without a squeak and the B comes in on time. The third line also has quick pairs of B and C, half a beat each; tongue them lightly with a "du" so they do not smear into one. The top of the tune is high D, which needs a little more air than the notes around it, so do not be afraid to blow a bit firmer there and then ease off as the tune steps back down.

## Where do you breathe in Ode to Joy?

At the end of each line. All four lines end on a long note, so let it go a little early and take a quick breath there. If a whole line is too long for one breath, take a small one halfway, after the A at the end of the second bar.

## Which ocarina can play Ode to Joy?

A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play Ode to Joy in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Where do our Ode to Joy tabs come from?

[Beethoven wrote the symphony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._9_(Beethoven)), which was [first published in 1826](https://imslp.org/wiki/Symphony_No.9,_Op.125_(Beethoven,_Ludwig_van)). These tabs are our own arrangement of the theme. Music: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), from the finale of his Symphony No. 9.

## What to play next

# Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/twinkle-twinkle-little-star/

Updated: 2026-10-27

On a 12-hole it starts C, C, G, G. Easy, 42 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star?

12-hole alto C tabs: C, C, G, G | A, A, G | F, F, E, E | D, D, C | G, G, F, F | E, E, D | G, G, F, F | E, E, D | C, C, G, G | A, A, G | F, F, E, E | D, D, C
1. C (cover every main hole)
2. C (cover every main hole)
3. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
4. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
8. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
9. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
10. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
11. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
12. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
13. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
14. C (cover every main hole)
15. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
16. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
17. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
18. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
19. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
20. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
21. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
22. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
23. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
24. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
25. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
26. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
27. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
28. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
29. C (cover every main hole)
30. C (cover every main hole)
31. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
32. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
33. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
34. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
35. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
36. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
37. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
38. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
39. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
40. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
41. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
42. C (cover every main hole)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: C, C, G, G | A, A, G | F, F, E, E | D, D, C | G, G, F, F | E, E, D | G, G, F, F | E, E, D | C, C, G, G | A, A, G | F, F, E, E | D, D, C
1. C (cover every hole)
2. C (cover every hole)
3. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
4. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
5. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
8. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
9. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
10. E (cover every hole but the right index)
11. E (cover every hole but the right index)
12. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
13. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
14. C (cover every hole)
15. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
16. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
17. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
18. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
19. E (cover every hole but the right index)
20. E (cover every hole but the right index)
21. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
22. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
23. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
24. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
25. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
26. E (cover every hole but the right index)
27. E (cover every hole but the right index)
28. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
29. C (cover every hole)
30. C (cover every hole)
31. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
32. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
33. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
34. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
35. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
36. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
37. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
38. E (cover every hole but the right index)
39. E (cover every hole but the right index)
40. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
41. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
42. C (cover every hole)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: C, C, G, G | A, A, G | F, F, E, E | D, D, C | G, G, F, F | E, E, D | G, G, F, F | E, E, D | C, C, G, G | A, A, G | F, F, E, E | D, D, C
1. C (cover every hole)
2. C (cover every hole)
3. G (cover the left index and right index)
4. G (cover the left index and right index)
5. A (cover the left index)
6. A (cover the left index)
7. G (cover the left index and right index)
8. F (cover the left middle and left index)
9. F (cover the left middle and left index)
10. E (cover every hole but the right index)
11. E (cover every hole but the right index)
12. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
13. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
14. C (cover every hole)
15. G (cover the left index and right index)
16. G (cover the left index and right index)
17. F (cover the left middle and left index)
18. F (cover the left middle and left index)
19. E (cover every hole but the right index)
20. E (cover every hole but the right index)
21. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
22. G (cover the left index and right index)
23. G (cover the left index and right index)
24. F (cover the left middle and left index)
25. F (cover the left middle and left index)
26. E (cover every hole but the right index)
27. E (cover every hole but the right index)
28. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
29. C (cover every hole)
30. C (cover every hole)
31. G (cover the left index and right index)
32. G (cover the left index and right index)
33. A (cover the left index)
34. A (cover the left index)
35. G (cover the left index and right index)
36. F (cover the left middle and left index)
37. F (cover the left middle and left index)
38. E (cover every hole but the right index)
39. E (cover every hole but the right index)
40. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
41. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
42. C (cover every hole)

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star uses only six notes, C to A, so it is a classic first song on any ocarina, including a 4-hole pendant. Most notes come in pairs, which gives you time to find the next fingering.

![Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/twinkle-twinkle-little-star-ocarina-tabs.png)

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star?

The jump from C up to G right at the start, the biggest move in the song. On a 12-hole, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star goes from C to G: you lift the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you lift the left middle and right middle.

Lift the fingers together, as if they were glued, rather than one at a time; lifting them one by one sounds the notes in between. On a 12-hole the rest of the song walks down the scale one finger at a time, from G back to C, and that is the part to enjoy. The repeated notes are played with your tongue, not your fingers: keep the fingering still and say "tu, tu" into the ocarina. If the C at the end of each line sounds weak or wobbly, check that every hole is covered completely; a tiny gap under a fingertip is the most common cause.

## Where do you breathe in Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star?

Every two bars end on a two-beat note, so breathe after each one: the long G, C, D, D, G and the last C. Inside a two-bar phrase there is no gap, so do not breathe between the pairs of repeated notes.

## Which ocarina can play Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star?

Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star in this key. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Where do our Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star tabs come from?

The tune is the French air "Ah! vous dirai-je, maman", printed in the 1700s, and the words are [Jane Taylor's poem of 1806](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinkle,_Twinkle,_Little_Star); she died in 1824. Our tabs are arranged from [an 1838 printing](https://archive.org/details/singingmasterno100hick/page/n121/mode/1up). We show the melody only. Music: traditional French tune ("Ah! vous dirai-je, maman"); words by Jane Taylor (1783-1824).

## What to play next

# Mary Had a Little Lamb on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/mary-had-a-little-lamb/

Updated: 2026-10-27

On a 12-hole it starts E, D, C, D. Easy, 26 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for Mary Had a Little Lamb?

12-hole alto C tabs: E, D, C, D | E, E, E | D, D, D | E, G, G | E, D, C, D | E, E, E, E | D, D, E, D | C
1. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
2. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
3. C (cover every main hole)
4. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
5. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
6. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
7. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
8. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
9. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
10. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
11. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
12. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
13. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
14. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
15. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
16. C (cover every main hole)
17. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
18. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
19. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
20. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
21. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
22. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
23. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
24. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
25. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
26. C (cover every main hole)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: E, D, C, D | E, E, E | D, D, D | E, G, G | E, D, C, D | E, E, E, E | D, D, E, D | C
1. E (cover every hole but the right index)
2. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. C (cover every hole)
4. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
5. E (cover every hole but the right index)
6. E (cover every hole but the right index)
7. E (cover every hole but the right index)
8. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
9. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
10. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
11. E (cover every hole but the right index)
12. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
13. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
14. E (cover every hole but the right index)
15. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
16. C (cover every hole)
17. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
18. E (cover every hole but the right index)
19. E (cover every hole but the right index)
20. E (cover every hole but the right index)
21. E (cover every hole but the right index)
22. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
23. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
24. E (cover every hole but the right index)
25. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
26. C (cover every hole)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: E, D, C, D | E, E, E | D, D, D | E, G, G | E, D, C, D | E, E, E, E | D, D, E, D | C
1. E (cover every hole but the right index)
2. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. C (cover every hole)
4. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
5. E (cover every hole but the right index)
6. E (cover every hole but the right index)
7. E (cover every hole but the right index)
8. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
9. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
10. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
11. E (cover every hole but the right index)
12. G (cover the left index and right index)
13. G (cover the left index and right index)
14. E (cover every hole but the right index)
15. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
16. C (cover every hole)
17. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
18. E (cover every hole but the right index)
19. E (cover every hole but the right index)
20. E (cover every hole but the right index)
21. E (cover every hole but the right index)
22. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
23. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
24. E (cover every hole but the right index)
25. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
26. C (cover every hole)

Mary Had a Little Lamb is the easiest song on this site: four notes, C, D, E and G, and on a 12-hole only the right hand moves. It fits every ocarina, from a 12-hole to a 4-hole pendant.

![Mary Had a Little Lamb ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/mary-had-a-little-lamb-ocarina-tabs.png)

Mary Had a Little Lamb as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Mary Had a Little Lamb?

The jump from E up to G in the fourth bar and back down to E after it, the biggest moves in the song. On a 12-hole, Mary Had a Little Lamb goes from E to G: you lift the right index and right middle. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you lift the left middle and right middle and cover the right index.

On a 12-hole everything else moves one finger at a time: between E, D and C only your right ring finger and right pinky go up and down. Before you play the whole song, practise E to G and back a few times. The repeated notes in the second and third bars are tongued, not fingered: keep your fingers still and start each note with a soft "tu". Blow gently throughout: C, D and E are low notes and sound best with a slow, warm breath, while too much air makes them go sharp.

## Where do you breathe in Mary Had a Little Lamb?

The second, third and fourth bars each end on a two-beat note: E, then D, then G. Breathe on each. The three bars after the G have no long note until the final C, so take a fuller breath on that G.

## Which ocarina can play Mary Had a Little Lamb?

Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays Mary Had a Little Lamb in this key. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Where do our Mary Had a Little Lamb tabs come from?

[Sarah Josepha Hale's poem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Had_a_Little_Lamb) was published in 1830 and she died in 1879. The tune most people sing is a traditional one, printed for example in [Heart Songs (Boston, 1909)](https://archive.org/details/heartsongs0000vari_b8p2/page/n358/mode/1up), which our tabs follow. We show the melody only. Music: traditional American tune; words by Sarah Josepha Hale (1788-1879).

## What to play next

# Amazing Grace on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/amazing-grace/

Updated: 2026-10-27

On a 12-hole it starts C, F, A, F. Medium, 32 notes, in F major.

## What are the notes for Amazing Grace?

12-hole alto C tabs: C | F, A, F | A, G | F, D | C, C | F, A, F | A, G | high C | A | high C, A, F | A, G | F, D | C, C | F, A, F | A, G | F
1. C (cover every main hole)
2. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
7. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
8. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
9. C (cover every main hole)
10. C (cover every main hole)
11. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
12. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
14. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
15. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
16. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
17. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
18. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
19. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
20. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
21. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
22. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
23. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
24. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
25. C (cover every main hole)
26. C (cover every main hole)
27. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
28. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
30. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
32. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: C | F, A, F | A, G | F, D | C, C | F, A, F | A, G | high C | A | high C, A, F | A, G | F, D | C, C | F, A, F | A, G | F
1. C (cover every hole)
2. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
3. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
5. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
7. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
8. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
9. C (cover every hole)
10. C (cover every hole)
11. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
12. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
14. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
15. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
16. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
17. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
18. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
19. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
20. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
21. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
22. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
23. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
24. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
25. C (cover every hole)
26. C (cover every hole)
27. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
28. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
30. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
32. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: C | F, A, F | A, G | F, D | C, C | F, A, F | A, G | high C | A | high C, A, F | A, G | F, D | C, C | F, A, F | A, G | F
1. C (cover every hole)
2. F (cover the left middle and left index)
3. A (cover the left index)
4. F (cover the left middle and left index)
5. A (cover the left index)
6. G (cover the left index and right index)
7. F (cover the left middle and left index)
8. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
9. C (cover every hole)
10. C (cover every hole)
11. F (cover the left middle and left index)
12. A (cover the left index)
13. F (cover the left middle and left index)
14. A (cover the left index)
15. G (cover the left index and right index)
16. high C (all holes open)
17. A (cover the left index)
18. high C (all holes open)
19. A (cover the left index)
20. F (cover the left middle and left index)
21. A (cover the left index)
22. G (cover the left index and right index)
23. F (cover the left middle and left index)
24. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
25. C (cover every hole)
26. C (cover every hole)
27. F (cover the left middle and left index)
28. A (cover the left index)
29. F (cover the left middle and left index)
30. A (cover the left index)
31. G (cover the left index and right index)
32. F (cover the left middle and left index)

Amazing Grace sits comfortably on every ocarina in this key, F major, from C to high C, so it fits a 12-hole, a 6-hole and a 4-hole pendant. It is slow, in three, with long held notes that are good practice for a steady breath.

![Amazing Grace ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/amazing-grace-ocarina-tabs.png)

Amazing Grace as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Amazing Grace?

The opening leap from C up to F, which comes back at the start of most lines. On a 12-hole, Amazing Grace goes from C to F: you lift the right middle, right ring and right pinky. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you lift the right middle and right index.

The other hard part is the long high C in the middle, held for five beats. Long notes are where the pitch drifts: as your breath runs out the note sags flat, and a beginner often pushes harder at the start and lets it go sharp. Take a full breath before the phrase, start the C softly and keep the air speed the same until you stop the note with your tongue. A tuner shows you where the drift happens. On a 12-hole, the quick turn from A to F early in each line is two fingers, the left ring and the right index, going down together.

## Where do you breathe in Amazing Grace?

Breathe on the two-beat C early on, before the one-beat C that leads into the next phrase. The five-beat high C in the middle is the top of the tune: take a quick breath on the long A before the G that leads to it, and give the high C a firm, steady airstream.

## Which ocarina can play Amazing Grace?

Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays Amazing Grace in this key. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Where do our Amazing Grace tabs come from?

[John Newton's words](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Grace) were published in 1779 and he died in 1807. The tune, "New Britain", was printed in 1829 and in [The Southern Harmony in 1835](https://archive.org/details/southernharmonym0000walk/page/n41/mode/1up), which our tabs follow. We show the melody only. Music: the American tune "New Britain" (printed 1829 and 1835); words by John Newton (1725-1807).

## What to play next

# Greensleeves on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/greensleeves/

Updated: 2026-10-27

On a 12-hole it starts D, F, G, A. Hard, 70 notes, in D minor.

## What are the notes for Greensleeves?

12-hole alto C tabs: D | F, G, A, A♯, A | G, E, C, D, E | F, D, D, C♯, D | E, C♯, low A, D | F, G, A, A♯, A | G, E, C, D, E | F, E, D, C♯, low B, C♯ | D | high C, high C, B, A | G, E, C, D, E | F, D, D, C♯, D | E, C♯, low A | high C, high C, B, A | G, E, C, D, E | F, E, D, C♯, low B, C♯ | D
1. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
2. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
4. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. A♯ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
6. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
8. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
9. C (cover every main hole)
10. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
11. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
12. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
13. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
14. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
15. C♯ (cover every main hole but the right pinky, plus the right sub-hole)
16. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
17. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
18. C♯ (cover every main hole but the right pinky, plus the right sub-hole)
19. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
20. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
21. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
22. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
23. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. A♯ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
25. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
26. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
27. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
28. C (cover every main hole)
29. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
30. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
31. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
32. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
33. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
34. C♯ (cover every main hole but the right pinky, plus the right sub-hole)
35. low B (cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole)
36. C♯ (cover every main hole but the right pinky, plus the right sub-hole)
37. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
38. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
39. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
40. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
41. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
42. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
43. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
44. C (cover every main hole)
45. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
46. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
47. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
48. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
49. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
50. C♯ (cover every main hole but the right pinky, plus the right sub-hole)
51. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
52. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
53. C♯ (cover every main hole but the right pinky, plus the right sub-hole)
54. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
55. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
56. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
57. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
58. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
59. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
60. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
61. C (cover every main hole)
62. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
63. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
64. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
65. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
66. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
67. C♯ (cover every main hole but the right pinky, plus the right sub-hole)
68. low B (cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole)
69. C♯ (cover every main hole but the right pinky, plus the right sub-hole)
70. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)

Greensleeves is a 12-hole song: in D minor it runs from low A to high C, so it needs both sub-holes, for low A, low B and C♯, and one cross-fingered note, A♯ (the same note as B♭). It is not a first song, but it is one of the most beautiful on the ocarina.

![Greensleeves ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/greensleeves-ocarina-tabs.png)

Greensleeves as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Greensleeves?

The drop from C♯ to the low A at the end of the fourth bar, which uses both sub-holes. On a 12-hole, Greensleeves goes from C♯ to low A: you cover the right pinky and left sub-hole.

Low A means covering all ten main holes and both small sub-holes, sliding the middle fingers forward so each pad covers two holes. Practise it slowly on its own: if it squeaks or sounds a semitone or a whole tone high, a sub-hole is leaking. The C♯ just before it uses the right sub-hole too, with the right pinky up, and it comes back in every line, so learn it early. Blow gently for the low notes; they need much less air than the high C at the start of the chorus. Our tabs follow the familiar version of the tune; Chappell prints an older second part as well.

## Which ocarina can play Greensleeves?

A 6-hole or 4-hole ocarina cannot reach low A and low B, so play Greensleeves in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. The linked chart has every fingering, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Where do our Greensleeves tabs come from?

Greensleeves is [an anonymous English tune from the 1500s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greensleeves). Its first part matches [William Chappell's printing of 1855](https://archive.org/details/popularmusicov1185559chap/page/n277/mode/1up); Chappell notes that the oldest copies have a different second part from later ones, and prints both; and our tabs, our own arrangement, follow the version most people know. We show the melody only. Music: traditional English tune, known since the 1500s.

## What to play next

# Silent Night on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/silent-night/

Updated: 2026-10-27

On a 12-hole it starts G, A, G, E. Hard, 46 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for Silent Night?

12-hole alto C tabs: G, A, G, E | G, A, G, E | high D, high D, B | high C, high C, G | A, A, high C, B, A | G, A, G, E | A, A, high C, B, A | G, A, G, E | high D, high D, high F, high D, B | high C, high E | high C, G, E, G, F, D | C
1. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
2. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
4. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
5. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
8. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
9. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
10. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
11. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
13. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
14. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
15. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
16. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
17. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
18. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
19. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
20. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
21. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
22. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
23. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
24. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
25. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
26. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
27. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
30. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
32. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
33. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
34. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
35. high F (all holes open)
36. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
37. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
38. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
39. high E (cover the left pinky)
40. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
41. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
42. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
43. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
44. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
45. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
46. C (cover every main hole)

Silent Night in C major runs from C up to high F, the very top of a 12-hole ocarina, so it is a 12-hole song. It is slow and gentle, with one high climax near the end.

![Silent Night ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/silent-night-ocarina-tabs.png)

Silent Night as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Silent Night?

The climb to high F in the ninth bar, the highest note on the ocarina, with every hole open. On a 12-hole, Silent Night goes from high D to high F: you lift the left pinky and right thumb.

With every hole open there are no fingers holding the ocarina, so set up the grip before the phrase: [STL Ocarina's booklet](https://site.stlocarina.com/bookletandchart/12HoleFinalPDF.pdf) suggests pivoting the right thumb so the ocarina rests on its inner knuckle. High F also needs the most air of any note. Breathe in before the bar, give the F a firm, fast airstream and come straight back down to D and B, easing the breath as you go. In the next bar comes high E, held for a long beat: keep the air up so it does not sag. If high F only squeaks, practise high D, high E and high F slowly, one after the other, raising the breath a little each time.

## Where do you breathe in Silent Night?

Each phrase ends on a held note, so breathe there: the E after each of the first two bars, then B, G, and E again. Take a fuller breath before the high F near the end, the top of the carol.

## Which ocarina can play Silent Night?

A 6-hole ocarina cannot reach high F, and a 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, high E and high F, so play Silent Night in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. The linked chart has every fingering, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Where do our Silent Night tabs come from?

[Franz Xaver Gruber wrote the tune in 1818](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Night) and died in 1863; Joseph Mohr, who wrote the German words, died in 1848. Our tabs are arranged from [a 1909 printing](https://archive.org/details/heartsongs0000vari_b8p2/page/n424/mode/1up). We show the melody only. Music: Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863), words by Joseph Mohr (1792-1848).

## What to play next

# Jingle Bells on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/jingle-bells/

Updated: 2026-10-27

On a 12-hole it starts E, E, E, E. Easy, 51 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for Jingle Bells?

12-hole alto C tabs: E, E, E | E, E, E | E, G, C, D | E | F, F, F, F | F, E, E, E, E | E, D, D, E | D, G | E, E, E | E, E, E | E, G, C, D | E | F, F, F, F | F, E, E, E, E | G, G, F, D | C
1. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
2. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
3. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
4. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
5. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
6. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
7. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
8. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
9. C (cover every main hole)
10. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
11. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
12. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
13. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
14. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
15. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
16. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
17. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
18. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
19. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
20. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
21. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
22. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
23. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
24. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
25. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
26. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
27. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
28. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
29. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
30. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
31. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
32. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
33. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
34. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
35. C (cover every main hole)
36. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
37. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
38. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
39. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
40. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
41. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
42. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
43. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
44. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
45. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
46. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
47. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
48. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
49. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
50. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
51. C (cover every main hole)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: E, E, E | E, E, E | E, G, C, D | E | F, F, F, F | F, E, E, E, E | E, D, D, E | D, G | E, E, E | E, E, E | E, G, C, D | E | F, F, F, F | F, E, E, E, E | G, G, F, D | C
1. E (cover every hole but the right index)
2. E (cover every hole but the right index)
3. E (cover every hole but the right index)
4. E (cover every hole but the right index)
5. E (cover every hole but the right index)
6. E (cover every hole but the right index)
7. E (cover every hole but the right index)
8. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
9. C (cover every hole)
10. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
11. E (cover every hole but the right index)
12. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
13. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
14. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
15. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
16. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
17. E (cover every hole but the right index)
18. E (cover every hole but the right index)
19. E (cover every hole but the right index)
20. E (cover every hole but the right index)
21. E (cover every hole but the right index)
22. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
23. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
24. E (cover every hole but the right index)
25. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
26. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
27. E (cover every hole but the right index)
28. E (cover every hole but the right index)
29. E (cover every hole but the right index)
30. E (cover every hole but the right index)
31. E (cover every hole but the right index)
32. E (cover every hole but the right index)
33. E (cover every hole but the right index)
34. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
35. C (cover every hole)
36. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
37. E (cover every hole but the right index)
38. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
39. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
40. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
41. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
42. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
43. E (cover every hole but the right index)
44. E (cover every hole but the right index)
45. E (cover every hole but the right index)
46. E (cover every hole but the right index)
47. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
48. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
49. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
50. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
51. C (cover every hole)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: E, E, E | E, E, E | E, G, C, D | E | F, F, F, F | F, E, E, E, E | E, D, D, E | D, G | E, E, E | E, E, E | E, G, C, D | E | F, F, F, F | F, E, E, E, E | G, G, F, D | C
1. E (cover every hole but the right index)
2. E (cover every hole but the right index)
3. E (cover every hole but the right index)
4. E (cover every hole but the right index)
5. E (cover every hole but the right index)
6. E (cover every hole but the right index)
7. E (cover every hole but the right index)
8. G (cover the left index and right index)
9. C (cover every hole)
10. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
11. E (cover every hole but the right index)
12. F (cover the left middle and left index)
13. F (cover the left middle and left index)
14. F (cover the left middle and left index)
15. F (cover the left middle and left index)
16. F (cover the left middle and left index)
17. E (cover every hole but the right index)
18. E (cover every hole but the right index)
19. E (cover every hole but the right index)
20. E (cover every hole but the right index)
21. E (cover every hole but the right index)
22. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
23. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
24. E (cover every hole but the right index)
25. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
26. G (cover the left index and right index)
27. E (cover every hole but the right index)
28. E (cover every hole but the right index)
29. E (cover every hole but the right index)
30. E (cover every hole but the right index)
31. E (cover every hole but the right index)
32. E (cover every hole but the right index)
33. E (cover every hole but the right index)
34. G (cover the left index and right index)
35. C (cover every hole)
36. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
37. E (cover every hole but the right index)
38. F (cover the left middle and left index)
39. F (cover the left middle and left index)
40. F (cover the left middle and left index)
41. F (cover the left middle and left index)
42. F (cover the left middle and left index)
43. E (cover every hole but the right index)
44. E (cover every hole but the right index)
45. E (cover every hole but the right index)
46. E (cover every hole but the right index)
47. G (cover the left index and right index)
48. G (cover the left index and right index)
49. F (cover the left middle and left index)
50. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
51. C (cover every hole)

Jingle Bells here is the chorus everyone knows, in C major from C to G. It fits every ocarina, including a 4-hole pendant, and most of it is one note repeated.

![Jingle Bells ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/jingle-bells-ocarina-tabs.png)

Jingle Bells as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Jingle Bells?

The drop from G to C in the third bar, where several fingers go down at once. On a 12-hole, Jingle Bells goes from G to C: you cover the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you cover the left middle and right middle.

Put the fingers down together, so the C sounds straight away without the notes in between. The rest of the chorus is mostly repeated E and F: those are played with the tongue, not the fingers, so keep your hand still and say "tu tu tu" in rhythm. At a lively speed it helps to use "du-gu", tonguing with the tip and then the back of the tongue, as [STL Ocarina's booklet](https://site.stlocarina.com/bookletandchart/12HoleFinalPDF.pdf) suggests for faster passages. Keep the breath gentle and even: these are low notes, and pushing harder makes them go sharp.

## Where do you breathe in Jingle Bells?

Take your big breath on the four-beat E that ends the first line, because the F's, E's and D's after it run on for three bars. A short breath fits on the two-beat D before the G that closes that run.

## Which ocarina can play Jingle Bells?

Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays Jingle Bells in this key. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Where do our Jingle Bells tabs come from?

[James Lord Pierpont published the song in 1857](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingle_Bells) and died in 1893. The chorus sung today is different from the one printed in 1857, so our tabs follow [a 1909 printing](https://archive.org/details/heartsongs0000vari_b8p2/page/n157/mode/1up) that has the familiar chorus. We show the melody only. Music: James Lord Pierpont (1822-1893), first published in 1857 as "The One Horse Open Sleigh".

## What to play next

# Joy to the World on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/joy-to-the-world/

Updated: 2026-10-27

On a 12-hole it starts high C, B, A, G. Medium, 57 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for Joy to the World?

12-hole alto C tabs: high C, B, A | G, F | E, D | C, G | A, A | B, B | high C, high C | high C, B, A, G | G, F, E, high C | high C, B, A, G | G, F, E, E | E, E, E, E, F | G, F, E | D, D, D, D, E | F, E, D | C, high C, A | G, F, E, F | E, D | C
1. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
2. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
7. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
8. C (cover every main hole)
9. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
10. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
11. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
14. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
15. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
16. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
17. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
18. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
19. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
20. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
21. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
22. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
23. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
24. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
25. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
26. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
27. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
28. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
29. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
30. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
31. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
32. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
33. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
34. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
35. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
36. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
37. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
38. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
39. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
40. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
41. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
42. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
43. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
44. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
45. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
46. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
47. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
48. C (cover every main hole)
49. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
50. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
51. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
52. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
53. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
54. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
55. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
56. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
57. C (cover every main hole)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: high C, B, A | G, F | E, D | C, G | A, A | B, B | high C, high C | high C, B, A, G | G, F, E, high C | high C, B, A, G | G, F, E, E | E, E, E, E, F | G, F, E | D, D, D, D, E | F, E, D | C, high C, A | G, F, E, F | E, D | C
1. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
2. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
3. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
5. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
6. E (cover every hole but the right index)
7. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
8. C (cover every hole)
9. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
10. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
11. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
13. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
14. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
15. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
16. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
17. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
18. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
19. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
20. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
21. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
22. E (cover every hole but the right index)
23. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
24. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
25. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
26. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
27. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
28. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
29. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
30. E (cover every hole but the right index)
31. E (cover every hole but the right index)
32. E (cover every hole but the right index)
33. E (cover every hole but the right index)
34. E (cover every hole but the right index)
35. E (cover every hole but the right index)
36. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
37. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
38. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
39. E (cover every hole but the right index)
40. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
41. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
42. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
43. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
44. E (cover every hole but the right index)
45. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
46. E (cover every hole but the right index)
47. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
48. C (cover every hole)
49. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
50. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
51. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
52. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
53. E (cover every hole but the right index)
54. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
55. E (cover every hole but the right index)
56. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
57. C (cover every hole)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: high C, B, A | G, F | E, D | C, G | A, A | B, B | high C, high C | high C, B, A, G | G, F, E, high C | high C, B, A, G | G, F, E, E | E, E, E, E, F | G, F, E | D, D, D, D, E | F, E, D | C, high C, A | G, F, E, F | E, D | C
1. high C (all holes open)
2. B (cover the right middle)
3. A (cover the left index)
4. G (cover the left index and right index)
5. F (cover the left middle and left index)
6. E (cover every hole but the right index)
7. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
8. C (cover every hole)
9. G (cover the left index and right index)
10. A (cover the left index)
11. A (cover the left index)
12. B (cover the right middle)
13. B (cover the right middle)
14. high C (all holes open)
15. high C (all holes open)
16. high C (all holes open)
17. B (cover the right middle)
18. A (cover the left index)
19. G (cover the left index and right index)
20. G (cover the left index and right index)
21. F (cover the left middle and left index)
22. E (cover every hole but the right index)
23. high C (all holes open)
24. high C (all holes open)
25. B (cover the right middle)
26. A (cover the left index)
27. G (cover the left index and right index)
28. G (cover the left index and right index)
29. F (cover the left middle and left index)
30. E (cover every hole but the right index)
31. E (cover every hole but the right index)
32. E (cover every hole but the right index)
33. E (cover every hole but the right index)
34. E (cover every hole but the right index)
35. E (cover every hole but the right index)
36. F (cover the left middle and left index)
37. G (cover the left index and right index)
38. F (cover the left middle and left index)
39. E (cover every hole but the right index)
40. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
41. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
42. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
43. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
44. E (cover every hole but the right index)
45. F (cover the left middle and left index)
46. E (cover every hole but the right index)
47. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
48. C (cover every hole)
49. high C (all holes open)
50. A (cover the left index)
51. G (cover the left index and right index)
52. F (cover the left middle and left index)
53. E (cover every hole but the right index)
54. F (cover the left middle and left index)
55. E (cover every hole but the right index)
56. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
57. C (cover every hole)

Joy to the World opens with a C major scale running straight down, from high C to C; on a 12-hole that is one finger at a time. In this key it fits every ocarina, from a 12-hole to a 4-hole pendant.

![Joy to the World ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/joy-to-the-world-ocarina-tabs.png)

Joy to the World as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Joy to the World?

The octave leap from C to high C near the end, the biggest jump in the tune. On a 12-hole, Joy to the World goes from C to high C: you lift the left ring, left middle, left index, right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you lift the left middle, right middle, left index and right index.

Seven fingers come off together, and the high C needs much more air than the C below it, so practise the two notes back and forth slowly before playing the line. The middle of the carol has runs of repeated E and D: tongue them evenly with a light "tu" and keep your fingers still. The opening scale is a good warm-up in itself: play it slowly first, putting one finger down for each note, and listen for each note sounding cleanly before the next.

## Where do you breathe in Joy to the World?

The first descending scale ends on a three-beat C: breathe there. The next three long notes, A, B and high C, last three beats each, so any of them is a place to breathe. Save a full breath for the high C that follows and runs down to G twice, because that part has no note longer than a beat and a half until the three-beat G.

## Which ocarina can play Joy to the World?

Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays Joy to the World in this key. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Where do our Joy to the World tabs come from?

[Isaac Watts wrote the words in 1719](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joy_to_the_World) and died in 1748. Lowell Mason, who published the tune "Antioch", died in 1872, and it was in print by 1839, [the edition our tabs follow](https://archive.org/details/modernpsalmistco00maso/page/n149/mode/1up). We show the melody only. Music: the tune "Antioch" by Lowell Mason (1792-1872), which he printed as "From Handel"; words by Isaac Watts (1674-1748).

## What to play next

# Happy Birthday on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/happy-birthday/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts D, D, E, D. Medium, 25 notes, in G major.

## What are the notes for Happy Birthday?

12-hole alto C tabs: D, D | E, D, G | F♯, D, D | E, D, A | G, D, D | high D, B, G | F♯, E, high C, high C | B, G, A | G
1. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
2. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
3. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
4. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
5. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
7. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
8. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
9. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
10. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
11. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
13. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
14. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
15. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
16. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
17. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
18. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
19. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
20. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
21. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
22. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
23. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
24. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
25. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: D, D | E, D, G | F♯, D, D | E, D, A | G, D, D | high D, B, G | F♯, E, high C, high C | B, G, A | G
1. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
2. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. E (cover every hole but the right index)
4. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
5. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
6. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
7. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
8. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
9. E (cover every hole but the right index)
10. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
11. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
13. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
14. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
15. high D (cover the left thumb)
16. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
17. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
18. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
19. E (cover every hole but the right index)
20. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
21. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
22. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
23. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
24. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
25. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)

Happy Birthday on the ocarina starts D, D, E, D, G, F sharp. Here it is in G major, from D up to high D. Three of its four phrases open with the same two quick D's, so once you can play the first phrase you have the start of the next two.

![Happy Birthday ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/happy-birthday-ocarina-tabs.png)

Happy Birthday as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Happy Birthday?

The third pair of quick D's, where the tune leaps a whole octave straight up to high D. On a 12-hole, Happy Birthday goes from D to high D: you lift the left ring, left middle, left index, right index, right middle, right ring and left thumb. On a 6-hole, you lift the left middle, left index, right index and right thumb.

Get the high D ready while you play the two D's: they share one fingering, so your fingers are free to think ahead. High D needs a faster, firmer breath than the D an octave below; ease off again as the line comes down through B, G, F sharp and E. F sharp is the one sharp in the song, and it takes a cross-fingering on a 12-hole and a 6-hole alike, so practise it on its own, from G down to F sharp and back.

## Where do you breathe in Happy Birthday?

Breathe on the long notes: the first long F sharp, the long G that follows, and the last G. The run from high D down to G after that long G is the longest stretch without a long note, so take a fuller breath on that G.

## Which ocarina can play Happy Birthday?

A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play Happy Birthday in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Where does the Happy Birthday tune come from?

From a classroom greeting. The tune is "Good Morning to All", printed in [Song Stories for the Kindergarten](https://archive.org/details/SongStoriesForTheKindergarten) by the sisters Mildred and Patty Hill, a book whose preface is dated June 1893. In its 1896 edition each line starts on a single note, because "Good" has one syllable; when the words became "Happy birthday", that note split in two. [The Everyday Song Book of 1922](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Everyday_Song_Book_-_1922_-_Good_Morning.png) prints the birthday words on the same tune, and our tabs follow it. That the sisters wrote the tune is traditional, though [Wikipedia notes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Birthday_to_You) the claim is disputed. We show the melody only. Music: the tune of "Good Morning to All", credited to Mildred J. Hill (1859-1916), whose sister Patty S. Hill (1868-1946) wrote its first words.

## What to play next

# Für Elise on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/fur-elise/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts high E, high D♯, high E, high D♯. Hard, 35 notes, in A minor.

## What are the notes for Für Elise?

12-hole alto C tabs: high E, high D♯ | high E, high D♯, high E, B, high D, high C | A, C, E, A | B, E, G♯, B | high C, E, high E, high D♯ | high E, high D♯, high E, B, high D, high C | A, C, E, A | B, E, high C, B | A
1. high E (cover the left pinky)
2. high D♯ (cover the left pinky and right ring)
3. high E (cover the left pinky)
4. high D♯ (cover the left pinky and right ring)
5. high E (cover the left pinky)
6. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
8. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
9. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
10. C (cover every main hole)
11. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
12. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
14. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
15. G♯ (cover every main hole but the left ring, right index, right middle and right pinky)
16. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
17. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
18. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
19. high E (cover the left pinky)
20. high D♯ (cover the left pinky and right ring)
21. high E (cover the left pinky)
22. high D♯ (cover the left pinky and right ring)
23. high E (cover the left pinky)
24. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
25. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
26. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
27. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. C (cover every main hole)
29. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
30. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
33. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
34. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
35. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: high E, high D♯ | high E, high D♯, high E, B, high D, high C | A, C, E, A | B, E, G♯, B | high C, E, high E, high D♯ | high E, high D♯, high E, B, high D, high C | A, C, E, A | B, E, high C, B | A
1. high E (all holes open)
2. high D♯ (cover the right middle)
3. high E (all holes open)
4. high D♯ (cover the right middle)
5. high E (all holes open)
6. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
7. high D (cover the left thumb)
8. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
9. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
10. C (cover every hole)
11. E (cover every hole but the right index)
12. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
14. E (cover every hole but the right index)
15. G♯ (cover every hole but the left middle and right index)
16. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
17. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
18. E (cover every hole but the right index)
19. high E (all holes open)
20. high D♯ (cover the right middle)
21. high E (all holes open)
22. high D♯ (cover the right middle)
23. high E (all holes open)
24. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
25. high D (cover the left thumb)
26. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
27. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. C (cover every hole)
29. E (cover every hole but the right index)
30. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
32. E (cover every hole but the right index)
33. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
34. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
35. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)

Für Elise opens on its famous rocking figure: high E, high D sharp, high E, high D sharp, high E, then B, high D, high C and A. These are the first eight bars, the part everyone knows, in Beethoven's key of A minor. They run from C up to high E, so they need a 12-hole or a 6-hole ocarina in C.

![Für Elise ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/fur-elise-ocarina-tabs.png)

Für Elise as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Für Elise?

The opening rock between high E and high D sharp, five notes a semitone apart. On a 12-hole, Für Elise goes from high E to high D♯: you cover the right ring. On a 6-hole, you cover the right middle.

Keep the finger movement as small as you can and the breath steady: high notes need a firm, fast airstream, and if it wavers the semitone sounds out of tune. Practise high E and high D sharp back and forth slowly, then speed up. After the rock the tune drops to A and climbs C, E, A from the bottom of the ocarina, and those low notes need much less air than the high E, so let the breath fall with them.

## Which ocarina can play Für Elise?

A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, high D♯ and high E, so play Für Elise in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Who was Elise, and when was Für Elise first printed?

Nobody knows who Elise was; [Wikipedia lists several candidates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%BCr_Elise). Beethoven wrote the piece in 1810 and never published it. It first appeared in 1867, forty years after his death, in [a book of his letters edited by Ludwig Nohl](https://archive.org/details/10600499bsb/page/n49/mode/1up), who copied it from a manuscript inscribed "Für Elise am 27 April zur Erinnerung von L. v. Bthvn". Nohl's footnote calls it a previously unknown, "not exactly significant but quite charming" little piano piece (our translation). The manuscript has since been lost, so the familiar score goes back to that printing, and our tabs are arranged from it. We show the right-hand melody only. Music: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827).

## What to play next

# Brahms' Lullaby on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/brahms-lullaby/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts E, E, G, E. Medium, 51 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for Brahms' Lullaby?

12-hole alto C tabs: E, E | G, E, E | G, E, G | high C, B, A | A, G, D, E | F, D, D, E | F, D, F | B, A, G, B | high C, C, C | high C, A, F | G, E, C | F, G, A | G, C, C | high C, A, F | G, E, C | F, E, D | C
1. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
2. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
3. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
4. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
5. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
6. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
7. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
8. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
9. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
10. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
11. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
14. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
15. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
16. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
17. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
18. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
19. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
20. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
21. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
22. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
23. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
25. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
26. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
27. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
28. C (cover every main hole)
29. C (cover every main hole)
30. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
31. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
33. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
34. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
35. C (cover every main hole)
36. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
37. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
38. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
39. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
40. C (cover every main hole)
41. C (cover every main hole)
42. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
43. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
44. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
45. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
46. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
47. C (cover every main hole)
48. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
49. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
50. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
51. C (cover every main hole)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: E, E | G, E, E | G, E, G | high C, B, A | A, G, D, E | F, D, D, E | F, D, F | B, A, G, B | high C, C, C | high C, A, F | G, E, C | F, G, A | G, C, C | high C, A, F | G, E, C | F, E, D | C
1. E (cover every hole but the right index)
2. E (cover every hole but the right index)
3. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
4. E (cover every hole but the right index)
5. E (cover every hole but the right index)
6. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
7. E (cover every hole but the right index)
8. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
9. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
10. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
11. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
14. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
15. E (cover every hole but the right index)
16. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
17. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
18. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
19. E (cover every hole but the right index)
20. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
21. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
22. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
23. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
24. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
25. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
26. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
27. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
28. C (cover every hole)
29. C (cover every hole)
30. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
31. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
33. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
34. E (cover every hole but the right index)
35. C (cover every hole)
36. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
37. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
38. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
39. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
40. C (cover every hole)
41. C (cover every hole)
42. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
43. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
44. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
45. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
46. E (cover every hole but the right index)
47. C (cover every hole)
48. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
49. E (cover every hole but the right index)
50. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
51. C (cover every hole)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: E, E | G, E, E | G, E, G | high C, B, A | A, G, D, E | F, D, D, E | F, D, F | B, A, G, B | high C, C, C | high C, A, F | G, E, C | F, G, A | G, C, C | high C, A, F | G, E, C | F, E, D | C
1. E (cover every hole but the right index)
2. E (cover every hole but the right index)
3. G (cover the left index and right index)
4. E (cover every hole but the right index)
5. E (cover every hole but the right index)
6. G (cover the left index and right index)
7. E (cover every hole but the right index)
8. G (cover the left index and right index)
9. high C (all holes open)
10. B (cover the right middle)
11. A (cover the left index)
12. A (cover the left index)
13. G (cover the left index and right index)
14. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
15. E (cover every hole but the right index)
16. F (cover the left middle and left index)
17. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
18. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
19. E (cover every hole but the right index)
20. F (cover the left middle and left index)
21. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
22. F (cover the left middle and left index)
23. B (cover the right middle)
24. A (cover the left index)
25. G (cover the left index and right index)
26. B (cover the right middle)
27. high C (all holes open)
28. C (cover every hole)
29. C (cover every hole)
30. high C (all holes open)
31. A (cover the left index)
32. F (cover the left middle and left index)
33. G (cover the left index and right index)
34. E (cover every hole but the right index)
35. C (cover every hole)
36. F (cover the left middle and left index)
37. G (cover the left index and right index)
38. A (cover the left index)
39. G (cover the left index and right index)
40. C (cover every hole)
41. C (cover every hole)
42. high C (all holes open)
43. A (cover the left index)
44. F (cover the left middle and left index)
45. G (cover the left index and right index)
46. E (cover every hole but the right index)
47. C (cover every hole)
48. F (cover the left middle and left index)
49. E (cover every hole but the right index)
50. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
51. C (cover every hole)

Brahms' Lullaby begins E, E, G, then E, E, G again, and most bars end on two short notes that lead into the next. In C major it stays between C and high C, so a 12-hole, a 6-hole and a 4-hole ocarina in C all play it.

![Brahms' Lullaby ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/brahms-lullaby-ocarina-tabs.png)

Brahms' Lullaby as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Brahms' Lullaby?

The second half, where two short C's leap a whole octave to high C, twice. On a 12-hole, Brahms' Lullaby goes from C to high C: you lift the left ring, left middle, left index, right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you lift the left middle, right middle, left index and right index.

A lullaby wants a soft sound, but soft high notes go flat, so give the high C just enough extra air to reach its pitch and no more. Check it with our [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) while you hold it: the reading shows the moment the note starts to sag. The first edition marks the song "Zart bewegt", tenderly, with movement, so keep the short notes light and let the long ones ring.

## Where do you breathe in Brahms' Lullaby?

The tune comes in waves, and the places to breathe are the three one-beat rests, after the first G, after the F and after the first high C, and the long notes after them. Each wave is short, so one easy breath is enough for each.

## Which ocarina can play Brahms' Lullaby?

Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays Brahms' Lullaby in this key. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Who did Brahms write his lullaby for?

For a friend's new baby. [Brahms wrote it for Bertha Faber](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiegenlied_(Brahms)) when her second son was born, and [the first edition, printed by Simrock in Berlin in 1868](https://imslp.org/wiki/5_Lieder,_Op.49_(Brahms,_Johannes)), names her only by her initials: "An B. F. in Wien", to B. F. in Vienna. The words are a traditional German verse from the folk song collection Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Our tabs are arranged from that first edition, leaving out two small ornaments near the end. We show the melody only. Music: Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), Wiegenlied, Op. 49 No. 4.

## What to play next

# Frère Jacques on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/frere-jacques/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts G, A, B, G. Medium, 32 notes, in G major.

## What are the notes for Frère Jacques?

12-hole alto C tabs: G, A, B, G | G, A, B, G | B, high C, high D | B, high C, high D | high D, high E, high D, high C, B, G | high D, high E, high D, high C, B, G | G, D, G | G, D, G
1. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
2. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
9. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
10. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
11. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
12. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
14. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
15. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
16. high E (cover the left pinky)
17. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
18. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
19. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
20. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
21. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
22. high E (cover the left pinky)
23. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
24. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
25. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
26. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
27. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
28. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
29. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
30. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
31. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
32. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: G, A, B, G | G, A, B, G | B, high C, high D | B, high C, high D | high D, high E, high D, high C, B, G | high D, high E, high D, high C, B, G | G, D, G | G, D, G
1. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
2. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
4. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
5. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
6. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
8. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
9. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
10. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
11. high D (cover the left thumb)
12. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
13. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
14. high D (cover the left thumb)
15. high D (cover the left thumb)
16. high E (all holes open)
17. high D (cover the left thumb)
18. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
19. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
20. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
21. high D (cover the left thumb)
22. high E (all holes open)
23. high D (cover the left thumb)
24. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
25. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
26. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
27. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
28. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
29. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
30. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
31. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
32. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)

Frère Jacques goes G, A, B, G, twice, then B, high C, high D, twice. Every one of its four short phrases comes twice, so there is half as much to learn as it looks, and none of them needs a sharp or a flat.

![Frère Jacques ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/frere-jacques-ocarina-tabs.png)

Frère Jacques as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Frère Jacques?

The quick run in the third phrase, high D, high E, high D, high C, the fastest and highest notes in the song. On a 12-hole, Frère Jacques goes from high D to high E: you lift the right thumb. On a 6-hole, you lift the left thumb.

High E needs a firm, fast breath, and the run passes it in half a beat, so learn it slowly, four even notes, before you put it back up to speed. The phrase after it drops from G to the D below and back, like a bell: let the low D sound with a gentle breath rather than a push, or it will crack.

## Where do you breathe in Frère Jacques?

The two-beat high D that ends each of the third and fourth bars is the place to breathe. Take the fuller breath on the second one, because the two quick bars after it, high D, E, D, C, B, G, follow one another. The song ends on two single G's, each followed by a beat of rest: the first rest is for a last breath.

## Which ocarina can play Frère Jacques?

A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D and high E, so play Frère Jacques in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## How do you play Frère Jacques as a round?

One player starts, and when they reach the second phrase, B, high C, high D, a second player starts again from the beginning. The old French songbook our tabs follow, [Jean-Baptiste Weckerlin's Chansons et rondes enfantines](https://archive.org/details/chansonsetrondes00weck/page/n102/mode/1up) (Paris, about 1870), prints it that way, as a round for two voices, in F major and 2/4 time, with a short closing tag; our tabs move it to G, write it in 4/4 and leave the tag out. Play it with a friend, or with a recording of yourself. The tune is older than that book and its author is uncertain: [Wikipedia traces it](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A8re_Jacques) to a French manuscript of about 1780, and a manuscript in the French National Library lists Jean-Philippe Rameau, who died in 1764, as its author. Music: traditional French round, author uncertain.

## What to play next

# Morning Mood on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/morning-mood/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts G, E, D, C. Medium, 48 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for Morning Mood?

12-hole alto C tabs: G, E, D, C, D, E | G, E, D, C, D, E, D, E | G, E, G, A, E, A | G, E, D, C | G, E, D, C, D, E | G, E, D, C, D, E, D, E | G, E, G, A, E, A | B, G♯, F♯, E
1. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
2. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
3. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
4. C (cover every main hole)
5. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
6. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
7. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
8. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
9. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
10. C (cover every main hole)
11. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
12. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
13. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
14. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
15. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
16. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
17. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
18. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
19. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
20. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
21. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
22. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
23. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
24. C (cover every main hole)
25. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
26. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
27. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
28. C (cover every main hole)
29. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
30. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
31. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
32. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
33. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
34. C (cover every main hole)
35. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
36. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
37. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
38. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
39. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
40. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
41. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
42. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
43. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
44. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
45. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
46. G♯ (cover every main hole but the left ring, right index, right middle and right pinky)
47. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
48. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: G, E, D, C, D, E | G, E, D, C, D, E, D, E | G, E, G, A, E, A | G, E, D, C | G, E, D, C, D, E | G, E, D, C, D, E, D, E | G, E, G, A, E, A | B, G♯, F♯, E
1. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
2. E (cover every hole but the right index)
3. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
4. C (cover every hole)
5. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
6. E (cover every hole but the right index)
7. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
8. E (cover every hole but the right index)
9. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
10. C (cover every hole)
11. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
12. E (cover every hole but the right index)
13. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
14. E (cover every hole but the right index)
15. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
16. E (cover every hole but the right index)
17. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
18. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
19. E (cover every hole but the right index)
20. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
21. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
22. E (cover every hole but the right index)
23. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
24. C (cover every hole)
25. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
26. E (cover every hole but the right index)
27. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
28. C (cover every hole)
29. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
30. E (cover every hole but the right index)
31. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
32. E (cover every hole but the right index)
33. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
34. C (cover every hole)
35. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
36. E (cover every hole but the right index)
37. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
38. E (cover every hole but the right index)
39. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
40. E (cover every hole but the right index)
41. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
42. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
43. E (cover every hole but the right index)
44. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
45. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
46. G♯ (cover every hole but the left middle and right index)
47. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
48. E (cover every hole but the right index)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: G, E, D, C, D, E | G, E, D, C, D, E, D, E | G, E, G, A, E, A | G, E, D, C | G, E, D, C, D, E | G, E, D, C, D, E, D, E | G, E, G, A, E, A | B, G♯, F♯, E
1. G (cover the left index and right index)
2. E (cover every hole but the right index)
3. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
4. C (cover every hole)
5. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
6. E (cover every hole but the right index)
7. G (cover the left index and right index)
8. E (cover every hole but the right index)
9. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
10. C (cover every hole)
11. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
12. E (cover every hole but the right index)
13. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
14. E (cover every hole but the right index)
15. G (cover the left index and right index)
16. E (cover every hole but the right index)
17. G (cover the left index and right index)
18. A (cover the left index)
19. E (cover every hole but the right index)
20. A (cover the left index)
21. G (cover the left index and right index)
22. E (cover every hole but the right index)
23. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
24. C (cover every hole)
25. G (cover the left index and right index)
26. E (cover every hole but the right index)
27. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
28. C (cover every hole)
29. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
30. E (cover every hole but the right index)
31. G (cover the left index and right index)
32. E (cover every hole but the right index)
33. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
34. C (cover every hole)
35. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
36. E (cover every hole but the right index)
37. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
38. E (cover every hole but the right index)
39. G (cover the left index and right index)
40. E (cover every hole but the right index)
41. G (cover the left index and right index)
42. A (cover the left index)
43. E (cover every hole but the right index)
44. A (cover the left index)
45. B (cover the right middle)
46. G♯ (cover the right middle and left index)
47. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
48. E (cover every hole but the right index)

Morning Mood starts G, E, D, C, D, E: the sunrise from Grieg's music for Peer Gynt. Here are its first two phrases, the flute's and the oboe's answer, moved to C so they use the notes from C to B. Even the G sharp and F sharp at the end have 4-hole fingerings, so a 4-hole pendant plays it too.

![Morning Mood ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/morning-mood-ocarina-tabs.png)

Morning Mood as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## Why does the second phrase of Morning Mood end differently?

Because Grieg turns the tune into a new key there: the last bar of the answer goes B, G sharp, F sharp, E instead of coming home to C. On a 12-hole, Morning Mood goes from B to G♯: you cover the left middle and right ring. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you cover the left index.

Learn the G sharp and F sharp fingerings on their own before you play the bar, then play B, G sharp, F sharp, E slowly until each note speaks. The first phrase moves mostly between neighbouring notes; the quick D, E, D, E at the end of its second bar is tongued lightly, with the fingers moving between just two notes.

## Which ocarina can play Morning Mood?

Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays Morning Mood in this key. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Is Morning Mood really a sunrise?

Yes, but not a Norwegian one. [Grieg wrote it in 1875](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_Mood) for Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt, where it plays at sunrise in the fourth act, with Peer stranded in the Moroccan desert at dawn, and in the orchestra the flute and the oboe pass the tune between them. Grieg later put it first in his Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, published in 1888, and arranged the suite for piano himself. Our tabs follow [that arrangement](https://imslp.org/wiki/Peer_Gynt_Suite_No.1,_Op.46_(Grieg,_Edvard)) (Leipzig, Peters, about 1890), with the oboe's answer moved up an octave into the ocarina's range and its quick grace notes left out. Music: Edvard Grieg (1843-1907), from his music for Ibsen's Peer Gynt.

## What to play next

# In the Hall of the Mountain King on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/in-the-hall-of-the-mountain-king/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts D, E, F, G. Medium, 52 notes, in D minor.

## What are the notes for In the Hall of the Mountain King?

12-hole alto C tabs: D, E, F, G, A, F, A | G♯, E, G♯, G, D♯, G | D, E, F, G, A, F, A, high D | high C, A, F, A, high C | D, E, F, G, A, F, A | G♯, E, G♯, G, D♯, G | D, E, F, G, A, F, A, high D | high C, A, F, A, high C
1. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
2. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
3. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
4. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
7. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. G♯ (cover every main hole but the left ring, right index, right middle and right pinky)
9. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
10. G♯ (cover every main hole but the left ring, right index, right middle and right pinky)
11. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
12. D♯ (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky, plus the right sub-hole)
13. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
14. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
15. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
16. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
17. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
18. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
19. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
20. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
21. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
22. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
23. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
25. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
26. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
27. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
28. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
29. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
30. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
31. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
33. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
34. G♯ (cover every main hole but the left ring, right index, right middle and right pinky)
35. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
36. G♯ (cover every main hole but the left ring, right index, right middle and right pinky)
37. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
38. D♯ (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky, plus the right sub-hole)
39. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
40. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
41. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
42. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
43. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
44. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
45. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
46. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
47. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
48. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
49. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
50. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
51. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
52. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: D, E, F, G, A, F, A | G♯, E, G♯, G, D♯, G | D, E, F, G, A, F, A, high D | high C, A, F, A, high C | D, E, F, G, A, F, A | G♯, E, G♯, G, D♯, G | D, E, F, G, A, F, A, high D | high C, A, F, A, high C
1. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
2. E (cover every hole but the right index)
3. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
4. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
5. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
7. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. G♯ (cover every hole but the left middle and right index)
9. E (cover every hole but the right index)
10. G♯ (cover every hole but the left middle and right index)
11. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
12. D♯ (cover the left middle, right middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb; half-cover the right index)
13. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
14. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
15. E (cover every hole but the right index)
16. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
17. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
18. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
19. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
20. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
21. high D (cover the left thumb)
22. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
23. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
25. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
26. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
27. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
28. E (cover every hole but the right index)
29. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
30. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
31. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
33. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
34. G♯ (cover every hole but the left middle and right index)
35. E (cover every hole but the right index)
36. G♯ (cover every hole but the left middle and right index)
37. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
38. D♯ (cover the left middle, right middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb; half-cover the right index)
39. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
40. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
41. E (cover every hole but the right index)
42. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
43. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
44. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
45. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
46. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
47. high D (cover the left thumb)
48. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
49. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
50. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
51. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
52. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)

In the Hall of the Mountain King climbs D, E, F, G, A, F, A, then plays a three-note figure, G sharp, E, G sharp, and the same shape a semitone lower. This is Grieg's opening phrase, which the orchestra repeats faster and louder until the end. Here it is in D minor, from D up to high D.

![In the Hall of the Mountain King ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/in-the-hall-of-the-mountain-king-ocarina-tabs.png)

In the Hall of the Mountain King as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in In the Hall of the Mountain King?

The second bar, where G sharp, E, G sharp is answered by G, D sharp, G: the same shape, one semitone down. On a 12-hole, In the Hall of the Mountain King goes from G♯ to G: you swap hands: lift the right ring and cover the left ring. On a 6-hole, you lift the right middle and cover the right index.

Practise the two halves of the bar back to back until the swap from G sharp to G, one finger up and one down at the same moment, sounds clean. Grieg marks the piece "sempre staccato e pp": always short and very quiet. Tongue every note with a light "tu", keep it soft, and only build up speed once the notes are under your fingers.

## Which ocarina can play In the Hall of the Mountain King?

A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play In the Hall of the Mountain King in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## What is the Mountain King's hall?

A troll king's hall. The Norwegian title, "I Dovregubbens hall", means "in the hall of the Dovre old man", the troll king of the Dovre mountains, and the music plays as Peer Gynt walks into his hall full of trolls. Grieg wrote it in 1875 for Ibsen's play and later made it the last piece of his Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, published in 1888. He was not fond of it: as [Wikipedia translates his words](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Hall_of_the_Mountain_King), he wrote that it "so reeks of cowpats, ultra-Norwegianism, and 'to-thyself-be-enough-ness' that I cannot bear to hear it". Our tabs follow [Grieg's own piano arrangement](https://imslp.org/wiki/Peer_Gynt_Suite_No.1,_Op.46_(Grieg,_Edvard)) (Leipzig, Peters, about 1890). Music: Edvard Grieg (1843-1907), from his music for Ibsen's Peer Gynt.

## What to play next

# Drunken Sailor on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/drunken-sailor/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts A, A, A, A. Easy, 63 notes, in D Dorian.

## What are the notes for Drunken Sailor?

12-hole alto C tabs: A, A, A, A, A, A | A, D, F, A | G, G, G, G, G, G | G, C, E, G | A, A, A, A, A, A | A, B, high C, high D | high C, A, G, E | D, D | A, A, A | A, D, F, A | G, G, G | G, C, E, G | A, A, A | A, B, high C, high D | high C, A, G, E | D, D
1. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
9. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
10. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
11. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
12. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
13. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
14. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
15. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
16. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
17. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
18. C (cover every main hole)
19. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
20. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
21. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
22. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
23. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
25. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
26. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
27. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
30. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
31. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
32. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
33. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
34. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
35. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
36. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
37. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
38. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
39. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
40. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
41. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
42. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
43. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
44. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
45. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
46. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
47. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
48. C (cover every main hole)
49. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
50. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
51. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
52. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
53. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
54. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
55. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
56. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
57. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
58. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
59. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
60. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
61. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
62. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
63. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: A, A, A, A, A, A | A, D, F, A | G, G, G, G, G, G | G, C, E, G | A, A, A, A, A, A | A, B, high C, high D | high C, A, G, E | D, D | A, A, A | A, D, F, A | G, G, G | G, C, E, G | A, A, A | A, B, high C, high D | high C, A, G, E | D, D
1. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
9. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
10. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
11. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
12. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
13. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
14. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
15. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
16. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
17. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
18. C (cover every hole)
19. E (cover every hole but the right index)
20. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
21. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
22. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
23. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
25. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
26. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
27. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
29. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
30. high D (cover the left thumb)
31. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
32. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
33. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
34. E (cover every hole but the right index)
35. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
36. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
37. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
38. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
39. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
40. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
41. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
42. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
43. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
44. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
45. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
46. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
47. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
48. C (cover every hole)
49. E (cover every hole but the right index)
50. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
51. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
52. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
53. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
54. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
55. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
56. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
57. high D (cover the left thumb)
58. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
59. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
60. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
61. E (cover every hole but the right index)
62. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
63. D (cover every hole but the right middle)

Drunken Sailor hammers one note, A, seven times, then drops to D and climbs back up, D, F, A. The shanty uses only natural notes, no sharps or flats, from C up to high D. Here is the verse, then the chorus.

![Drunken Sailor ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/drunken-sailor-ocarina-tabs.png)

Drunken Sailor as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## How do you keep the repeated notes in Drunken Sailor even?

With your tongue, not your fingers: keep the fingering still and start each A with a light "tu", in a steady march rhythm. The harder move comes right after them: from A down to D. On a 12-hole, Drunken Sailor goes from A to D: you cover the left ring, right index, right middle and right ring. On a 6-hole, you cover the left middle and right index.

In the chorus each line opens with a long note and then two quicker ones on the same pitch, so it is the same tonguing at a different rhythm. If the A's blur into one long note, you are stopping the air between them; keep it flowing and let the tongue make the breaks.

## Where do you breathe in Drunken Sailor?

Each half ends on two two-beat D's: breathe between them. The repeated A's and G's earlier in each half are tongue work, so keep the breath steady through them.

## Which ocarina can play Drunken Sailor?

A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play Drunken Sailor in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Why do sailors sing Drunken Sailor?

Drunken Sailor is [a work song](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drunken_Sailor). W. B. Whall, who learned shanties at sea, wrote that it "was sung in chorus, in quick march time, with no pause between the verses", as sailors marched along the deck hauling on a rope. He [printed it in 1913](https://archive.org/details/shipsseasongssha00whal/page/n126/mode/1up) as "Early in the Morning", with a tune a little different from today's. Our tabs follow [R. R. Terry's Shanty Book](https://archive.org/details/shantybooksailor00terr/page/n51/mode/1up) (London, 1921), which has the tune people sing now; Terry called it "a distinctly modal tune". It is in the Dorian mode, D to D with no sharps or flats. The tune is anonymous. Music: traditional sea shanty, anonymous.

## What to play next

# Auld Lang Syne on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/auld-lang-syne/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts C, F, F, F. Easy, 56 notes, in F major.

## What are the notes for Auld Lang Syne?

12-hole alto C tabs: C | F, F, F, A | G, F, G, A | F, F, A, high C | high D, high D | high C, A, A, F | G, F, G, A | F, D, D, C | F, high D | high C, A, A, F | G, F, G, A | high C, A, A, high C | high D, high D | high C, A, A, F | G, F, G, A | F, D, D, C | F
1. C (cover every main hole)
2. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
4. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
7. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
8. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
9. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
10. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
11. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
12. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
14. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
15. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
16. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
17. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
18. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
19. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
20. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
21. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
22. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
23. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
25. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
26. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
27. C (cover every main hole)
28. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
29. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
30. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
31. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
33. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
34. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
35. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
36. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
37. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
38. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
39. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
40. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
41. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
42. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
43. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
44. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
45. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
46. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
47. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
48. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
49. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
50. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
51. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
52. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
53. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
54. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
55. C (cover every main hole)
56. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: C | F, F, F, A | G, F, G, A | F, F, A, high C | high D, high D | high C, A, A, F | G, F, G, A | F, D, D, C | F, high D | high C, A, A, F | G, F, G, A | high C, A, A, high C | high D, high D | high C, A, A, F | G, F, G, A | F, D, D, C | F
1. C (cover every hole)
2. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
3. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
4. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
5. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
7. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
8. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
9. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
10. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
11. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
12. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
14. high D (cover the left thumb)
15. high D (cover the left thumb)
16. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
17. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
18. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
19. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
20. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
21. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
22. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
23. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
25. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
26. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
27. C (cover every hole)
28. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
29. high D (cover the left thumb)
30. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
31. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
33. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
34. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
35. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
36. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
37. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
38. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
39. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
40. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
41. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
42. high D (cover the left thumb)
43. high D (cover the left thumb)
44. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
45. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
46. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
47. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
48. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
49. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
50. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
51. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
52. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
53. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
54. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
55. C (cover every hole)
56. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)

Auld Lang Syne starts on C and rises C, F, F, F, A. The whole tune uses only five note names, F, G, A, C and D, with no sharps or flats. In F major it runs from C up to high D.

![Auld Lang Syne ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/auld-lang-syne-ocarina-tabs.png)

Auld Lang Syne as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Auld Lang Syne?

The jump from F up to high D that leads from the verse into the chorus. On a 12-hole, Auld Lang Syne goes from F to high D: you lift the left ring, left middle, left index, right index and left thumb. On a 6-hole, you lift the left middle, left index and right thumb.

The other thing to get right is the rhythm. The tune is full of long-short pairs, a dotted note then a quick one, and in the bar that goes F, F, A, high C the pair is reversed, short then long: a "Scotch snap" on the first two F's. Tongue the short note lightly so it does not swallow the long one. The chorus climbs to high D twice; give it more air and come back down gently.

## Where do you breathe in Auld Lang Syne?

The longest note is the high D held for three and a half beats near the start: it is the place for a full breath, and the climb to it from F has no gap. The three-beat F in the middle, the three-beat high D in the second half and the last F are the other places to breathe.

## Which ocarina can play Auld Lang Syne?

A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play Auld Lang Syne in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which tune did Burns write Auld Lang Syne to?

An older air, not the one sung today: Robert Burns's words were first printed to it, and he called it "but mediocre"; the familiar tune was set to them later by the editor George Thomson. [The 1839 edition of the Scots Musical Museum](https://archive.org/details/scotsmusicalmuse05john/page/n134/mode/1up) says this second tune "has, in a great measure, supplanted the proper tune". Our tabs follow the familiar tune as printed in [Heart Songs](https://archive.org/details/heartsongs0000vari_b8p2/page/n13/mode/1up) (Boston, 1909). The tune is traditional, and [Burns wrote the words](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auld_Lang_Syne). We show the melody only. Music: traditional Scottish tune; words by Robert Burns (1759-1796), from an older Scottish song.

## What to play next

# Oh! Susanna on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/oh-susanna/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts C, D, E, G. Easy, 55 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for Oh! Susanna?

12-hole alto C tabs: C, D | E, G, G, A | G, E, C, D | E, E, D, C | D, C, D | E, G, G, A | G, E, C, D | E, E, D, D | C | F, F | A, A, A | G, G, E, C | D, C, D | E, G, G, A | G, E, C, D | E, E, D, D | C
1. C (cover every main hole)
2. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
3. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
4. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
8. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
9. C (cover every main hole)
10. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
11. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
12. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
13. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
14. C (cover every main hole)
15. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
16. C (cover every main hole)
17. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
18. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
19. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
20. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
21. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
22. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
23. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
24. C (cover every main hole)
25. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
26. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
27. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
28. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
29. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
30. C (cover every main hole)
31. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
32. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
33. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
34. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
35. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
36. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
37. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
38. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
39. C (cover every main hole)
40. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
41. C (cover every main hole)
42. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
43. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
44. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
45. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
46. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
47. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
48. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
49. C (cover every main hole)
50. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
51. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
52. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
53. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
54. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
55. C (cover every main hole)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: C, D | E, G, G, A | G, E, C, D | E, E, D, C | D, C, D | E, G, G, A | G, E, C, D | E, E, D, D | C | F, F | A, A, A | G, G, E, C | D, C, D | E, G, G, A | G, E, C, D | E, E, D, D | C
1. C (cover every hole)
2. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. E (cover every hole but the right index)
4. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
5. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
6. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
8. E (cover every hole but the right index)
9. C (cover every hole)
10. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
11. E (cover every hole but the right index)
12. E (cover every hole but the right index)
13. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
14. C (cover every hole)
15. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
16. C (cover every hole)
17. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
18. E (cover every hole but the right index)
19. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
20. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
21. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
22. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
23. E (cover every hole but the right index)
24. C (cover every hole)
25. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
26. E (cover every hole but the right index)
27. E (cover every hole but the right index)
28. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
29. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
30. C (cover every hole)
31. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
32. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
33. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
34. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
35. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
36. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
37. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
38. E (cover every hole but the right index)
39. C (cover every hole)
40. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
41. C (cover every hole)
42. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
43. E (cover every hole but the right index)
44. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
45. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
46. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
47. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
48. E (cover every hole but the right index)
49. C (cover every hole)
50. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
51. E (cover every hole but the right index)
52. E (cover every hole but the right index)
53. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
54. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
55. C (cover every hole)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: C, D | E, G, G, A | G, E, C, D | E, E, D, C | D, C, D | E, G, G, A | G, E, C, D | E, E, D, D | C | F, F | A, A, A | G, G, E, C | D, C, D | E, G, G, A | G, E, C, D | E, E, D, D | C
1. C (cover every hole)
2. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. E (cover every hole but the right index)
4. G (cover the left index and right index)
5. G (cover the left index and right index)
6. A (cover the left index)
7. G (cover the left index and right index)
8. E (cover every hole but the right index)
9. C (cover every hole)
10. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
11. E (cover every hole but the right index)
12. E (cover every hole but the right index)
13. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
14. C (cover every hole)
15. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
16. C (cover every hole)
17. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
18. E (cover every hole but the right index)
19. G (cover the left index and right index)
20. G (cover the left index and right index)
21. A (cover the left index)
22. G (cover the left index and right index)
23. E (cover every hole but the right index)
24. C (cover every hole)
25. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
26. E (cover every hole but the right index)
27. E (cover every hole but the right index)
28. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
29. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
30. C (cover every hole)
31. F (cover the left middle and left index)
32. F (cover the left middle and left index)
33. A (cover the left index)
34. A (cover the left index)
35. A (cover the left index)
36. G (cover the left index and right index)
37. G (cover the left index and right index)
38. E (cover every hole but the right index)
39. C (cover every hole)
40. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
41. C (cover every hole)
42. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
43. E (cover every hole but the right index)
44. G (cover the left index and right index)
45. G (cover the left index and right index)
46. A (cover the left index)
47. G (cover the left index and right index)
48. E (cover every hole but the right index)
49. C (cover every hole)
50. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
51. E (cover every hole but the right index)
52. E (cover every hole but the right index)
53. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
54. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
55. C (cover every hole)

Oh! Susanna starts C, D, E, G, G, A and stays on plain notes between C and A, so a 4-hole pendant plays it as well as a 6-hole or 12-hole. This page gives one complete verse, then the chorus.

![Oh! Susanna ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/oh-susanna-ocarina-tabs.png)

Oh! Susanna as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Oh! Susanna?

The start of the chorus, where the verse ends on a long C and the tune jumps up to two long F's. On a 12-hole, Oh! Susanna goes from C to F: you lift the right middle, right ring and right pinky. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you lift the right middle and right index.

In these tabs the last C of the verse is held for four beats; hold it before you move: the chorus starts on the beat, with no lead-in notes, and it is easy to come in early. In the verse, the repeated G's and E's are tongued with your fingers still. The short C and D before each line are quick, so let them lead into the next note rather than giving them weight of their own.

## Where do you breathe in Oh! Susanna?

Breathe on the first three-beat D and on the four-beat C that ends the verse. Take the fuller breath on that C: the chorus after it has no note longer than two beats until its three-beat D.

## Which ocarina can play Oh! Susanna?

Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays Oh! Susanna in this key. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Who wrote Oh! Susanna?

Stephen Foster, who [published it in 1848](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh!_Susanna). It became popular through the blackface minstrel shows of the time, and its verses are in a mock dialect, with a racist slur in the second one, which is one reason this page teaches the tune and leaves out the words. Our tabs follow the tune as printed in [Heart Songs](https://archive.org/details/heartsongs0000vari_b8p2/page/n181/mode/1up) (Boston, 1909), which matches [a printing from the 1850s](https://repository.duke.edu/dc/hasm/n1329) in every bar we compared. Music: Stephen Foster (1826-1864).

## What to play next

# O Come, All Ye Faithful on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/o-come-all-ye-faithful/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts F, F, C, F. Medium, 59 notes, in F major.

## What are the notes for O Come, All Ye Faithful?

12-hole alto C tabs: F | F, C, F | G, C | A, G, A, B♭ | A, G, F | F, E, D | E, F, G, A | E, D | C | high C, B♭, A | B♭, A | G, A, F, G | E, C, F | F, E, F, G | F, C, A | A, G, A, B♭ | A, G, A | B♭, A, G, F | E, F, B♭ | A, G | F
1. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
2. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. C (cover every main hole)
4. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. C (cover every main hole)
7. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
9. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
10. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
11. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
13. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
14. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
15. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
16. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
17. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
18. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
19. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
20. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
21. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
22. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
23. C (cover every main hole)
24. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
25. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
26. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
27. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
28. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
30. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
32. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
33. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
34. C (cover every main hole)
35. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
36. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
37. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
38. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
39. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
40. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
41. C (cover every main hole)
42. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
43. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
44. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
45. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
46. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
47. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
48. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
49. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
50. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
51. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
52. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
53. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
54. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
55. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
56. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
57. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
58. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
59. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: F | F, C, F | G, C | A, G, A, B♭ | A, G, F | F, E, D | E, F, G, A | E, D | C | high C, B♭, A | B♭, A | G, A, F, G | E, C, F | F, E, F, G | F, C, A | A, G, A, B♭ | A, G, A | B♭, A, G, F | E, F, B♭ | A, G | F
1. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
2. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
3. C (cover every hole)
4. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
5. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
6. C (cover every hole)
7. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
9. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
10. B♭ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
11. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
13. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
14. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
15. E (cover every hole but the right index)
16. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
17. E (cover every hole but the right index)
18. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
19. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
20. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
21. E (cover every hole but the right index)
22. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
23. C (cover every hole)
24. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
25. B♭ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
26. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
27. B♭ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
30. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
32. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
33. E (cover every hole but the right index)
34. C (cover every hole)
35. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
36. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
37. E (cover every hole but the right index)
38. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
39. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
40. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
41. C (cover every hole)
42. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
43. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
44. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
45. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
46. B♭ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
47. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
48. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
49. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
50. B♭ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
51. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
52. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
53. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
54. E (cover every hole but the right index)
55. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
56. B♭ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
57. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
58. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
59. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: F | F, C, F | G, C | A, G, A, B♭ | A, G, F | F, E, D | E, F, G, A | E, D | C | high C, B♭, A | B♭, A | G, A, F, G | E, C, F | F, E, F, G | F, C, A | A, G, A, B♭ | A, G, A | B♭, A, G, F | E, F, B♭ | A, G | F
1. F (cover the left middle and left index)
2. F (cover the left middle and left index)
3. C (cover every hole)
4. F (cover the left middle and left index)
5. G (cover the left index and right index)
6. C (cover every hole)
7. A (cover the left index)
8. G (cover the left index and right index)
9. A (cover the left index)
10. B♭ (cover the right index)
11. A (cover the left index)
12. G (cover the left index and right index)
13. F (cover the left middle and left index)
14. F (cover the left middle and left index)
15. E (cover every hole but the right index)
16. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
17. E (cover every hole but the right index)
18. F (cover the left middle and left index)
19. G (cover the left index and right index)
20. A (cover the left index)
21. E (cover every hole but the right index)
22. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
23. C (cover every hole)
24. high C (all holes open)
25. B♭ (cover the right index)
26. A (cover the left index)
27. B♭ (cover the right index)
28. A (cover the left index)
29. G (cover the left index and right index)
30. A (cover the left index)
31. F (cover the left middle and left index)
32. G (cover the left index and right index)
33. E (cover every hole but the right index)
34. C (cover every hole)
35. F (cover the left middle and left index)
36. F (cover the left middle and left index)
37. E (cover every hole but the right index)
38. F (cover the left middle and left index)
39. G (cover the left index and right index)
40. F (cover the left middle and left index)
41. C (cover every hole)
42. A (cover the left index)
43. A (cover the left index)
44. G (cover the left index and right index)
45. A (cover the left index)
46. B♭ (cover the right index)
47. A (cover the left index)
48. G (cover the left index and right index)
49. A (cover the left index)
50. B♭ (cover the right index)
51. A (cover the left index)
52. G (cover the left index and right index)
53. F (cover the left middle and left index)
54. E (cover every hole but the right index)
55. F (cover the left middle and left index)
56. B♭ (cover the right index)
57. A (cover the left index)
58. G (cover the left index and right index)
59. F (cover the left middle and left index)

O Come, All Ye Faithful opens with a lead-in F, then a long F, C, F and a long G. The whole carol stays between C and high C, so in F major a 12-hole, a 6-hole and a 4-hole ocarina in C all play it. Its chorus is one line sung three times, "O come, let us adore Him", and each time the word "come" lands higher: on F, then A, then B flat.

![O Come, All Ye Faithful ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/o-come-all-ye-faithful-ocarina-tabs.png)

O Come, All Ye Faithful as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in O Come, All Ye Faithful?

The jump from the long C at the end of "to Bethlehem" straight up to high C, where "Come and behold Him" begins. On a 12-hole, O Come, All Ye Faithful goes from C to high C: you lift the left ring, left middle, left index, right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you lift the left middle, right middle, left index and right index.

The hymnal puts a one-beat rest after that C, shown as a gap in the tabs: stop the C when the gap starts and use it to breathe. High C needs a quicker, firmer breath than the C below ([why high notes go airy or flat](https://playocarina.com/guides/airy-or-flat-high-notes/)). The flat in this key, B flat, is cross-fingered on a 12-hole and turns up in the first line, straight after the leap to high C and in the last two lines of the chorus: practise A, B flat, A slowly until it speaks cleanly. In the chorus, keep the three "let us adore Him" lines even and unhurried, and save a little breath for the last one, which climbs to B flat, the top note of the chorus, and walks down to F.

## Which ocarina can play O Come, All Ye Faithful?

Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays O Come, All Ye Faithful in this key. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Who wrote O Come, All Ye Faithful?

Nobody knows for sure. [The candidates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Come,_All_Ye_Faithful) include the English music copyist John Francis Wade, John Reading and King John IV of Portugal. [The earliest printing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Come,_All_Ye_Faithful) is in a book Wade published in 1751, with Latin words and in triple time, unlike the version sung now; Frederick Oakeley made the English translation in 1841. Our tabs follow the four-beat tune in [the 1861 edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern](https://archive.org/details/henrmode00chur/page/n73/mode/1up), whose index calls it "Adeste fideles" and credits the harmony to its music editor, William Henry Monk. We show the melody only. Music: the tune "Adeste Fideles", first printed by John Francis Wade (1711-1786), who is usually credited with it; English words by Frederick Oakeley (1802-1880).

## What to play next

# Hark! The Herald Angels Sing on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/hark-the-herald-angels-sing/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts D, G, G, F♯. Medium, 76 notes, in G major.

## What are the notes for Hark! The Herald Angels Sing?

12-hole alto C tabs: D, G, G, F♯ | G, B, B, A | high D, high D, high D, high C | B, A, B | D, G, G, F♯ | G, B, B, A | high D, A, A, F♯ | F♯, E, D | high D, high D, high D, G | high C, B, B, A | high D, high D, high D, G | high C, B, B, A | high E, high E, high E, high D | high C, B, high C | A, B, high C, high D, G | G, A, B | high E, high E, high E, high D | high C, B, high C | A, B, high C, high D, G | G, A, G
1. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
2. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
4. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
5. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
9. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
10. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
11. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
12. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
13. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
14. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
15. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
16. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
17. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
18. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
19. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
20. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
21. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
22. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
23. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
25. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
26. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
27. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
28. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
29. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
30. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
31. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
32. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
33. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
34. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
35. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
36. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
37. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
38. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
39. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
40. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
41. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
42. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
43. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
44. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
45. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
46. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
47. high E (cover the left pinky)
48. high E (cover the left pinky)
49. high E (cover the left pinky)
50. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
51. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
52. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
53. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
54. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
55. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
56. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
57. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
58. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
59. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
60. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
61. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
62. high E (cover the left pinky)
63. high E (cover the left pinky)
64. high E (cover the left pinky)
65. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
66. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
67. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
68. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
69. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
70. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
71. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
72. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
73. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
74. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
75. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
76. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: D, G, G, F♯ | G, B, B, A | high D, high D, high D, high C | B, A, B | D, G, G, F♯ | G, B, B, A | high D, A, A, F♯ | F♯, E, D | high D, high D, high D, G | high C, B, B, A | high D, high D, high D, G | high C, B, B, A | high E, high E, high E, high D | high C, B, high C | A, B, high C, high D, G | G, A, B | high E, high E, high E, high D | high C, B, high C | A, B, high C, high D, G | G, A, G
1. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
2. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
3. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
4. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
5. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
6. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
7. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
8. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
9. high D (cover the left thumb)
10. high D (cover the left thumb)
11. high D (cover the left thumb)
12. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
13. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
14. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
15. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
16. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
17. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
18. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
19. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
20. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
21. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
22. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
23. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. high D (cover the left thumb)
25. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
26. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
27. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
28. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
29. E (cover every hole but the right index)
30. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
31. high D (cover the left thumb)
32. high D (cover the left thumb)
33. high D (cover the left thumb)
34. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
35. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
36. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
37. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
38. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
39. high D (cover the left thumb)
40. high D (cover the left thumb)
41. high D (cover the left thumb)
42. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
43. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
44. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
45. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
46. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
47. high E (all holes open)
48. high E (all holes open)
49. high E (all holes open)
50. high D (cover the left thumb)
51. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
52. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
53. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
54. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
55. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
56. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
57. high D (cover the left thumb)
58. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
59. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
60. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
61. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
62. high E (all holes open)
63. high E (all holes open)
64. high E (all holes open)
65. high D (cover the left thumb)
66. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
67. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
68. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
69. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
70. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
71. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
72. high D (cover the left thumb)
73. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
74. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
75. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
76. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing starts D, G, G, F sharp, G, B, B, A, a rising call that comes back in the fifth bar. Here is one full verse with its refrain, in G major from D up to high E, which a 12-hole or a 6-hole ocarina in C can play. Most of it moves in even quarter notes, with a dotted long-short pair in bars 1, 3, 5 and 7 and three more in the refrain.

![Hark! The Herald Angels Sing ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/hark-the-herald-angels-sing-ocarina-tabs.png)

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Hark! The Herald Angels Sing?

The middle of the verse, where the eighth bar ends on a long D and the next bar starts a whole octave higher, on high D. On a 12-hole, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing goes from D to high D: you lift the left ring, left middle, left index, right index, right middle, right ring and left thumb. On a 6-hole, you lift the left middle, left index, right index and right thumb.

Take your breath on the long D, then come in on the high D with a faster airstream, without pushing the first note sharp. The last part goes higher still: twice it starts with three high E's, the top of the tune, so give them the steady, stronger breath high notes need and separate them with a soft "tu" ([how to tongue repeated notes](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-tonguing/)). In the dotted pairs, such as the G and F sharp at the very start, hold the first note for a beat and a half and let the quick one slip in just before the next beat. Breathe on the half notes that close most phrases, such as the long B at the end of bar 4.

## Which ocarina can play Hark! The Herald Angels Sing?

A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D and high E, so play Hark! The Herald Angels Sing in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Why does Hark! The Herald Angels Sing have Mendelssohn's tune?

Because an English organist borrowed it. [Felix Mendelssohn wrote the melody in 1840](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hark!_The_Herald_Angels_Sing) for a festival cantata celebrating 400 years of Gutenberg's printing press, with no Christmas words at all. Charles Wesley's words were by then more than a century old, and in 1855 [the organist William H. Cummings fitted the melody to them](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hark!_The_Herald_Angels_Sing), the pairing sung today. Our tabs follow the tune as [the 1861 edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern](https://archive.org/details/henrmode00chur/page/n75/mode/1up) prints it, in long half notes, which we halve to quarter notes. Mendelssohn died in 1847, [Cummings in 1915](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hayman_Cummings) and Wesley in 1788. We show the melody only. Music: Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847), fitted to the words by William H. Cummings (1831-1915); words by Charles Wesley (1707-1788).

## What to play next

# Good King Wenceslas on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/good-king-wenceslas/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts F, F, F, G. Medium, 53 notes, in F major.

## What are the notes for Good King Wenceslas?

12-hole alto C tabs: F, F, F, G | F, F, C | D, C, D, E | F, F | F, F, F, G | F, F, C | D, C, D, E | F, F | high C, B♭, A, G | A, G, F | D, C, D, E | F, F | C, C, D, E | F, F, G | high C, B♭, A, G | F, B♭ | F
1. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
2. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
4. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
7. C (cover every main hole)
8. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
9. C (cover every main hole)
10. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
11. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
12. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
13. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
14. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
15. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
16. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
17. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
18. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
19. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
20. C (cover every main hole)
21. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
22. C (cover every main hole)
23. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
24. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
25. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
26. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
27. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
28. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
29. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
30. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
31. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
33. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
34. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
35. C (cover every main hole)
36. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
37. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
38. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
39. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
40. C (cover every main hole)
41. C (cover every main hole)
42. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
43. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
44. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
45. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
46. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
47. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
48. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
49. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
50. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
51. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
52. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
53. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: F, F, F, G | F, F, C | D, C, D, E | F, F | F, F, F, G | F, F, C | D, C, D, E | F, F | high C, B♭, A, G | A, G, F | D, C, D, E | F, F | C, C, D, E | F, F, G | high C, B♭, A, G | F, B♭ | F
1. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
2. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
3. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
4. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
5. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
6. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
7. C (cover every hole)
8. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
9. C (cover every hole)
10. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
11. E (cover every hole but the right index)
12. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
13. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
14. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
15. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
16. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
17. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
18. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
19. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
20. C (cover every hole)
21. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
22. C (cover every hole)
23. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
24. E (cover every hole but the right index)
25. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
26. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
27. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
28. B♭ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
30. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
31. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
33. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
34. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
35. C (cover every hole)
36. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
37. E (cover every hole but the right index)
38. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
39. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
40. C (cover every hole)
41. C (cover every hole)
42. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
43. E (cover every hole but the right index)
44. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
45. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
46. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
47. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
48. B♭ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
49. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
50. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
51. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
52. B♭ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
53. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: F, F, F, G | F, F, C | D, C, D, E | F, F | F, F, F, G | F, F, C | D, C, D, E | F, F | high C, B♭, A, G | A, G, F | D, C, D, E | F, F | C, C, D, E | F, F, G | high C, B♭, A, G | F, B♭ | F
1. F (cover the left middle and left index)
2. F (cover the left middle and left index)
3. F (cover the left middle and left index)
4. G (cover the left index and right index)
5. F (cover the left middle and left index)
6. F (cover the left middle and left index)
7. C (cover every hole)
8. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
9. C (cover every hole)
10. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
11. E (cover every hole but the right index)
12. F (cover the left middle and left index)
13. F (cover the left middle and left index)
14. F (cover the left middle and left index)
15. F (cover the left middle and left index)
16. F (cover the left middle and left index)
17. G (cover the left index and right index)
18. F (cover the left middle and left index)
19. F (cover the left middle and left index)
20. C (cover every hole)
21. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
22. C (cover every hole)
23. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
24. E (cover every hole but the right index)
25. F (cover the left middle and left index)
26. F (cover the left middle and left index)
27. high C (all holes open)
28. B♭ (cover the right index)
29. A (cover the left index)
30. G (cover the left index and right index)
31. A (cover the left index)
32. G (cover the left index and right index)
33. F (cover the left middle and left index)
34. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
35. C (cover every hole)
36. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
37. E (cover every hole but the right index)
38. F (cover the left middle and left index)
39. F (cover the left middle and left index)
40. C (cover every hole)
41. C (cover every hole)
42. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
43. E (cover every hole but the right index)
44. F (cover the left middle and left index)
45. F (cover the left middle and left index)
46. G (cover the left index and right index)
47. high C (all holes open)
48. B♭ (cover the right index)
49. A (cover the left index)
50. G (cover the left index and right index)
51. F (cover the left middle and left index)
52. B♭ (cover the right index)
53. F (cover the left middle and left index)

Good King Wenceslas walks: steady quarter and half notes with no quick ones anywhere, starting F, F, F, G, F, F and a long C. Its opening four bars come twice before the tune moves on. In F major the carol runs from C to high C, so it fits a 12-hole, a 6-hole and a 4-hole ocarina in C.

![Good King Wenceslas ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/good-king-wenceslas-ocarina-tabs.png)

Good King Wenceslas as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Good King Wenceslas?

The second-to-last bar, where the tune holds F and then rises to B flat before it settles back on F to end. On a 12-hole, Good King Wenceslas goes from F to B♭: you lift the left ring, left middle and right index and cover the right ring. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you swap hands: lift the left middle and left index and cover the right index.

B flat is the one note that is not a natural, a cross-fingering on a 12-hole, and it also comes early in the second half, which starts high C, B flat, A, G, at "Brightly shone the moon". Learn its fingering on its own, then play A, B flat, A until it sits in tune. The leap from the long F up to that high C is the widest in the carol: breathe on the long F, then give the high C a firmer, quicker breath ([more on breath](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-breath-control/)). Everything else is repeated notes and steps, so tongue the three F's at the start, and again four bars later, evenly, like footsteps in the snow.

## Where do you breathe in Good King Wenceslas?

Breathe on the pair of two-beat F's that closes each of the first three four-bar phrases. The phrase after the second one starts on a high C and steps down to F in two bars, so take a fuller breath on the last F before it. The last note is a four-beat F, so breathe on the two-beat B flat before it.

## Which ocarina can play Good King Wenceslas?

Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays Good King Wenceslas in this key. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Is Good King Wenceslas a spring song?

The tune is. "Tempus adest floridum", "the blooming time is here", is a spring carol [first printed in the Finnish songbook Piae Cantiones in 1582](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_King_Wenceslas). In 1853 [John Mason Neale and his music editor Thomas Helmore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_King_Wenceslas) put Neale's new words about the Bohemian duke Wenceslas to it, set on the Feast of Stephen, the day after Christmas. Our tabs follow [Christmas Carols, New and Old](https://archive.org/details/christmascarolsn00staiiala/page/n25/mode/1up), the carol book Henry Ramsden Bramley and John Stainer published in London in the 1870s. Neale died in 1866, [Helmore in 1890](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Helmore) and Stainer, whose harmony we leave out, in 1901, and the tune is centuries older. We show the melody only. Music: the spring carol "Tempus adest floridum", printed in Piae Cantiones (1582); words by John Mason Neale (1818-1866).

## What to play next

# O Christmas Tree on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/o-christmas-tree/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts C, F, F, F. Medium, 46 notes, in F major.

## What are the notes for O Christmas Tree?

12-hole alto C tabs: C | F, F, F, G | A, A, A, A | G, A, B♭, E | G, F, high C | high C, A, high D, high C | high C, B♭, B♭, G | B♭, G, high C, B♭ | B♭, A, A, C | F, F, F, G | A, A, A, A | G, A, B♭, E | G, F
1. C (cover every main hole)
2. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
4. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
9. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
10. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
11. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
13. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
14. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
15. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
16. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
17. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
18. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
19. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
20. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
21. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
22. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
23. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
24. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
25. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
26. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
27. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
28. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
29. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
30. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. C (cover every main hole)
33. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
34. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
35. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
36. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
37. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
38. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
39. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
40. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
41. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
42. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
43. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
44. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
45. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
46. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: C | F, F, F, G | A, A, A, A | G, A, B♭, E | G, F, high C | high C, A, high D, high C | high C, B♭, B♭, G | B♭, G, high C, B♭ | B♭, A, A, C | F, F, F, G | A, A, A, A | G, A, B♭, E | G, F
1. C (cover every hole)
2. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
3. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
4. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
5. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
6. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
9. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
10. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
11. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. B♭ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. E (cover every hole but the right index)
14. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
15. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
16. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
17. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
18. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
19. high D (cover the left thumb)
20. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
21. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
22. B♭ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
23. B♭ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
25. B♭ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
26. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
27. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
28. B♭ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. B♭ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
30. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. C (cover every hole)
33. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
34. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
35. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
36. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
37. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
38. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
39. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
40. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
41. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
42. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
43. B♭ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
44. E (cover every hole but the right index)
45. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
46. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)

O Christmas Tree on the ocarina starts on C, then F, F, F, G and A, A, A, A, each opening with a long-short pair. In F major the whole carol stays between C and high D, with B♭ as its only flat, so a 12-hole or a 6-hole ocarina in C plays it. The opening four bars come back, almost unchanged, as the last four, so once you know them you know two thirds of the song.

![O Christmas Tree ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/o-christmas-tree-ocarina-tabs.png)

O Christmas Tree as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in O Christmas Tree?

The drop from B♭ to E near the end of the first line, an awkward interval to hear in tune, which comes back in the last line. On a 12-hole, O Christmas Tree goes from B♭ to E: you lift the right ring and cover the left ring, left middle, right index and right middle. On a 6-hole, you lift the right index and cover the left middle, right middle and left index.

Play G, A, B♭, E slowly on its own a few times, listening for the E to land in tune rather than a little flat. The rhythm trap is the dotted start of each "O Christmas tree": a long note, a very short one, then a full beat, so lean on the first F and flick the second. Breathe after the long F that ends the first line, before the quick high C, and again after the two A's just before the C that leads back into the last line. The middle section climbs to high D on a held note: give it a little more air and let the B♭'s that follow come down softly. The printing our tabs follow marks a pause on the last note of each "O Christmas tree"; the tabs keep strict time, but you can stretch those notes a little when you play alone.

## Which ocarina can play O Christmas Tree?

A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play O Christmas Tree in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Was O Christmas Tree always sung to this tune?

No. [Ernst Anschütz, a Leipzig teacher and organist, published the words in 1824](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Tannenbaum) with a different tune; the one sung today, taken from an old student song, became attached to them later. The change shows in print: [a German songbook of 1860](https://archive.org/details/musikalischerhau00fink/page/n153/mode/1up) still sets his words to another tune, where the "o" before the second "Tannenbaum" drops back to the opening note instead of stepping up. [A Lutheran Sunday school book first published in Philadelphia in 1896](https://archive.org/details/sonntagschulbuch00gene/page/n120/mode/1up) has the familiar tune, marked as a folk tune, and our tabs follow it. The tune is anonymous and Anschütz died in 1861. We show the melody only. Music: traditional German tune; words by Ernst Anschütz (1780-1861).

## What to play next

# Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/dance-of-the-sugar-plum-fairy/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts high F, high D, high F, high E. Hard, 72 notes, in D minor.

## What are the notes for Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy?

12-hole alto C tabs: high F, high D, high F, high E | high C♯, high D, high C, high C, high C | B, B, B, B♭, B♭, B♭ | A, high D, B♭, high D, A | F, D, F, E | C♯, D, high F, high F, high F | high E, high E, high E, high D, high D, high D | high C♯, high E, high D, high E, high C♯ | high F, high D, high F, high E | high C♯, high D, high C, high C, high C | B, B, B, B♭, B♭, B♭ | A, high D, B♭, high D, A | high D, B, high D, high C♯ | high C, A, high C, B | B♭, G, B♭, A
1. high F (all holes open)
2. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
3. high F (all holes open)
4. high E (cover the left pinky)
5. high C♯ (cover the left pinky, right ring and right thumb)
6. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
7. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
8. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
9. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
10. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
11. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
14. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
15. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
16. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
17. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
18. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
19. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
20. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
21. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
22. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
23. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
24. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
25. C♯ (cover every main hole but the right pinky, plus the right sub-hole)
26. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
27. high F (all holes open)
28. high F (all holes open)
29. high F (all holes open)
30. high E (cover the left pinky)
31. high E (cover the left pinky)
32. high E (cover the left pinky)
33. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
34. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
35. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
36. high C♯ (cover the left pinky, right ring and right thumb)
37. high E (cover the left pinky)
38. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
39. high E (cover the left pinky)
40. high C♯ (cover the left pinky, right ring and right thumb)
41. high F (all holes open)
42. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
43. high F (all holes open)
44. high E (cover the left pinky)
45. high C♯ (cover the left pinky, right ring and right thumb)
46. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
47. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
48. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
49. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
50. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
51. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
52. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
53. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
54. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
55. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
56. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
57. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
58. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
59. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
60. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
61. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
62. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
63. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
64. high C♯ (cover the left pinky, right ring and right thumb)
65. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
66. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
67. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
68. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
69. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
70. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
71. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
72. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)

The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy starts at the top of the ocarina: high F, high D, high F, high E, then high C sharp, high D and three quick high C's. The tune keeps sliding down by semitones. In D minor it runs from C sharp up to high F, so it needs a 12-hole ocarina in C. These are the celesta's opening phrases from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, and a good piece for practising cross-fingerings.

![Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/dance-of-the-sugar-plum-fairy-ocarina-tabs.png)

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy?

The leap in the second phrase from D straight up to high F, more than an octave, into three quick high F's. On a 12-hole, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy goes from D to high F: you lift the left pinky, left ring, left middle, left index, right index, right middle, right ring, left thumb and right thumb.

Get the high F ready while you play C sharp and D: a firm, fast breath and every hole open ([more on high notes](https://playocarina.com/guides/airy-or-flat-high-notes/)), then three short tongued F's. Tchaikovsky puts a dot over almost every note, so keep the whole dance light, with a short "tu" on each note. The repeated groups, high C three times then B three times, are played with the tongue while the fingers stay still; only the semitone step between groups moves a finger. Breathe in the rest after the A that ends the first and third phrases. Where the score has a short rest the tabs show a gap: stop the note there and take a quick breath.

## Which ocarina can play Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy?

A 6-hole ocarina cannot reach high F, and a 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high C♯, high D, high E and high F, so play Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. The linked chart has every fingering, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which instrument plays the Sugar Plum Fairy's tune?

A celesta, a keyboard instrument [Tchaikovsky had already used](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nutcracker) in his symphonic ballad The Voyevoda (1891). In [the full score of his Nutcracker Suite](https://imslp.org/wiki/The_Nutcracker_(suite),_Op.71a_(Tchaikovsky,_Pyotr)), first published by Jurgenson in Moscow in 1892, the part is headed "Celesta (ou Piano)", with a note in Russian that it may be played on the piano where there is no celesta. Our tabs follow that celesta part, bars 5 to 19 of the dance, moved down a step from E minor to D minor, and leave out the quick run that follows. The tune is the top note of the celesta's chords, except for two notes in bar 10, where it takes the lowest note of each chord. We show the melody only. Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), from his ballet The Nutcracker.

## What to play next

# Canon in D on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/canon-in-d/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts high E, high D, high C, B. Hard, 32 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for Canon in D?

12-hole alto C tabs: high E, high D, high C, B | A, G, A, B | high C, B, A, G | F, E, F, D | C, E, G, F, E, C, E, D | C, low A, C, G, F, A, G, F
1. high E (cover the left pinky)
2. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
3. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
4. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
7. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
9. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
10. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
11. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
13. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
14. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
15. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
16. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
17. C (cover every main hole)
18. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
19. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
20. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
21. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
22. C (cover every main hole)
23. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
24. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
25. C (cover every main hole)
26. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
27. C (cover every main hole)
28. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
29. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
30. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
32. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)

Canon in D on the ocarina starts at the top and walks down: high E, high D, high C, B, then A, G, A, B. These are the first violin's first six bars (bars 3 to 8, after the bass plays two bars alone), written here in C major so every note is a natural; after that the violin climbs past the top of the ocarina. They reach from low A to high E, which only a 12-hole ocarina covers.

![Canon in D ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/canon-in-d-ocarina-tabs.png)

Canon in D as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Canon in D?

The drop from C to low A in the last bar, the one note in the piece below the all-covered C. On a 12-hole, Canon in D goes from C to low A: you cover the left sub-hole and right sub-hole.

The first four bars are slow, even steps, mostly down the scale, so play them smoothly with a soft "du" on each note and take a breath after the B that ends the second bar. The last two bars move twice as fast and zigzag: C, E, G, F, E, C, E, D, then C, low A, C, G. Learn them at half speed, and set your fingers for low A while you play the C before it. The piece is a canon, so a second ocarina can start again from the first note when you reach the third bar: Pachelbel's second violin does exactly that, two bars behind the first.

## Which ocarina can play Canon in D?

A 6-hole ocarina cannot reach low A, and a 4-hole ocarina cannot reach low A, high D and high E, so play Canon in D in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. The linked chart has every fingering, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## When was Pachelbel's Canon first printed?

In 1919, more than two hundred years after Pachelbel died. The oldest surviving copy is [a manuscript from 1838 to 1842](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachelbel%27s_Canon), and the scholar Gustav Beckmann first published the canon in 1919, in an article on Pachelbel's chamber music. [That printing](https://archive.org/details/ArchivFrMusikwissenschaft011918-19/page/n293/mode/1up) sets it for three violins over a two-bar bass that repeats to the end, which Beckmann calls an expressive "Ostinato" carrying the whole piece like a strong foundation (our translation). Our tabs follow its first violin, bars 3 to 8. In the next bar the violin climbs higher than an ocarina reaches in this key, so the tabs stop there. The slow version most people know comes from [a 1968 recording by Jean-François Paillard's orchestra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachelbel%27s_Canon), which made the piece famous. We show the melody only. Music: Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706).

## What to play next

# Hallelujah Chorus on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/hallelujah-chorus/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts high C, G, A, G. Medium, 68 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for Hallelujah Chorus?

12-hole alto C tabs: high C, G, A, G | high C, G, A, G, high C, high C | high C, high C, high C, high C, high C, high C, high C | B, high C, B, high C | high D, G, high E, high D | high D, G, high E, high D, high D, high D | high E, high D, high D, high D, high E, high D, high D | high E, high D, high C, B | G, A, B | high C, C, high C, high C, B | A, G, high D, high D | high C, B, high D, high D, high C, B, high D, high D | high E, high D, high D, high D, high E, high D
1. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
2. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
6. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
7. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
9. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
10. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
11. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
12. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
13. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
14. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
15. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
16. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
17. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
18. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
19. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
20. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
21. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
22. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
23. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
24. high E (cover the left pinky)
25. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
26. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
27. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
28. high E (cover the left pinky)
29. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
30. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
31. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
32. high E (cover the left pinky)
33. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
34. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
35. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
36. high E (cover the left pinky)
37. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
38. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
39. high E (cover the left pinky)
40. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
41. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
42. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
43. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
44. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
45. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
46. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
47. C (cover every main hole)
48. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
49. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
50. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
51. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
52. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
53. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
54. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
55. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
56. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
57. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
58. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
59. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
60. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
61. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
62. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
63. high E (cover the left pinky)
64. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
65. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
66. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
67. high E (cover the left pinky)
68. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: high C, G, A, G | high C, G, A, G, high C, high C | high C, high C, high C, high C, high C, high C, high C | B, high C, B, high C | high D, G, high E, high D | high D, G, high E, high D, high D, high D | high E, high D, high D, high D, high E, high D, high D | high E, high D, high C, B | G, A, B | high C, C, high C, high C, B | A, G, high D, high D | high C, B, high D, high D, high C, B, high D, high D | high E, high D, high D, high D, high E, high D
1. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
2. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
3. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
5. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
6. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
7. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
9. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
10. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
11. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
12. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
13. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
14. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
15. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
16. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
17. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
18. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
19. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
20. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
21. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
22. high D (cover the left thumb)
23. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
24. high E (all holes open)
25. high D (cover the left thumb)
26. high D (cover the left thumb)
27. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
28. high E (all holes open)
29. high D (cover the left thumb)
30. high D (cover the left thumb)
31. high D (cover the left thumb)
32. high E (all holes open)
33. high D (cover the left thumb)
34. high D (cover the left thumb)
35. high D (cover the left thumb)
36. high E (all holes open)
37. high D (cover the left thumb)
38. high D (cover the left thumb)
39. high E (all holes open)
40. high D (cover the left thumb)
41. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
42. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
43. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
44. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
45. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
46. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
47. C (cover every hole)
48. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
49. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
50. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
51. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
52. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
53. high D (cover the left thumb)
54. high D (cover the left thumb)
55. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
56. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
57. high D (cover the left thumb)
58. high D (cover the left thumb)
59. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
60. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
61. high D (cover the left thumb)
62. high D (cover the left thumb)
63. high E (all holes open)
64. high D (cover the left thumb)
65. high D (cover the left thumb)
66. high D (cover the left thumb)
67. high E (all holes open)
68. high D (cover the left thumb)

The Hallelujah Chorus on the ocarina starts high C, G, A, G: the first "Hallelujah", sung twice before a run of quick repeated high C's. This is the sopranos' line from the opening of Handel's chorus, from its first "Hallelujah" to the ones that follow "for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth", written in C major so it needs no sharps or flats. It runs from C to high E, so a 12-hole or a 6-hole ocarina plays it.

![Hallelujah Chorus ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/hallelujah-chorus-ocarina-tabs.png)

Hallelujah Chorus as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Hallelujah Chorus?

The tenth bar, on "God omnipotent", where the tune drops a whole octave from high C to C and jumps straight back up. On a 12-hole, Hallelujah Chorus goes from C to high C: you lift the left ring, left middle, left index, right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky. On a 6-hole, you lift the left middle, right middle, left index and right index.

Handel follows almost every "Hallelujah" with a short rest, which the tabs show as a gap: play those last notes short and use the gap to breathe, for example after the high C that ends the fourth bar. The quick pairs of sixteenth notes are always on one pitch, so they are tongue work, not finger work: say "tu-tu" lightly and keep the fingers still. Bars 9 to 11 are the slow, broad line; play them full and steady before the quick "Hallelujahs" come back.

## Which ocarina can play Hallelujah Chorus?

A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D and high E, so play Hallelujah Chorus in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Why do people stand for the Hallelujah Chorus?

Because of a story about a king. The custom comes from [a popular belief](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_(Handel)) that King George II stood for the chorus at the London premiere, which would have obliged everyone to stand, though there is no convincing evidence he was there. [Handel wrote Messiah in 1741](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_(Handel)), and it was first performed in Dublin in 1742. Our tabs follow [Vincent Novello's vocal score](https://archive.org/details/handelssacredora0000unse/page/n152/mode/1up), a pocket edition that [the publisher's London addresses](https://imslp.org/wiki/Novello_%26_Co.) date to between 1867 and 1876. It marks the chorus Allegro with an eighth note at 132, which is 66 beats a minute, the speed of our player. We show the sopranos' melody only. Music: George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), from his oratorio Messiah.

## What to play next

# The Entertainer on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/the-entertainer/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts D, D♯, E, high C. Hard, 77 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for The Entertainer?

12-hole alto C tabs: D, D♯ | E, high C, E, high C, E, high C | high C, high D, high D♯ | high E, high C, high D, high E, B, high D | high C, D, D♯ | E, high C, E, high C, E, high C | A, G | F♯, A, high C, high E, high D, high C, A | high D, D, D♯ | E, high C, E, high C, E, high C | high C, high D, high D♯ | high E, high C, high D, high E, B, high D | high C, high C, high D | high E, high C, high D, high E, high C, high D, high C | high E, high C, high D, high E, high C, high D, high C | high E, high C, high D, high E, B, high D | high C
1. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
2. D♯ (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky, plus the right sub-hole)
3. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
4. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
5. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
6. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
7. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
8. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
9. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
10. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
11. high D♯ (cover the left pinky and right ring)
12. high E (cover the left pinky)
13. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
14. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
15. high E (cover the left pinky)
16. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
17. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
18. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
19. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
20. D♯ (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky, plus the right sub-hole)
21. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
22. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
23. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
24. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
25. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
26. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
27. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
29. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
30. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
32. high E (cover the left pinky)
33. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
34. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
35. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
36. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
37. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
38. D♯ (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky, plus the right sub-hole)
39. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
40. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
41. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
42. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
43. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
44. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
45. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
46. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
47. high D♯ (cover the left pinky and right ring)
48. high E (cover the left pinky)
49. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
50. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
51. high E (cover the left pinky)
52. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
53. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
54. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
55. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
56. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
57. high E (cover the left pinky)
58. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
59. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
60. high E (cover the left pinky)
61. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
62. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
63. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
64. high E (cover the left pinky)
65. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
66. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
67. high E (cover the left pinky)
68. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
69. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
70. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
71. high E (cover the left pinky)
72. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
73. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
74. high E (cover the left pinky)
75. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
76. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
77. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: D, D♯ | E, high C, E, high C, E, high C | high C, high D, high D♯ | high E, high C, high D, high E, B, high D | high C, D, D♯ | E, high C, E, high C, E, high C | A, G | F♯, A, high C, high E, high D, high C, A | high D, D, D♯ | E, high C, E, high C, E, high C | high C, high D, high D♯ | high E, high C, high D, high E, B, high D | high C, high C, high D | high E, high C, high D, high E, high C, high D, high C | high E, high C, high D, high E, high C, high D, high C | high E, high C, high D, high E, B, high D | high C
1. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
2. D♯ (cover the left middle, right middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb; half-cover the right index)
3. E (cover every hole but the right index)
4. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
5. E (cover every hole but the right index)
6. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
7. E (cover every hole but the right index)
8. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
9. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
10. high D (cover the left thumb)
11. high D♯ (cover the right middle)
12. high E (all holes open)
13. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
14. high D (cover the left thumb)
15. high E (all holes open)
16. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
17. high D (cover the left thumb)
18. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
19. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
20. D♯ (cover the left middle, right middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb; half-cover the right index)
21. E (cover every hole but the right index)
22. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
23. E (cover every hole but the right index)
24. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
25. E (cover every hole but the right index)
26. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
27. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
29. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
30. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
32. high E (all holes open)
33. high D (cover the left thumb)
34. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
35. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
36. high D (cover the left thumb)
37. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
38. D♯ (cover the left middle, right middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb; half-cover the right index)
39. E (cover every hole but the right index)
40. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
41. E (cover every hole but the right index)
42. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
43. E (cover every hole but the right index)
44. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
45. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
46. high D (cover the left thumb)
47. high D♯ (cover the right middle)
48. high E (all holes open)
49. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
50. high D (cover the left thumb)
51. high E (all holes open)
52. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
53. high D (cover the left thumb)
54. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
55. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
56. high D (cover the left thumb)
57. high E (all holes open)
58. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
59. high D (cover the left thumb)
60. high E (all holes open)
61. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
62. high D (cover the left thumb)
63. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
64. high E (all holes open)
65. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
66. high D (cover the left thumb)
67. high E (all holes open)
68. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
69. high D (cover the left thumb)
70. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
71. high E (all holes open)
72. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
73. high D (cover the left thumb)
74. high E (all holes open)
75. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
76. high D (cover the left thumb)
77. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)

The Entertainer on the ocarina starts with two quick lead-in notes, D and D sharp, then bounces E, high C, E, high C, E, high C. This is the rag's first strain, 16 bars, in Joplin's own key of C major. It runs from D to high E, so it fits a 12-hole or a 6-hole ocarina.

![The Entertainer ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/the-entertainer-ocarina-tabs.png)

The Entertainer as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in The Entertainer?

The bouncing opening bar: E, high C, E, high C, E, high C, a jump of a sixth each time, in a short-long-short ragtime rhythm. On a 12-hole, The Entertainer goes from E to high C: you lift the left ring, left middle, left index, right index and right middle. On a 6-hole, you lift the left middle, right middle and left index.

Count the opening bar in quarters of a beat, "1 e and a": E takes one count, high C two, E one, then high C two, E one and high C one, tied over into the next bar. The ties are the ragtime: a note that starts just before the beat and holds through it. Play the tied notes as one note and do not tongue the second half. Breathe at the end of the long high C's and high D's that close each phrase, just before the next lead-in notes. The last four bars are a quick high E, high C, high D, high E pattern near the top of the ocarina; keep the breath firm and steady, and slow the whole tune down until the sixteenths are even.

## Which ocarina can play The Entertainer?

A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, high D♯ and high E, so play The Entertainer in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Is The Entertainer the music from The Sting?

Yes, but it is much older than the film. Scott Joplin's [The Entertainer came out in 1902](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Entertainer) as a piano rag, and it became famous again in 1973 as the theme music of the film The Sting, in an adaptation by Marvin Hamlisch. Our tabs follow [Joplin's first edition](https://imslp.org/wiki/The_Entertainer_(Joplin,_Scott)), not the film's version: printed by John Stark & Son in St. Louis in 1902, it is marked "Not fast" and dedicated "to James Brown and his Mandolin Club". Joplin writes much of the tune in octaves for the pianist's right hand; the tabs give it as one line. [Joplin died in 1917](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Joplin), and the rag was published in 1902. We show the melody only. Music: Scott Joplin (1868-1917).

## What to play next

# Sakura Sakura on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/sakura-sakura/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts A, A, B, A. Medium, 50 notes, in A minor.

## What are the notes for Sakura Sakura?

12-hole alto C tabs: A, A, B | A, A, B | A, B, high C, B | A, B, A, F | E, C, E, F | E, E, C, low B | A, B, high C, B | A, B, A, F | E, C, E, F | E, E, C, low B | A, A, B | A, A, B | E, F | B, A, F, E
1. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
9. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
10. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
11. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
14. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
15. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
16. C (cover every main hole)
17. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
18. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
19. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
20. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
21. C (cover every main hole)
22. low B (cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole)
23. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
25. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
26. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
27. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
30. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
31. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
32. C (cover every main hole)
33. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
34. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
35. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
36. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
37. C (cover every main hole)
38. low B (cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole)
39. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
40. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
41. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
42. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
43. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
44. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
45. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
46. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
47. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
48. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
49. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
50. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)

Sakura Sakura starts A, A, B, then A, A, B again, slow and even, one note for each syllable of its name. Here are all fourteen bars of the tune in A minor, from low B up to high C, with no sharps or flats. Low B needs a sub-hole, so this is a song for a 12-hole ocarina.

![Sakura Sakura ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/sakura-sakura-ocarina-tabs.png)

Sakura Sakura as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Sakura Sakura?

The leap from low B at the end of the sixth bar up to A at the start of the seventh, the widest jump in the tune; it comes again after the tenth bar. On a 12-hole, Sakura Sakura goes from low B to A: you lift the left ring, right index, right middle, right ring, right pinky and right sub-hole.

Low B is every main hole plus the right sub-hole, so seal them all before you blow, and blow very gently; then lift the fingers for A together, not one at a time. The tune moves in two-bar phrases that each end on a long note, B, F or low B, and on E at the very end: breathe after the long note, never in the middle of a phrase. The quick pairs, B and A, E and C, are slurred in the 1888 printing, so tongue only the first note of each pair and let the second follow on the same breath. Near the end that printing has a beat of silence before the E and F in bar 13, shown as a gap in the tabs: take your last breath there.

## Which ocarina can play Sakura Sakura?

A 6-hole or 4-hole ocarina cannot reach low B, so play Sakura Sakura in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. The linked chart has every fingering, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Where does Sakura Sakura come from?

Not from ancient times, as many people think: it was [a popular urban tune of the Edo period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakura_Sakura), and it uses a Japanese five-note scale called [the in scale](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakura_Sakura), here the notes E, F, A, B and C. The oldest printing we found is [the Tokyo Academy of Music's Collection of Japanese Koto Music](https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/857651/1/22), published by the Department of Education in October 1888 as a first book for koto students, where Sakura is the second piece. Our tabs follow its voice part, an octave higher. [A songbook printed in Leipzig in 1904](https://archive.org/details/shogakushokajapa00isaw/page/n27/mode/1up) gives the tune with a piano part by Georg Capellen and credits it to "Poet and Composer unknown". The 1888 book's preface says some tunes were newly made and that "the best originals are left entirely untouched in regard to their tunes"; the musicians who compiled it all died by 1943. We show the melody only. Music: traditional Japanese tune of the Edo period, as set down in 1888 by the music committee of the Japanese Department of Education.

## What to play next

# Can-can on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/can-can/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts C, D, F, E. Medium, 47 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for Can-can?

12-hole alto C tabs: C | D, F, E, D | G, G | G, A, E, F | D, D | D, F, E, D | C, high C, B, A | G, F, E, D | C | D, F, E, D | G, G | G, A, E, F | D, D | D, F, E, D | C, G, D, E | C
1. C (cover every main hole)
2. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
3. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
4. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
5. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
6. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
7. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
8. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
9. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
10. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
11. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
12. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
13. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
14. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
15. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
16. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
17. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
18. C (cover every main hole)
19. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
20. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
21. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
22. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
23. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
24. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
25. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
26. C (cover every main hole)
27. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
28. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
29. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
30. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
31. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
32. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
33. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
34. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
35. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
36. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
37. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
38. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
39. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
40. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
41. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
42. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
43. C (cover every main hole)
44. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
45. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
46. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
47. C (cover every main hole)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: C | D, F, E, D | G, G | G, A, E, F | D, D | D, F, E, D | C, high C, B, A | G, F, E, D | C | D, F, E, D | G, G | G, A, E, F | D, D | D, F, E, D | C, G, D, E | C
1. C (cover every hole)
2. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
4. E (cover every hole but the right index)
5. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
6. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
7. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
8. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
9. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
10. E (cover every hole but the right index)
11. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
12. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
13. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
14. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
15. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
16. E (cover every hole but the right index)
17. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
18. C (cover every hole)
19. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
20. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
21. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
22. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
23. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
24. E (cover every hole but the right index)
25. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
26. C (cover every hole)
27. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
28. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
29. E (cover every hole but the right index)
30. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
31. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
32. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
33. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
34. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
35. E (cover every hole but the right index)
36. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
37. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
38. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
39. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
40. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
41. E (cover every hole but the right index)
42. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
43. C (cover every hole)
44. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
45. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
46. E (cover every hole but the right index)
47. C (cover every hole)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: C | D, F, E, D | G, G | G, A, E, F | D, D | D, F, E, D | C, high C, B, A | G, F, E, D | C | D, F, E, D | G, G | G, A, E, F | D, D | D, F, E, D | C, G, D, E | C
1. C (cover every hole)
2. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. F (cover the left middle and left index)
4. E (cover every hole but the right index)
5. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
6. G (cover the left index and right index)
7. G (cover the left index and right index)
8. G (cover the left index and right index)
9. A (cover the left index)
10. E (cover every hole but the right index)
11. F (cover the left middle and left index)
12. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
13. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
14. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
15. F (cover the left middle and left index)
16. E (cover every hole but the right index)
17. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
18. C (cover every hole)
19. high C (all holes open)
20. B (cover the right middle)
21. A (cover the left index)
22. G (cover the left index and right index)
23. F (cover the left middle and left index)
24. E (cover every hole but the right index)
25. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
26. C (cover every hole)
27. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
28. F (cover the left middle and left index)
29. E (cover every hole but the right index)
30. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
31. G (cover the left index and right index)
32. G (cover the left index and right index)
33. G (cover the left index and right index)
34. A (cover the left index)
35. E (cover every hole but the right index)
36. F (cover the left middle and left index)
37. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
38. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
39. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
40. F (cover the left middle and left index)
41. E (cover every hole but the right index)
42. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
43. C (cover every hole)
44. G (cover the left index and right index)
45. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
46. E (cover every hole but the right index)
47. C (cover every hole)

The can-can opens on a long C, then dashes D, F, E, D up to two G's: the tune of the high-kick dance. In C major it needs no sharps or flats and stays between C and high C, so any C ocarina plays it, a 4-hole pendant included. These sixteen bars are the theme once through.

![Can-can ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/can-can-ocarina-tabs.png)

Can-can as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## How do you keep up with the can-can?

Start slowly: the hardest bar is the seventh, where a quick C jumps a whole octave to high C and the run tumbles straight back down, B, A, G, F, E, D. On a 12-hole, Can-can goes from C to high C: you lift the left ring, left middle, left index, right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you lift the left middle, right middle, left index and right index.

Learn the tune at half speed first, so that every run is four even notes, then raise the tempo a little at a time. The runs move between neighbouring notes, so keep the fingers close to the holes and let them roll from one note to the next. The repeated G's and D's are tongued, not fingered: a crisp "tu tu" with the fingers still. Take your breaths just before the long C that starts each half, never in the middle of a run. Offenbach marks the galop Allegretto moderato, moderately lively, so it does not need to race to sound right.

## Which ocarina can play Can-can?

Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays Can-can in this key. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Did Offenbach write the can-can?

Offenbach wrote the tune, not the dance. It is the "Galop infernal" from [Offenbach's comic opera Orpheus in the Underworld](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheus_in_the_Underworld), first staged in Paris on 21 October 1858, where the gods break into it at a party on the banks of the Styx after a minuet that bores everyone. In the 1890s, years after Offenbach's death, [the Moulin Rouge and the Folies Bergère took the galop for their can-can](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheus_in_the_Underworld), and the tune has belonged to the dance ever since. Our tabs follow [the vocal score of Offenbach's 1874 revised version](https://archive.org/details/orpheauxenfers00offe/page/n304/mode/1up) (Paris, Heugel), where the chorus sings the theme to "la la la"; we take the orchestra's line from the piano part, move it from D major to C and end on its final C, leaving out the short note that leads back to the repeat. We show the melody only. Music: Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880), the Galop infernal from his opera Orpheus in the Underworld.

## What to play next

# The Irish Washerwoman on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/irish-washerwoman/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts G, F, E, C. Medium, 96 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for The Irish Washerwoman?

12-hole alto C tabs: G, F | E, C, C, G, C, C | E, C, E, G, F, E | F, D, D, G, D, D | F, D, F, A, G, F | E, C, C, G, C, C | E, C, E, G, F, E | F, E, F, D, G, F | E, C, C, C, high C, high D | high E, high C, high C, G, high C, high C | high E, high C, high E, high E, high D, high C | high D, B, B, G, B, B | B, G, B, high D, high C, B | A, high C, high C, G, high C, high C | F, high C, high C, E, high C, high C | G, F, E, D, G, F | E, C, C, C
1. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
2. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
4. C (cover every main hole)
5. C (cover every main hole)
6. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
7. C (cover every main hole)
8. C (cover every main hole)
9. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
10. C (cover every main hole)
11. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
12. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
13. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
14. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
15. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
16. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
17. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
18. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
19. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
20. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
21. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
22. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
23. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
24. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
25. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
26. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
27. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
28. C (cover every main hole)
29. C (cover every main hole)
30. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
31. C (cover every main hole)
32. C (cover every main hole)
33. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
34. C (cover every main hole)
35. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
36. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
37. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
38. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
39. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
40. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
41. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
42. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
43. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
44. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
45. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
46. C (cover every main hole)
47. C (cover every main hole)
48. C (cover every main hole)
49. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
50. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
51. high E (cover the left pinky)
52. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
53. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
54. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
55. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
56. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
57. high E (cover the left pinky)
58. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
59. high E (cover the left pinky)
60. high E (cover the left pinky)
61. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
62. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
63. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
64. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
65. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
66. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
67. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
68. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
69. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
70. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
71. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
72. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
73. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
74. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
75. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
76. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
77. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
78. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
79. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
80. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
81. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
82. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
83. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
84. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
85. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
86. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
87. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
88. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
89. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
90. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
91. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
92. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
93. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
94. C (cover every main hole)
95. C (cover every main hole)
96. C (cover every main hole)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: G, F | E, C, C, G, C, C | E, C, E, G, F, E | F, D, D, G, D, D | F, D, F, A, G, F | E, C, C, G, C, C | E, C, E, G, F, E | F, E, F, D, G, F | E, C, C, C, high C, high D | high E, high C, high C, G, high C, high C | high E, high C, high E, high E, high D, high C | high D, B, B, G, B, B | B, G, B, high D, high C, B | A, high C, high C, G, high C, high C | F, high C, high C, E, high C, high C | G, F, E, D, G, F | E, C, C, C
1. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
2. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
3. E (cover every hole but the right index)
4. C (cover every hole)
5. C (cover every hole)
6. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
7. C (cover every hole)
8. C (cover every hole)
9. E (cover every hole but the right index)
10. C (cover every hole)
11. E (cover every hole but the right index)
12. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
13. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
14. E (cover every hole but the right index)
15. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
16. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
17. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
18. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
19. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
20. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
21. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
22. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
23. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
24. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
25. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
26. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
27. E (cover every hole but the right index)
28. C (cover every hole)
29. C (cover every hole)
30. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
31. C (cover every hole)
32. C (cover every hole)
33. E (cover every hole but the right index)
34. C (cover every hole)
35. E (cover every hole but the right index)
36. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
37. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
38. E (cover every hole but the right index)
39. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
40. E (cover every hole but the right index)
41. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
42. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
43. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
44. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
45. E (cover every hole but the right index)
46. C (cover every hole)
47. C (cover every hole)
48. C (cover every hole)
49. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
50. high D (cover the left thumb)
51. high E (all holes open)
52. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
53. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
54. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
55. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
56. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
57. high E (all holes open)
58. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
59. high E (all holes open)
60. high E (all holes open)
61. high D (cover the left thumb)
62. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
63. high D (cover the left thumb)
64. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
65. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
66. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
67. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
68. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
69. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
70. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
71. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
72. high D (cover the left thumb)
73. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
74. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
75. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
76. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
77. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
78. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
79. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
80. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
81. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
82. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
83. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
84. E (cover every hole but the right index)
85. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
86. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
87. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
88. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
89. E (cover every hole but the right index)
90. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
91. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
92. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
93. E (cover every hole but the right index)
94. C (cover every hole)
95. C (cover every hole)
96. C (cover every hole)

The Irish Washerwoman is a jig: it skips along in groups of three quick notes, E, C, C, then G, C, C, two groups to a bar. Here are both parts in C major, from C up to high E, with no sharps or flats, so a 12-hole or a 6-hole ocarina plays it. The second part answers the first an octave higher, around high C. One change from the old printing: in the first, third and fifth full bars, the fourth note jumps up to G where the printing drops down, because as printed the tune is one semitone wider than a 12-hole ocarina's range.

![The Irish Washerwoman ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/irish-washerwoman-ocarina-tabs.png)

The Irish Washerwoman as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in The Irish Washerwoman?

The end of the first part, where a held C leaps a whole octave to the quick high C and high D that lead into high E at the start of the second part. On a 12-hole, The Irish Washerwoman goes from C to high C: you lift the left ring, left middle, left index, right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky. On a 6-hole, you lift the left middle, right middle, left index and right index.

Count every bar as two groups of three, "ONE-two-three, TWO-two-three", and lean a little on the first note of each group; that lilt is what makes it a jig. Tongue each quick note lightly with a "du", and keep the fingers low over the holes, because the notes never stop. The only rest for your breath is the held C at the end of each part, so breathe there, and if you need more, drop the last note of a group rather than gasp in the middle. The second part sits around high C and climbs to high E: give it a firmer, faster breath than the first part ([more on high notes](https://playocarina.com/guides/airy-or-flat-high-notes/)), and ease off again when it comes back down to C.

## Which ocarina can play The Irish Washerwoman?

A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D and high E, so play The Irish Washerwoman in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Who wrote The Irish Washerwoman?

No name has come down with it. The jig is anonymous, [in print by 1790 and 1792](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Irish_Washerwoman), and one claim traces it to the older English tune Dargason. Our tabs follow [Ryan's Mammoth Collection](https://imslp.org/wiki/Ryan's_Mammoth_Collection_(Ryan,_William_Bradbury)) (Boston, 1883), moved from G major to C, with one change. As printed, the first part dips to a low note in its first, third and fifth full bars, and the second part climbs an octave and a sixth above it: one semitone more than the whole range of a 12-hole ocarina, in any key. So the tabs play those three low notes an octave higher, as the G that jumps up after E, C, C or F, D, D; every other note is as printed. Music: traditional jig, anonymous.

## What to play next

# Danny Boy on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/danny-boy/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts low B, C, D, E. Hard, 90 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for Danny Boy?

12-hole alto C tabs: low B, C, D | E, D, E, A, G, E | D, C, low A, C, E, F | G, A, G, E, C, E | D, low B, C, D | E, D, E, A, G, E | D, C, low A, low B, C, D | E, F, E, D, C, D | C, G, A, B | high C, B, B, A, G, A | G, E, C, G, A, B | high C, B, B, A, G, E | D, G, G, G | high E, high D, high D, high C, A, high C | G, E, C, low B, C, D | E, A, G, E, D, C, low A, low B | C
1. low B (cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole)
2. C (cover every main hole)
3. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
4. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
5. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
6. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
7. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
9. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
10. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
11. C (cover every main hole)
12. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
13. C (cover every main hole)
14. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
15. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
16. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
17. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
18. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
19. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
20. C (cover every main hole)
21. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
22. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
23. low B (cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole)
24. C (cover every main hole)
25. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
26. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
27. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
28. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
29. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
30. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
31. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
32. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
33. C (cover every main hole)
34. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
35. low B (cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole)
36. C (cover every main hole)
37. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
38. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
39. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
40. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
41. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
42. C (cover every main hole)
43. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
44. C (cover every main hole)
45. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
46. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
47. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
48. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
49. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
50. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
51. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
52. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
53. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
54. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
55. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
56. C (cover every main hole)
57. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
58. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
59. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
60. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
61. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
62. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
63. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
64. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
65. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
66. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
67. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
68. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
69. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
70. high E (cover the left pinky)
71. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
72. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
73. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
74. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
75. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
76. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
77. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
78. C (cover every main hole)
79. low B (cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole)
80. C (cover every main hole)
81. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
82. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
83. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
84. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
85. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
86. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
87. C (cover every main hole)
88. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
89. low B (cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole)
90. C (cover every main hole)

Danny Boy, sung to the Irish tune called the Londonderry Air, starts with three quick notes, low B, C, D, that rise into a long E. In C major it needs no sharps or flats, but it runs from low A up to high E, almost the full range of a 12-hole ocarina, sub-holes included. The second half climbs to a single long high E, the peak of the whole song.

![Danny Boy ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/danny-boy-ocarina-tabs.png)

Danny Boy as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Danny Boy?

The leap from the three repeated G's up to the long high E that opens the last phrase, the highest note in the song. On a 12-hole, Danny Boy goes from G to high E: you lift the left ring, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb.

Take a full breath on the long D just before the three G's, then tongue the G's lightly and give the high E a fast, firm airstream as it arrives; it is held for a beat and a half, so keep the air up or it sags flat. The low A near the start of the first two phrases is the other hard note: it is held across the middle of the bar, so check that both sub-holes are sealed before you blow, and let the breath drop for it. The song is slow, and each four-bar phrase ends on a long D or C: breathe there, not in the middle of a phrase. The three quick notes that open the song, low B, C, D, come back twice more, and the second half has its own lead-in, G, A, B: keep them light and even so they lead into the long note after them.

## Which ocarina can play Danny Boy?

A 6-hole ocarina cannot reach low A and low B, and a 4-hole ocarina cannot reach low A, low B, high D and high E, so play Danny Boy in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. The linked chart has every fingering, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Who wrote the tune of Danny Boy?

Its composer is unknown. The tune is the Londonderry Air, which [George Petrie printed in 1855](https://archive.org/details/petriecollection01petr/page/n84/mode/1up) under the heading "Name unknown": Miss Jane Ross of Limavady, in County Londonderry, had sent it to him with the remark that it was "very old". The words are much younger: [Frederic Weatherly wrote them in 1910, and they were set to the air in 1913](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Boy). Our tabs follow [the 1913 sheet music](https://imslp.org/wiki/Danny_Boy_(Weatherly,_Frederic_Edward)), "adapted from an old Irish air" by Weatherly, which has the tune as it is sung today. Petrie's version has the same notes in the bars we compared, with a short rest in two places where the song holds a note. The air is anonymous and Weatherly died in 1929. We show the melody only. Music: traditional Irish air (the Londonderry Air), first printed in 1855; words by Frederic Weatherly (1848-1929).

## What to play next

# Minuet in G on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/minuet-in-g/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts G, C, D, E. Medium, 64 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for Minuet in G?

12-hole alto C tabs: G, C, D, E, F | G, C, C | A, F, G, A, B | high C, C, C | F, G, F, E, D | E, F, E, D, C | low B, C, D, E, C | D | G, C, D, E, F | G, C, C | A, F, G, A, B | high C, C, C | F, G, F, E, D | E, F, E, D, C | D, E, D, C, low B | C
1. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
2. C (cover every main hole)
3. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
4. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
5. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
7. C (cover every main hole)
8. C (cover every main hole)
9. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
10. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
11. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
12. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
14. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
15. C (cover every main hole)
16. C (cover every main hole)
17. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
18. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
19. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
20. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
21. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
22. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
23. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
24. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
25. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
26. C (cover every main hole)
27. low B (cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole)
28. C (cover every main hole)
29. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
30. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
31. C (cover every main hole)
32. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
33. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
34. C (cover every main hole)
35. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
36. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
37. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
38. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
39. C (cover every main hole)
40. C (cover every main hole)
41. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
42. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
43. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
44. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
45. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
46. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
47. C (cover every main hole)
48. C (cover every main hole)
49. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
50. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
51. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
52. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
53. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
54. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
55. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
56. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
57. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
58. C (cover every main hole)
59. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
60. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
61. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
62. C (cover every main hole)
63. low B (cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole)
64. C (cover every main hole)

The Minuet in G opens on G, then runs quickly up from C: C, D, E, F, then G, C, C. It is moved here from G to C major, so it has no sharps or flats and runs from low B to high C, which puts it on a 12-hole ocarina. This is the first half of the minuet; the second half dips to a low G below the bottom of a 12-hole.

![Minuet in G ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/minuet-in-g-ocarina-tabs.png)

Minuet in G as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Minuet in G?

The fourth bar, where the tune reaches high C and drops straight down a whole octave to C, then plays that C again. On a 12-hole, Minuet in G goes from high C to C: you cover the left ring, left middle, left index, right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky.

The high C needs a quick, firm breath and the C an octave below it a gentle one, so ease off the air as your fingers go down together. The runs of quick notes, C, D, E, F and F, G, A, B, are the heart of the piece: tongue each one lightly with "du" and keep them even, as a minuet is a dance and the first beat of each bar is the step. The low B in bars 7 and 15 is the only sub-hole note; practise low B to C and back on its own until both sound cleanly. The minuet falls into two eight-bar phrases that each end on a long note, D and then C: breathe after those, and if you need one more, take it quickly after bar 4.

## Which ocarina can play Minuet in G?

A 6-hole or 4-hole ocarina cannot reach low B, so play Minuet in G in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. The linked chart has every fingering, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Did Bach write the Minuet in G?

No, although it was printed as his for about a century. It survives in [the music notebook Anna Magdalena Bach began in 1725](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minuets_in_G_major_and_G_minor), copied in her hand with no composer named, and [the Bach Society printed it in 1894](https://imslp.org/wiki/Minuet_in_G_major,_BWV_Anh.114_(Pezold,_Christian)) in its complete edition of Bach's works, as the fourth piece of that notebook. In an article for the 1979 Bach-Jahrbuch, the Bach scholar Hans-Joachim Schulze showed that [the minuet belongs to a harpsichord suite by Christian Petzold](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minuets_in_G_major_and_G_minor), an organist in Dresden who died in 1733. Petzold's minuet is about 300 years old. Our tabs follow the 1894 printing: the right-hand melody of the first half, moved from G to C, with its trills and one grace note left out. Music: Christian Petzold (1677-1733), long credited to Johann Sebastian Bach; BWV Anh. 114.

## What to play next

# London Bridge Is Falling Down on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/london-bridge/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts G, A, G, F. Easy, 24 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for London Bridge Is Falling Down?

12-hole alto C tabs: G, A, G, F | E, F, G | D, E, F | E, F, G | G, A, G, F | E, F, G | D, G | E, C
1. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
2. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
4. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
6. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
7. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
8. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
9. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
10. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
11. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
12. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
13. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
14. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
15. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
16. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
17. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
18. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
19. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
20. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
21. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
22. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
23. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
24. C (cover every main hole)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: G, A, G, F | E, F, G | D, E, F | E, F, G | G, A, G, F | E, F, G | D, G | E, C
1. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
2. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
4. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
5. E (cover every hole but the right index)
6. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
7. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
8. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
9. E (cover every hole but the right index)
10. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
11. E (cover every hole but the right index)
12. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
13. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
14. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
15. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
16. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
17. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
18. E (cover every hole but the right index)
19. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
20. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
21. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
22. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
23. E (cover every hole but the right index)
24. C (cover every hole)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: G, A, G, F | E, F, G | D, E, F | E, F, G | G, A, G, F | E, F, G | D, G | E, C
1. G (cover the left index and right index)
2. A (cover the left index)
3. G (cover the left index and right index)
4. F (cover the left middle and left index)
5. E (cover every hole but the right index)
6. F (cover the left middle and left index)
7. G (cover the left index and right index)
8. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
9. E (cover every hole but the right index)
10. F (cover the left middle and left index)
11. E (cover every hole but the right index)
12. F (cover the left middle and left index)
13. G (cover the left index and right index)
14. G (cover the left index and right index)
15. A (cover the left index)
16. G (cover the left index and right index)
17. F (cover the left middle and left index)
18. E (cover every hole but the right index)
19. F (cover the left middle and left index)
20. G (cover the left index and right index)
21. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
22. G (cover the left index and right index)
23. E (cover every hole but the right index)
24. C (cover every hole)

London Bridge Is Falling Down starts G, A, G, F, E, F, G: one step up, then a walk down and back. In C major it uses only the six notes from C to A, which every C ocarina has, the smallest 4-hole pendant included. The tune is two lines of four bars, and the second line starts exactly like the first, so once you know the first line you have the start of the second.

![London Bridge Is Falling Down ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/london-bridge-ocarina-tabs.png)

London Bridge Is Falling Down as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in London Bridge Is Falling Down?

The last line, where "my fair" jumps from D up to G: the only upward leap in the tune. On a 12-hole, London Bridge Is Falling Down goes from D to G: you lift the right index, right middle and right ring. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you lift the left middle.

Breathe at the end of the fourth bar, after the third "falling down", so the whole second line is one breath. The opening G is long and the A after it is short, a beat and a half against half a beat: give the G its full length and let the A tip straight into the next G, rather than playing two even notes. Give each note of the "falling down" groups, E, F, G and D, E, F, its own light "tu" ([how to tongue on the ocarina](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-tonguing/)). The last note is C, every main hole covered, held for two beats before the closing beat of rest; a slow, soft breath keeps it from going sharp.

## Which ocarina can play London Bridge Is Falling Down?

Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays London Bridge Is Falling Down in this key. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## How old is the London Bridge tune?

Younger than the rhyme. The rhyme has been sung to [older tunes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Bridge_Is_Falling_Down), among them one in a 1718 dance book and "Nancy Dawson" in 1821, and the tune sung today was first recorded in an American songbook of 1879. Our tabs follow [a Chicago book of singing games from 1915](https://archive.org/details/oldenglishameric00brow/page/n15/mode/1up), the earliest printing we found with the whole tune as it is sung now. Its two halves are older still: [a 1903 drill book](https://archive.org/details/standarddrillmar00elli/page/n80/mode/1up) has the same notes in its opening line, and [William Wells Newell's Games and Songs of American Children](https://archive.org/details/gamessongsofamer00newerich/page/n228/mode/1up), in its 1884 printing, has the same ending on "my fair lady". The rhyme and its tune are traditional and anonymous. We show the melody only. Music: traditional nursery rhyme and singing game; the tune sung today was first printed in the United States in 1879.

## What to play next

# Row, Row, Row Your Boat on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/row-row-row-your-boat/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts C, C, C, D. Easy, 27 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for Row, Row, Row Your Boat?

12-hole alto C tabs: C, C | C, D, E | E, E, E, F | G | high C, high C, high C, G, G, G | E, E, E, C, C, C | G, F, E, D | C
1. C (cover every main hole)
2. C (cover every main hole)
3. C (cover every main hole)
4. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
5. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
6. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
7. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
8. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
9. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
10. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
11. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
12. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
13. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
14. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
15. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
16. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
17. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
18. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
19. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
20. C (cover every main hole)
21. C (cover every main hole)
22. C (cover every main hole)
23. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
24. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
25. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
26. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
27. C (cover every main hole)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: C, C | C, D, E | E, E, E, F | G | high C, high C, high C, G, G, G | E, E, E, C, C, C | G, F, E, D | C
1. C (cover every hole)
2. C (cover every hole)
3. C (cover every hole)
4. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
5. E (cover every hole but the right index)
6. E (cover every hole but the right index)
7. E (cover every hole but the right index)
8. E (cover every hole but the right index)
9. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
10. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
11. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
12. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
13. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
14. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
15. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
16. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
17. E (cover every hole but the right index)
18. E (cover every hole but the right index)
19. E (cover every hole but the right index)
20. C (cover every hole)
21. C (cover every hole)
22. C (cover every hole)
23. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
24. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
25. E (cover every hole but the right index)
26. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
27. C (cover every hole)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: C, C | C, D, E | E, E, E, F | G | high C, high C, high C, G, G, G | E, E, E, C, C, C | G, F, E, D | C
1. C (cover every hole)
2. C (cover every hole)
3. C (cover every hole)
4. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
5. E (cover every hole but the right index)
6. E (cover every hole but the right index)
7. E (cover every hole but the right index)
8. E (cover every hole but the right index)
9. F (cover the left middle and left index)
10. G (cover the left index and right index)
11. high C (all holes open)
12. high C (all holes open)
13. high C (all holes open)
14. G (cover the left index and right index)
15. G (cover the left index and right index)
16. G (cover the left index and right index)
17. E (cover every hole but the right index)
18. E (cover every hole but the right index)
19. E (cover every hole but the right index)
20. C (cover every hole)
21. C (cover every hole)
22. C (cover every hole)
23. G (cover the left index and right index)
24. F (cover the left middle and left index)
25. E (cover every hole but the right index)
26. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
27. C (cover every hole)

Row, Row, Row Your Boat opens on three C's and climbs step by step, through D, E and F, to a long G. In C major it runs from C up to high C with no sharps or flats, the exact range of a 4-hole pendant. It is in 6/8: count each bar as two slow beats, each split into three.

![Row, Row, Row Your Boat ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/row-row-row-your-boat-ocarina-tabs.png)

Row, Row, Row Your Boat as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Row, Row, Row Your Boat?

The end of the quick part, where twelve short notes fall in four groups from high C to C and the tune then leaps straight back up to G. On a 12-hole, Row, Row, Row Your Boat goes from C to G: you lift the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you lift the left middle and right middle.

The twelve quick notes are four groups of three on one pitch each: high C, G, E, C. You need only four fingerings, and the tongue does the rest with an even "tu-tu-tu". Take a breath before that high C, because from there to the end is one phrase. The first two bars are the opposite, long notes: hold each of the first two C's for one whole slow beat before the third one moves on.

## Where do you breathe in Row, Row, Row Your Boat?

Breathe on the three-beat G at the end of the first line and on the last C, and nowhere else. The quick groups of three, high C, G, E and C, each three times, are tongue work, so keep the air steady through the whole line they sit in.

## Which ocarina can play Row, Row, Row Your Boat?

Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays Row, Row, Row Your Boat in this key. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Who wrote Row, Row, Row Your Boat?

The tune sung today first appears with these words in 1881, signed by Eliphalet Oram Lyte; the words are older, and [they were printed in 1852](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Row,_Row,_Row_Your_Boat) to a very different tune, and two years later to another. The tune appears in [the Franklin Square Song Collection](https://archive.org/details/franklinsquareso0000jpmc/page/n74/mode/1up) (New York, 1881), headed "Row Your Boat" and "(Round.)" and signed "E. O. Lyte", with the numbers 1 to 4 over the staff where each new voice of the round comes in. The book does not say whether Lyte wrote the tune or arranged it. Our tabs follow that page, which sets "gently" on two E's; [a 1919 songbook](https://archive.org/details/twice55community01dyke/page/n6/mode/1up) has E then D there instead. [Lyte died in 1913](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliphalet_Oram_Lyte). We show the melody only. Music: the tune credited to Eliphalet Oram Lyte (1842-1913) in 1881; words printed earlier, to other tunes.

## What to play next

# Yankee Doodle on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/yankee-doodle/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts G, high C, high C, high D. Hard, 57 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for Yankee Doodle?

12-hole alto C tabs: G | high C, high C, high D, high E | high C, high E, high D, B | high C, high C, high D, high E | high C, B, G | high C, high C, high D, high E | high F, high E, high D, high C | B, G, A, B | high C, high C | A, B, A, G | A, B, high C | G, A, G, F | E, G | A, B, A, G | A, B, high C, A | G, high C, B, high D | high C, high C
1. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
2. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
3. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
4. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
5. high E (cover the left pinky)
6. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
7. high E (cover the left pinky)
8. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
9. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
10. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
11. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
12. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
13. high E (cover the left pinky)
14. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
15. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
16. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
17. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
18. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
19. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
20. high E (cover the left pinky)
21. high F (all holes open)
22. high E (cover the left pinky)
23. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
24. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
25. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
26. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
27. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
30. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
31. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
33. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
34. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
35. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
36. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
37. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
38. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
39. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
40. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
41. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
42. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
43. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
44. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
45. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
46. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
47. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
48. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
49. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
50. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
51. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
52. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
53. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
54. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
55. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
56. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
57. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)

Yankee Doodle on the ocarina starts with a quick G, then jumps to high C and steps up through high D to high E and back: a march in short, even notes. In C major it runs from E up to high F, so it needs a 12-hole: the notes are easy, with not a single sharp or flat, but they sit high. These tabs give one verse and the "keep it up" chorus from an 1881 songbook, an octave higher.

![Yankee Doodle ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/yankee-doodle-ocarina-tabs.png)

Yankee Doodle as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Yankee Doodle?

The step from high E up to high F near the end of the verse, the highest note in the song, which then runs straight down: high F, high E, high D, high C. On a 12-hole, Yankee Doodle goes from high E to high F: you lift the left pinky.

The verse keeps coming back to high E, so set a firm, steady airstream for the whole verse instead of pushing on each high note, and give high F only a touch more. The chorus sits much lower, down to E, so relax the breath as it starts. Its "Yankee" pairs are dotted: the first note is three times as long as the second, so tongue them long-short, "taa-ta", not as two even notes. Breathe after "keep it up", where the printing has a short rest, and again after the E and G that end the second line of the chorus.

## Which ocarina can play Yankee Doodle?

A 6-hole ocarina cannot reach high F, and a 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, high E and high F, so play Yankee Doodle in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. The linked chart has every fingering, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Where does Yankee Doodle come from?

From a joke at the Americans' expense. A British army surgeon, Richard Shuckburgh, [wrote the first words around 1755](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_Doodle) to mock the colonial troops he served with; the Americans then took the song over as their own, and the tune is probably much older than any of the words. Our tabs follow [Helen Kendrick Johnson's Our Familiar Songs](https://archive.org/details/ourfamiliarsongs0000unse_m5e4/page/n605/mode/1up) (New York, 1881), which prints the verse that starts "Father and I" and the chorus in C major; our tabs keep the key and move it up an octave. [Heart Songs](https://archive.org/details/heartsongs0000vari_b8p2/page/n399/mode/1up) (Boston, 1909) prints the same verse and chorus a tone lower, with small differences, among them one note a semitone lower in the first and fifth bars of the chorus. The tune is anonymous and the words are more than 240 years old. We show the melody only. Music: traditional tune, sung by British soldiers from the 1750s and American soldiers in the Revolution; words from the 1750s and 1770s.

## What to play next

# Gymnopédie No. 1 on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/gymnopedie-no-1/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts B, high D, high C, B. Hard, 22 notes, in G major.

## What are the notes for Gymnopédie No. 1?

12-hole alto C tabs: B, high D | high C, B, F♯ | E, F♯, G | D | low B | B, high D | high C, B, F♯ | E, F♯, G | D | F♯ | B | low A
1. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
3. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
4. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
6. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
7. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
8. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
9. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
10. low B (cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole)
11. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
13. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
14. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
15. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
16. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
17. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
18. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
19. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
20. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
21. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
22. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)

Gymnopédie No. 1 opens on B and high D, falls through high C and B to F♯, then climbs E, F♯, G and drops to a long D: a slow, quiet tune that Satie marked "Lent et douloureux", slow and sorrowful. Here is its first statement in G major, 17 bars of 3/4. It needs a 12-hole ocarina: the first phrase settles on a long low B, with the right sub-hole covered, and the second falls to a long low A, with both sub-holes covered.

![Gymnopédie No. 1 ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/gymnopedie-no-1-ocarina-tabs.png)

Gymnopédie No. 1 as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Gymnopédie No. 1?

The end of the second phrase, where the tune falls from B more than an octave to low A, the lowest note in the piece, and holds it for three bars. On a 12-hole, Gymnopédie No. 1 goes from B to low A: you cover the left ring, left middle, right index, right middle, right ring, right pinky, left sub-hole and right sub-hole.

Every finger comes down at once for that low A, sub-holes included, so practise the change on its own, B then low A, slowly, until the low note speaks without a squeak. Blow gently: a low note needs less air, and pushing makes it breathy and sharp. The first phrase asks the same thing more kindly: its low B lasts four bars, 12 slow counts, so take a full breath before the phrase starts and let the note fade rather than sag. Count three unhurried beats in every bar; nothing in this piece should feel rushed.

## Which ocarina can play Gymnopédie No. 1?

A 6-hole ocarina cannot reach low A and low B, and a 4-hole ocarina cannot reach low A, low B and high D, so play Gymnopédie No. 1 in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. The linked chart has every fingering, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## When did Satie write Gymnopédie No. 1?

In 1888. Satie [had finished all three Gymnopédies by April 1888](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnop%C3%A9dies), and the first was printed that summer in a Paris music magazine. He later published them himself: our tabs follow [his own printing of 1895](https://imslp.org/wiki/3_Gymnop%C3%A9dies_(Satie,_Erik)), in red ink, with his Montmartre address on the title page. Debussy orchestrated two of them in 1897 and swapped their numbers, so in his version this tune is No. 3. Satie [died in 1925](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Satie). We show the melody only. Music: Erik Satie (1866-1925), the first of his three Gymnopédies, 1888.

## What to play next

# Pop Goes the Weasel on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/pop-goes-the-weasel/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts C, C, D, D. Easy, 27 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for Pop Goes the Weasel?

12-hole alto C tabs: C, C, D, D | E, G, E, C | C, C, D, D | E, C | C, C, D, D | E, G, E, C | A, D, F | E, C
1. C (cover every main hole)
2. C (cover every main hole)
3. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
4. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
5. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
6. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
7. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
8. C (cover every main hole)
9. C (cover every main hole)
10. C (cover every main hole)
11. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
12. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
13. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
14. C (cover every main hole)
15. C (cover every main hole)
16. C (cover every main hole)
17. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
18. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
19. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
20. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
21. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
22. C (cover every main hole)
23. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
25. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
26. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
27. C (cover every main hole)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: C, C, D, D | E, G, E, C | C, C, D, D | E, C | C, C, D, D | E, G, E, C | A, D, F | E, C
1. C (cover every hole)
2. C (cover every hole)
3. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
4. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
5. E (cover every hole but the right index)
6. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
7. E (cover every hole but the right index)
8. C (cover every hole)
9. C (cover every hole)
10. C (cover every hole)
11. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
12. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
13. E (cover every hole but the right index)
14. C (cover every hole)
15. C (cover every hole)
16. C (cover every hole)
17. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
18. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
19. E (cover every hole but the right index)
20. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
21. E (cover every hole but the right index)
22. C (cover every hole)
23. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
25. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
26. E (cover every hole but the right index)
27. C (cover every hole)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: C, C, D, D | E, G, E, C | C, C, D, D | E, C | C, C, D, D | E, G, E, C | A, D, F | E, C
1. C (cover every hole)
2. C (cover every hole)
3. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
4. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
5. E (cover every hole but the right index)
6. G (cover the left index and right index)
7. E (cover every hole but the right index)
8. C (cover every hole)
9. C (cover every hole)
10. C (cover every hole)
11. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
12. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
13. E (cover every hole but the right index)
14. C (cover every hole)
15. C (cover every hole)
16. C (cover every hole)
17. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
18. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
19. E (cover every hole but the right index)
20. G (cover the left index and right index)
21. E (cover every hole but the right index)
22. C (cover every hole)
23. A (cover the left index)
24. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
25. F (cover the left middle and left index)
26. E (cover every hole but the right index)
27. C (cover every hole)

Pop Goes the Weasel starts C, C, D, D, then E, G, E and a long C. Three of its four short lines begin with that same C, C, D, D, so you learn the opening once and play it three times. It uses six notes, C up to A, with no sharps or flats. It is in 6/8: each bar is two slow beats, each split into three, and the tune skips along in long-short pairs.

![Pop Goes the Weasel ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/pop-goes-the-weasel-ocarina-tabs.png)

Pop Goes the Weasel as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Pop Goes the Weasel?

The "pop": the jump from a long C straight up to A, the highest note in the tune. On a 12-hole, Pop Goes the Weasel goes from C to A: you lift the left ring, right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you lift the left middle, right middle and right index.

Land the A cleanly and give it a whole slow beat; in the 1854 printing a short rest follows it, shown as a gap in the tabs. From there the line walks home: D, F, E and a long C. The long-short pairs at the start of the first three lines, C then C, D then D, stay on one fingering each, so your tongue does the work: a long "tu" and a short one. Keep them bouncy rather than even, and the tune sounds like a dance.

## Which ocarina can play Pop Goes the Weasel?

Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays Pop Goes the Weasel in this key. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Where does Pop Goes the Weasel come from?

Pop Goes the Weasel began as a dance. [An 1854 Baltimore sheet](https://archive.org/details/b10252435/page/n2/mode/1up) calls it "a very popular but ancient English Country Dance lately revived", and [an undated Edinburgh book of country dances](https://archive.org/details/lowes-selection-of-popular-country-dances/page/n15/mode/1up) has it too. The verses children sing now came later, and [they differ between Britain and America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_Goes_the_Weasel). Our tabs follow [Septimus Winner's accordion method of 1854](https://archive.org/details/winnersimproveda00winn/page/n34/mode/1up), which prints the melody alone on one staff; the Baltimore sheet has the same notes in every bar. Nobody knows who wrote the tune, and it was in print by 1854. We show the melody only. Music: traditional English country dance tune, printed from the 1850s.

## What to play next

# Swing Low, Sweet Chariot on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/swing-low-sweet-chariot/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts A, F, A, F. Medium, 30 notes, in F major.

## What are the notes for Swing Low, Sweet Chariot?

12-hole alto C tabs: A, F, A | F, F, D, C | F, F, F, F, A, high C, high C | high C | high C, A, high C | F, F, D, C | F, F, F, F, A, A, G | F
1. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
7. C (cover every main hole)
8. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
9. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
10. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
11. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
12. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
14. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
15. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
16. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
17. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
18. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
19. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
20. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
21. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
22. C (cover every main hole)
23. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
24. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
25. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
26. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
27. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
30. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: A, F, A | F, F, D, C | F, F, F, F, A, high C, high C | high C | high C, A, high C | F, F, D, C | F, F, F, F, A, A, G | F
1. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
3. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
5. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
6. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
7. C (cover every hole)
8. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
9. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
10. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
11. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
12. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
14. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
15. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
16. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
17. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
18. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
19. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
20. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
21. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
22. C (cover every hole)
23. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
24. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
25. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
26. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
27. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
30. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: A, F, A | F, F, D, C | F, F, F, F, A, high C, high C | high C | high C, A, high C | F, F, D, C | F, F, F, F, A, A, G | F
1. A (cover the left index)
2. F (cover the left middle and left index)
3. A (cover the left index)
4. F (cover the left middle and left index)
5. F (cover the left middle and left index)
6. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
7. C (cover every hole)
8. F (cover the left middle and left index)
9. F (cover the left middle and left index)
10. F (cover the left middle and left index)
11. F (cover the left middle and left index)
12. A (cover the left index)
13. high C (all holes open)
14. high C (all holes open)
15. high C (all holes open)
16. high C (all holes open)
17. A (cover the left index)
18. high C (all holes open)
19. F (cover the left middle and left index)
20. F (cover the left middle and left index)
21. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
22. C (cover every hole)
23. F (cover the left middle and left index)
24. F (cover the left middle and left index)
25. F (cover the left middle and left index)
26. F (cover the left middle and left index)
27. A (cover the left index)
28. A (cover the left index)
29. G (cover the left index and right index)
30. F (cover the left middle and left index)

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot starts on A, drops to F and back to A, then falls through F and D to C: that is the first line of the refrain everyone knows. The whole refrain is eight bars of F major built from six notes, C, D, F, G, A and high C, with no sharps or flats. It is slow, but each half has a quick run of repeated F's that climbs to a long high C or settles on F.

![Swing Low, Sweet Chariot ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/swing-low-sweet-chariot-ocarina-tabs.png)

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Swing Low, Sweet Chariot?

The snap in the second bar, a very quick D and then a longer C, the lowest note in the song; it comes back in the sixth bar. On a 12-hole, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot goes from D to C: you cover the right pinky. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you cover the right middle.

Play the D as a flick and lean on the C. Then come the fast notes, four F's in a row, all sixteenths: keep the fingers still and tongue them lightly before the tune lifts to A and high C. Breathe at the end of each half, after the long high C and after the final F.

## Which ocarina can play Swing Low, Sweet Chariot?

Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays Swing Low, Sweet Chariot in this key. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Who wrote Swing Low, Sweet Chariot?

The song is [credited to Wallace Willis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swing_Low,_Sweet_Chariot), a Choctaw Freedman in what is now Oklahoma, and his daughter Minerva; a missionary, Alexander Reid, heard them sing it and passed it to the Fisk Jubilee Singers, whose tours made it famous. It was first printed in [Jubilee Songs](https://archive.org/details/29208201.4853.emory.edu/page/n8/mode/1up) in New York in 1872, where the music was "reduced to writing by Theo. F. Seward"; in [the book's preface](https://archive.org/details/29208201.4853.emory.edu/page/n5/mode/1up) Seward notes that the effect on the last syllable of "chariot" recurs often in the singers' songs. Our tabs follow the refrain on that page, the top voice, up to "Fine". [Willis is thought to have died around 1880](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_Willis) and [Seward in 1902](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_F._Seward). We show the melody only. Music: African American spiritual credited to Wallace Willis; first printed in 1872 as sung by the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

## What to play next

# New World Symphony Largo on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/new-world-symphony-largo/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts E, G, G, E. Medium, 66 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for the New World Symphony Largo?

12-hole alto C tabs: E, G, G, E, D, C | D, E, G, E, D | E, G, G, E, D, C | D, E, D, C, C | A, high C, high C, B, G, A | A, high C, B, G, A | A, high C, high C, B, G, A | A, high C, B, G, A | E, G, G, E, D, C | D, E, G, E, D | E, G, G, high C, high D, high E | high D, high C, high D, A, high C
1. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
2. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
4. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
5. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
6. C (cover every main hole)
7. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
8. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
9. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
10. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
11. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
12. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
13. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
14. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
15. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
16. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
17. C (cover every main hole)
18. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
19. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
20. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
21. C (cover every main hole)
22. C (cover every main hole)
23. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
25. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
26. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
27. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
28. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
30. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
31. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
33. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
34. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
35. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
36. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
37. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
38. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
39. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
40. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
41. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
42. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
43. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
44. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
45. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
46. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
47. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
48. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
49. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
50. C (cover every main hole)
51. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
52. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
53. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
54. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
55. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
56. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
57. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
58. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
59. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
60. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
61. high E (cover the left pinky)
62. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
63. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
64. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
65. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
66. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: E, G, G, E, D, C | D, E, G, E, D | E, G, G, E, D, C | D, E, D, C, C | A, high C, high C, B, G, A | A, high C, B, G, A | A, high C, high C, B, G, A | A, high C, B, G, A | E, G, G, E, D, C | D, E, G, E, D | E, G, G, high C, high D, high E | high D, high C, high D, A, high C
1. E (cover every hole but the right index)
2. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
3. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
4. E (cover every hole but the right index)
5. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
6. C (cover every hole)
7. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
8. E (cover every hole but the right index)
9. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
10. E (cover every hole but the right index)
11. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
12. E (cover every hole but the right index)
13. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
14. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
15. E (cover every hole but the right index)
16. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
17. C (cover every hole)
18. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
19. E (cover every hole but the right index)
20. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
21. C (cover every hole)
22. C (cover every hole)
23. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
25. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
26. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
27. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
28. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
30. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
31. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
32. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
33. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
34. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
35. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
36. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
37. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
38. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
39. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
40. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
41. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
42. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
43. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
44. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
45. E (cover every hole but the right index)
46. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
47. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
48. E (cover every hole but the right index)
49. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
50. C (cover every hole)
51. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
52. E (cover every hole but the right index)
53. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
54. E (cover every hole but the right index)
55. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
56. E (cover every hole but the right index)
57. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
58. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
59. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
60. high D (cover the left thumb)
61. high E (all holes open)
62. high D (cover the left thumb)
63. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
64. high D (cover the left thumb)
65. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
66. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)

The Largo of Dvořák's New World Symphony, the tune later sung as Going Home, opens with E, G, G, then steps down through E and D to C, played slowly by a solo cor anglais (English horn). Here are its first 12 bars in C major, from C up to high E, exactly the range of a 6-hole pendant. It uses only C, D, E, G, A and B, so there is not a single sharp or flat to finger.

![New World Symphony Largo ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/new-world-symphony-largo-ocarina-tabs.png)

The New World Symphony Largo as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the hardest part of the New World Symphony Largo?

The second-to-last bar, where the opening phrase suddenly climbs past G to high C, D and E, the highest notes in the piece. On a 12-hole, the New World Symphony Largo goes from G to high C: you lift the left ring, left middle and left index. On a 6-hole, you lift the left index and right index.

On a 6-hole and a 12-hole alike, high D and E are played by lifting the thumbs, so practise the climb slowly: G, high C, D, E. Give the high E a little more air than the notes below it, then let the last bar settle back to high C. Almost every bar has the same dotted figure, a long note and a quick one, three quarters of a beat and then a quarter: at this slow tempo count four beats in every bar and keep the short note short. The middle four bars start on A and repeat one two-bar phrase; breathe after each long A.

## Which ocarina can play the New World Symphony Largo?

A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D and high E, so play the New World Symphony Largo in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Is Going Home (Goin' Home) a spiritual?

No. Going Home, published in 1922 as Goin' Home, is this melody with words added by [William Arms Fisher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Arms_Fisher), a former pupil of Dvořák. The tune is Dvořák's own, from the slow movement of [his Symphony No. 9, From the New World](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._9_(Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k)), written in New York in 1893. Our tabs follow [his own piano duet version](https://imslp.org/wiki/Symphony_No.9,_Op.95_(Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k,_Anton%C3%ADn)), published by Simrock in Berlin in 1894, which prints the theme at the pitch the cor anglais sounds, in D-flat major; our tabs move it to C. We checked it against the full score. Dvořák [died in 1904](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton%C3%ADn_Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k). We show the melody only. Music: Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904), the cor anglais theme of the Largo of his Symphony No. 9, From the New World, 1893.

## What to play next

# William Tell Overture on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/william-tell-overture/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts C, C, C, C. Medium, 42 notes, in F major.

## What are the notes for the William Tell Overture?

12-hole alto C tabs: C, C | C, C, C, C, C, C | F, G, A, C, C | C, C, C, F, A, A | G, E, C, C, C | C, C, C, C, C, C | F, G, A, F, A | high C, B♭, A, G | F, A, F
1. C (cover every main hole)
2. C (cover every main hole)
3. C (cover every main hole)
4. C (cover every main hole)
5. C (cover every main hole)
6. C (cover every main hole)
7. C (cover every main hole)
8. C (cover every main hole)
9. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
10. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
11. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. C (cover every main hole)
13. C (cover every main hole)
14. C (cover every main hole)
15. C (cover every main hole)
16. C (cover every main hole)
17. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
18. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
19. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
20. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
21. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
22. C (cover every main hole)
23. C (cover every main hole)
24. C (cover every main hole)
25. C (cover every main hole)
26. C (cover every main hole)
27. C (cover every main hole)
28. C (cover every main hole)
29. C (cover every main hole)
30. C (cover every main hole)
31. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
32. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
33. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
34. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
35. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
36. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
37. B♭ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
38. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
39. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
40. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
41. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
42. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: C, C | C, C, C, C, C, C | F, G, A, C, C | C, C, C, F, A, A | G, E, C, C, C | C, C, C, C, C, C | F, G, A, F, A | high C, B♭, A, G | F, A, F
1. C (cover every hole)
2. C (cover every hole)
3. C (cover every hole)
4. C (cover every hole)
5. C (cover every hole)
6. C (cover every hole)
7. C (cover every hole)
8. C (cover every hole)
9. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
10. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
11. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. C (cover every hole)
13. C (cover every hole)
14. C (cover every hole)
15. C (cover every hole)
16. C (cover every hole)
17. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
18. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
19. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
20. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
21. E (cover every hole but the right index)
22. C (cover every hole)
23. C (cover every hole)
24. C (cover every hole)
25. C (cover every hole)
26. C (cover every hole)
27. C (cover every hole)
28. C (cover every hole)
29. C (cover every hole)
30. C (cover every hole)
31. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
32. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
33. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
34. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
35. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
36. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
37. B♭ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
38. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
39. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
40. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
41. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
42. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: C, C | C, C, C, C, C, C | F, G, A, C, C | C, C, C, F, A, A | G, E, C, C, C | C, C, C, C, C, C | F, G, A, F, A | high C, B♭, A, G | F, A, F
1. C (cover every hole)
2. C (cover every hole)
3. C (cover every hole)
4. C (cover every hole)
5. C (cover every hole)
6. C (cover every hole)
7. C (cover every hole)
8. C (cover every hole)
9. F (cover the left middle and left index)
10. G (cover the left index and right index)
11. A (cover the left index)
12. C (cover every hole)
13. C (cover every hole)
14. C (cover every hole)
15. C (cover every hole)
16. C (cover every hole)
17. F (cover the left middle and left index)
18. A (cover the left index)
19. A (cover the left index)
20. G (cover the left index and right index)
21. E (cover every hole but the right index)
22. C (cover every hole)
23. C (cover every hole)
24. C (cover every hole)
25. C (cover every hole)
26. C (cover every hole)
27. C (cover every hole)
28. C (cover every hole)
29. C (cover every hole)
30. C (cover every hole)
31. F (cover the left middle and left index)
32. G (cover the left index and right index)
33. A (cover the left index)
34. F (cover the left middle and left index)
35. A (cover the left index)
36. high C (all holes open)
37. B♭ (cover the right index)
38. A (cover the left index)
39. G (cover the left index and right index)
40. F (cover the left middle and left index)
41. A (cover the left index)
42. F (cover the left middle and left index)

The William Tell gallop starts with C after C after C, a longer note and two quick ones, over and over, before the tune climbs F, G, A. It is the finale of Rossini's overture, the music radio and television made the theme of The Lone Ranger. Here is its main strain in F major, a pickup and eight bars from C to high C, with a single B flat near the end.

![William Tell Overture ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/william-tell-overture-ocarina-tabs.png)

The William Tell Overture as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## How do you play the fast notes in the William Tell Overture?

The fast notes are tongued, not fingered: on the long runs of C your fingers stay still while your tongue says "tu, tu-ku" for each gallop. The one place the fingers have to hurry is the top of the tune, a long high C that runs straight down through B flat, A and G, the only B flat in the song. On a 12-hole, the William Tell Overture goes from high C to B♭: you cover the left index and right ring. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you cover the right index.

Start well below full speed. The [Paris score of about 1870](https://archive.org/details/guillaumetellop00ross/page/n15/mode/1up) marks the gallop at 152 beats a minute; our player starts at 100, and even that is quick. Say "tu-ku" for the two short notes, front and back of the tongue, and "tu" for the longer one, so each gallop goes dum-da-da, dum-da-da. Keep the C fingering relaxed and fully sealed: when a note repeats this fast, a fingertip that lifts slightly lets the pitch wobble.

## Which ocarina can play the William Tell Overture?

Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays the William Tell Overture in this key. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Where does the William Tell gallop come from?

The gallop is the last part of the overture to Rossini's opera [William Tell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tell_Overture), first performed in Paris in 1829 and the last of his operas; radio, television and film versions of The Lone Ranger later made it their theme. Our tabs follow the gallop in [a Boosey vocal score](https://archive.org/details/guglielmotellwil00ross_0/page/n18/mode/1up) edited by Arthur Sullivan and Josiah Pittman, moved from E major up to F; [a Paris vocal score of about 1870](https://archive.org/details/guillaumetellop00ross/page/n15/mode/1up) has the same notes in every bar. Rossini [died in 1868](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gioachino_Rossini). We show the melody only. Music: Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868), the gallop that ends the overture to his opera William Tell, 1829.

## What to play next

# Aura Lea on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/aura-lea/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts D, G, F♯, G. Medium, 48 notes, in G major.

## What are the notes for Aura Lea?

12-hole alto C tabs: D, G, F♯, G | A, E, A | G, F♯, E, F♯ | G | D, G, F♯, G | A, E, A | G, F♯, E, F♯ | G | B, B, B | B, B, B | B, A, G, A | B | B, B, high C, B | A, E, A, A | G, F♯, B, A | G
1. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
2. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
4. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
7. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
9. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
10. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
11. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
12. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
13. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
14. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
15. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
16. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
17. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
18. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
19. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
20. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
21. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
22. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
23. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
24. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
25. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
26. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
27. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
30. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
33. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
34. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
35. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
36. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
37. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
38. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
39. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
40. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
41. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
42. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
43. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
44. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
45. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
46. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
47. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
48. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: D, G, F♯, G | A, E, A | G, F♯, E, F♯ | G | D, G, F♯, G | A, E, A | G, F♯, E, F♯ | G | B, B, B | B, B, B | B, A, G, A | B | B, B, high C, B | A, E, A, A | G, F♯, B, A | G
1. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
2. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
3. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
4. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
5. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. E (cover every hole but the right index)
7. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
9. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
10. E (cover every hole but the right index)
11. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
12. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
13. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
14. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
15. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
16. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
17. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
18. E (cover every hole but the right index)
19. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
20. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
21. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
22. E (cover every hole but the right index)
23. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
24. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
25. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
26. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
27. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
28. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
29. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
30. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
31. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
32. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
33. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
34. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
35. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
36. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
37. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
38. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
39. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
40. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
41. E (cover every hole but the right index)
42. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
43. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
44. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
45. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
46. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
47. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
48. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: D, G, F♯, G | A, E, A | G, F♯, E, F♯ | G | D, G, F♯, G | A, E, A | G, F♯, E, F♯ | G | B, B, B | B, B, B | B, A, G, A | B | B, B, high C, B | A, E, A, A | G, F♯, B, A | G
1. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
2. G (cover the left index and right index)
3. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
4. G (cover the left index and right index)
5. A (cover the left index)
6. E (cover every hole but the right index)
7. A (cover the left index)
8. G (cover the left index and right index)
9. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
10. E (cover every hole but the right index)
11. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
12. G (cover the left index and right index)
13. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
14. G (cover the left index and right index)
15. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
16. G (cover the left index and right index)
17. A (cover the left index)
18. E (cover every hole but the right index)
19. A (cover the left index)
20. G (cover the left index and right index)
21. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
22. E (cover every hole but the right index)
23. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
24. G (cover the left index and right index)
25. B (cover the right middle)
26. B (cover the right middle)
27. B (cover the right middle)
28. B (cover the right middle)
29. B (cover the right middle)
30. B (cover the right middle)
31. B (cover the right middle)
32. A (cover the left index)
33. G (cover the left index and right index)
34. A (cover the left index)
35. B (cover the right middle)
36. B (cover the right middle)
37. B (cover the right middle)
38. high C (all holes open)
39. B (cover the right middle)
40. A (cover the left index)
41. E (cover every hole but the right index)
42. A (cover the left index)
43. A (cover the left index)
44. G (cover the left index and right index)
45. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
46. B (cover the right middle)
47. A (cover the left index)
48. G (cover the left index and right index)

Aura Lea starts with a long D and a quick G, then F♯, G and A: the tune Elvis Presley later sang as Love Me Tender. Here it is in G major, 16 bars from D up to high C, with F♯ the only sharp. The 1861 sheet music gives it a lilting, dotted rhythm, more of a skip than the smooth, even way it is usually sung now.

![Aura Lea ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/aura-lea-ocarina-tabs.png)

Aura Lea as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Aura Lea?

The very short G near the end, which leads into a longer F♯: the one place the song puts the short note first. On a 12-hole, Aura Lea goes from G to F♯: you cover the right ring. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you cover the right middle.

F♯ is the only sharp in the song and comes in almost every line, so make that fingering secure first: G, F♯, E, F♯ leads into the long G that ends each of the first two lines (the first one is followed by a short rest). Near the end the G lasts only a quarter of a beat, so put it right on the beat and give the F♯ the time; everywhere else the dot comes first, as in the opening long D and quick G. The second half starts with six B's in two bars on one fingering: tongue each one and keep your fingers still.

## Where do you breathe in Aura Lea?

The G that ends the first line, followed by a short rest, the two-beat G that ends the second, and the two-beat B in the third line are the places to breathe. The third line repeats B quickly before it moves, so keep the breath gentle and let the tongue do the repeats.

## Which ocarina can play Aura Lea?

Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays Aura Lea in this key. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Is Love Me Tender the same tune as Aura Lea?

Yes. [Love Me Tender, in 1956, set new words by Ken Darby to the Aura Lea melody](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aura_Lea). The song itself was published in Cincinnati in 1861, with words by W. W. Fosdick and music by George R. Poulton, and [soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War sang it](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aura_Lea). Our tabs follow [the 1861 sheet music](https://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/collection/024/002), which has a dotted, skipping rhythm; by 1913 [a home songbook](https://archive.org/details/mostpopularhomes00nobl/page/n60/mode/1up) printed it as "Aura Lee" with the quick dotted notes smoothed out, closer to the way it is sung now. [Poulton died in 1867](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5543660) and [Fosdick in 1862](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9374828). We show the melody only. Music: George R. Poulton (1828-1867), music, and W. W. Fosdick (1825-1862), words, 1861.

## What to play next

# Pomp and Circumstance on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/pomp-and-circumstance/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts high C, B, high C, high D. Hard, 50 notes, in C major.

## What are the notes for Pomp and Circumstance?

12-hole alto C tabs: high C | B, high C, high D | A | G | F | E, F, G | D | E | F♯, G, A | high D | G | high C | high C, B, A | G | high C | B, high C, high D | A | G | F | E, F, G | D | E | F♯, G, A | high D | G | high F | high F, high E, high D | high E | A | B, high C, high D | G | high C
1. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
2. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
4. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
5. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
7. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
8. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
9. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
10. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
11. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
12. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
13. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
14. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
15. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
16. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
17. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
18. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
19. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
20. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
21. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
22. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
23. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
24. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
25. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
26. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
27. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
29. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
30. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
31. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
32. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
33. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
34. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
35. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
36. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
37. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
38. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
39. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
40. high F (all holes open)
41. high F (all holes open)
42. high E (cover the left pinky)
43. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
44. high E (cover the left pinky)
45. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
46. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
47. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
48. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
49. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
50. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)

Pomp and Circumstance, the graduation march, is best known by its broad, singing trio tune, which starts on a long high C, then B, high C, high D, and falls back to A and G. Here is the whole trio of Elgar's March No. 1 in C major, 36 short bars of 2/4, from D up to high F, the top note of a 12-hole ocarina. The second half repeats the first until its last eight bars, which climb to the top.

![Pomp and Circumstance ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/pomp-and-circumstance-ocarina-tabs.png)

Pomp and Circumstance as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the hardest note in Pomp and Circumstance?

High F, which arrives by a leap of a seventh from G near the end: the climax of the tune and the highest note on a 12-hole ocarina. On a 12-hole, Pomp and Circumstance goes from G to high F: you lift the left pinky, left ring, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb.

High F is played with every hole open, so the leap is mostly about air: blow faster for it and ease off as the tune steps down through high E and D. Most of the tune is long notes, two slow beats each, in four-bar phrases; breathe at the end of each one, after a long D, G or high E. The first twelve bars of the second half are the same as the first twelve of the first half, so once the first 16 bars are under your fingers, only the last eight are new. The F♯ comes twice, both times in a quick run up to A.

## Which ocarina can play Pomp and Circumstance?

A 6-hole ocarina cannot reach high F, and a 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, high E and high F, so play Pomp and Circumstance in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. The linked chart has every fingering, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Why is Pomp and Circumstance played at graduations?

In the United States it was [first played at a graduation at Yale's commencement in 1905](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomp_and_Circumstance_Marches), when Elgar received an honorary degree there; today it is the processional at most high school and college graduations. Elgar wrote the march in 1901, and the next year he set the trio tune to words by A. C. Benson as [Land of Hope and Glory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_of_Hope_and_Glory). Our tabs follow the first violins in [Elgar's full score](https://archive.org/details/RAM10263-2001/page/n13/mode/1up), published by Boosey in 1902, in the conductor Henry Wood's own copy; [Lemare's organ arrangement of the same year](https://imslp.org/wiki/Pomp_and_Circumstance_March_No.1,_Op.39_No.1_(Elgar,_Edward)) has the same tune. Elgar [died in 1934](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Elgar). We show the melody only. Music: Edward Elgar (1857-1934), the trio tune of his Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1, 1901.

## What to play next

# Arirang on the ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/arirang/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it starts D, D, D, G. Easy, 47 notes, in G major.

## What are the notes for Arirang?

12-hole alto C tabs: D, D, D | G, G, A | B, A, B, G, E | D | G, G, A | B, A, G, D | G, A, G | G | high D, high D, high D | high D, high C, B, A | B, A, B, G, E | D | G, G, A | B, A, G, D | G, A, G | G
1. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
2. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
3. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
4. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
9. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
10. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
11. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
12. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
13. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
14. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
15. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
16. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
17. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
18. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
19. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
20. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
21. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
22. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
23. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
24. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
25. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
26. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
27. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
28. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
29. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
30. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
33. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
34. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
35. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
36. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
37. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
38. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
39. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
40. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
41. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
42. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
43. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
44. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
45. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
46. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
47. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: D, D, D | G, G, A | B, A, B, G, E | D | G, G, A | B, A, G, D | G, A, G | G | high D, high D, high D | high D, high C, B, A | B, A, B, G, E | D | G, G, A | B, A, G, D | G, A, G | G
1. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
2. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
4. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
5. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
6. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
8. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
9. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
10. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
11. E (cover every hole but the right index)
12. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
13. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
14. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
15. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
16. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
17. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
18. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
19. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
20. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
21. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
22. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
23. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
24. high D (cover the left thumb)
25. high D (cover the left thumb)
26. high D (cover the left thumb)
27. high D (cover the left thumb)
28. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
29. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
30. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
32. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
33. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
34. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
35. E (cover every hole but the right index)
36. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
37. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
38. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
39. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
40. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
41. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
42. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
43. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
44. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
45. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
46. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
47. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)

Arirang starts on three D's, then rises G, G, A to B and comes back down to D. It is the Korean folk song in the version a 1926 film made famous, in a gentle 3/4. Here it is in G major as it was printed in 1929, 16 bars from D up to high D with no sharps or flats. The second and fourth lines are the same, and the first and third end alike, so there is less to learn than it looks.

![Arirang ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar](https://playocarina.com/songs/arirang-ocarina-tabs.png)

Arirang as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone.

## What is the tricky spot in Arirang?

The start of the third line, where the tune jumps from G up to high D, the highest note in the song, and stays there for four notes. On a 12-hole, Arirang goes from G to high D: you lift the left ring, left middle, left index and left thumb. On a 6-hole, you lift the left index, right index and right thumb.

The short G that ends the second line, with two beats of rest after it, is the place to breathe before the jump. Blow a little faster for the high D's and tongue each one, then let the line fall back step by step, high C, B, A, to the same ending as the first line. Singers today often decorate the opening "a-ri-rang" with a quick upper note on each of the repeated notes; the 1929 printing has the plain notes, and our tabs follow it. Once the tune is under your fingers, add those turns by ear if you like.

## Which ocarina can play Arirang?

A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play Arirang in this key on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings: the tune sounds in a different key, which is fine when you play alone. Each linked chart has every fingering for its ocarina, and you can check your notes with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Who wrote Arirang?

Nobody knows for certain. [An older Arirang was already sung all over Korea in 1896](https://archive.org/details/thetrilingualpress_thekoreanrepository_v3_1896/page/n110/mode/1up), when the missionary Homer Hulbert wrote it down, but to a different tune. The tune most people know was [the theme song of Na Woon-gyu's 1926 silent film Arirang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arirang): Na said he wrote the words and asked the cinema's band to make the tune, and [who in the band wrote it is still not known](https://www.hankyung.com/article/202510134595i). Our tabs follow [the song page of a 1929 book of the film's story](https://viewer.nl.go.kr/nlmivs/viewWonmun_js.jsp?cno=CNTS-00077507053&sysid=homepage); [a 1930 songbook](https://viewer.nl.go.kr/nlmivs/viewWonmun_js.jsp?cno=CNTS-00132766000&sysid=homepage) prints the same tune and credits the song to Na. We show the melody only. Music: the theme song of Na Woon-gyu's 1926 film Arirang; its composer is not known for certain.

## What to play next

# Ocarina of Time songs on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/ocarina-of-time/

Updated: 2026-10-29

Every phrase Link plays in [Ocarina of Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time) uses only five notes: D, F, A, B and high D. So all twelve phrases fit a 12-hole or 6-hole ocarina in C. [Saria's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/sarias-song/) and [Song of Storms](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-storms/) also have the whole song, the longer tune the game plays; each page says which ocarinas play it. Pick a song for its notes, fingering pictures and game buttons. Never played before? Start with the [12-hole fingering chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/).

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

## How many ocarina songs are in Ocarina of Time?

[Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) counts thirteen: six songs Link learns along the way, six warp songs, and the Scarecrow's Song, which you make up yourself. The twelve with set notes are below, and the [Scarecrow's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/scarecrows-song/) has a page of its own, with an easy tune of ours. The [Song of Healing](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-healing/) is not one of them: it is from [Majora's Mask](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Majora%27s_Mask), the next game.

| Song | Notes | Nintendo 64 buttons |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Zelda's Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/zeldas-lullaby/) | B, high D, A, B, high D, A | C-left, C-up, C-right, C-left, C-up, C-right |
| [Epona's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/eponas-song/) | high D, B, A, high D, B, A | C-up, C-left, C-right, C-up, C-left, C-right |
| [Saria's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/sarias-song/) | F, A, B, F, A, B | C-down, C-right, C-left, C-down, C-right, C-left |
| [Song of Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-time/) | A, D, F, A, D, F | C-right, A button, C-down, C-right, A button, C-down |
| [Song of Storms](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-storms/) | D, F, high D, D, F, high D | A button, C-down, C-up, A button, C-down, C-up |
| [Minuet of Forest](https://playocarina.com/songs/minuet-of-forest/) | D, high D, B, A, B, A | A button, C-up, C-left, C-right, C-left, C-right |
| [Bolero of Fire](https://playocarina.com/songs/bolero-of-fire/) | F, D, F, D, A, F, A, F | C-down, A button, C-down, A button, C-right, C-down, C-right, C-down |
| [Serenade of Water](https://playocarina.com/songs/serenade-of-water/) | D, F, A, A, B | A button, C-down, C-right, C-right, C-left |
| [Nocturne of Shadow](https://playocarina.com/songs/nocturne-of-shadow/) | B, A, A, D, B, A, F | C-left, C-right, C-right, A button, C-left, C-right, C-down |
| [Requiem of Spirit](https://playocarina.com/songs/requiem-of-spirit/) | D, F, D, A, F, D | A button, C-down, A button, C-right, C-down, A button |
| [Prelude of Light](https://playocarina.com/songs/prelude-of-light/) | high D, A, high D, A, B, high D | C-up, C-right, C-up, C-right, C-left, C-up |
| [Sun's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/suns-song/) | A, F, high D, A, F, high D | C-right, C-down, C-up, C-right, C-down, C-up |

## Which note does each button play on Nintendo 64, 3DS and Switch 2?

Each of the five ocarina buttons [plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)). The 3DS buttons are the ones Zelda Wiki draws on each song's page, as on [Zelda's Lullaby](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Zelda%27s_Lullaby) and [the Song of Storms](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Song_of_Storms), which between them use all five. The Switch 2 buttons are [Zelda Dungeon's list](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) as of 27 October 2026, before that version came out. On a 12-hole ocarina in C you finger the notes like this:

| Nintendo 64 | 3DS | Switch 2 | Note | 12-hole fingering |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A button | L | L | D | Cover every main hole but the right pinky |
| C-down | R | R | F | Cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky |
| C-right | Y | A button | A | Cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb |
| C-left | X | Y | B | Cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb |
| C-up | A button | X | high D | Cover the left pinky and right thumb |

## Can you play these songs on a real ocarina in the Switch 2 version?

Yes. [Nintendo says](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) the Switch 2 version of Ocarina of Time listens through the console's microphone and responds to instruments like ocarinas, or to humming. Our [guide to the remake](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/) covers which ocarina plays all twelve songs.

## What other Ocarina of Time music can you play on an ocarina?

Tunes from the game's own music are searched for too. [Gerudo Valley](https://playocarina.com/songs/gerudo-valley/), the music of the valley and the places beyond it, and the harp tune of the [Great Fairy Fountain](https://playocarina.com/songs/great-fairy-fountain/) each have a page of their own, with the tune, the fingerings and a player.

## Which ocarina is best for the Zelda songs?

Any 12-hole or 6-hole ocarina in C plays all twelve phrases. A 4-hole pendant cannot reach high D, so it misses the phrases that use it. An ocarina in G or F plays them with the same fingerings, in another key. Before you buy, the [buying guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/) says what to look for; if you already have one, a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) shows whether it plays in tune.

# Majora's Mask ocarina songs on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/majoras-mask/

Updated: 2026-11-02

[Majora's Mask](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Majora%27s_Mask) has nine ocarina songs on this page: each is a short phrase of six to eight notes, played with the same five ocarina buttons as in Ocarina of Time, so a 12-hole or 6-hole ocarina in C plays all of them. [Song of Healing](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-healing/), [Song of Soaring](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-soaring/), [Sonata of Awakening](https://playocarina.com/songs/sonata-of-awakening/), [Goron Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/goron-lullaby/), [New Wave Bossa Nova](https://playocarina.com/songs/new-wave-bossa-nova/), [Elegy of Emptiness](https://playocarina.com/songs/elegy-of-emptiness/), [Oath to Order](https://playocarina.com/songs/oath-to-order/), [Inverted Song of Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/inverted-song-of-time/) and [Song of Double Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-double-time/). Each page has the notes, the fingering pictures and the game buttons. Never played before? Start with the [12-hole fingering chart](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/).

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda*, *Ocarina of Time* and *Majora's Mask* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are Nintendo's; Koji Kondo is credited with the music of both games. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

## How many ocarina songs are in Majora's Mask?

[Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Majora%27s_Mask_Songs) counts thirteen songs Link can learn in Majora's Mask, most of them needed to finish the game. Three of them are songs from Ocarina of Time with the same buttons: the [Song of Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-time/), [Epona's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/eponas-song/) and the [Song of Storms](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-storms/). The [Scarecrow's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/scarecrows-song/) has no set notes in either game, and the table below has the others.

| Song | Notes | Nintendo 64 buttons |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Song of Healing](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-healing/) | B, A, F, B, A, F | C-left, C-right, C-down, C-left, C-right, C-down |
| [Song of Soaring](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-soaring/) | F, B, high D, F, B, high D | C-down, C-left, C-up, C-down, C-left, C-up |
| [Sonata of Awakening](https://playocarina.com/songs/sonata-of-awakening/) | high D, B, high D, B, D, A, D | C-up, C-left, C-up, C-left, A button, C-right, A button |
| [Goron Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/goron-lullaby/) | D, A, B, D, A, B, A, D | A button, C-right, C-left, A button, C-right, C-left, C-right, A button |
| [New Wave Bossa Nova](https://playocarina.com/songs/new-wave-bossa-nova/) | B, high D, B, A, F, B, A | C-left, C-up, C-left, C-right, C-down, C-left, C-right |
| [Elegy of Emptiness](https://playocarina.com/songs/elegy-of-emptiness/) | A, B, A, F, A, high D, B | C-right, C-left, C-right, C-down, C-right, C-up, C-left |
| [Oath to Order](https://playocarina.com/songs/oath-to-order/) | A, F, D, F, A, high D | C-right, C-down, A button, C-down, C-right, C-up |
| [Inverted Song of Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/inverted-song-of-time/) | F, D, A, F, D, A | C-down, A button, C-right, C-down, A button, C-right |
| [Song of Double Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-double-time/) | A, A, D, D, F, F | C-right, C-right, A button, A button, C-down, C-down |

## Which note does each button play in Majora's Mask?

The same as in Ocarina of Time: each of the five ocarina buttons [plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)). The table on the [Ocarina of Time songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/ocarina-of-time/) page shows which note each Nintendo 64, 3DS and Switch 2 button plays, and how to finger it on a 12-hole ocarina.

## Which ocarina is best for the Majora's Mask songs?

Any 12-hole or 6-hole ocarina in C plays all nine. A 4-hole pendant cannot reach high D, so it plays only the songs that stay below it, and each song page says which ocarinas play it. Our [buying guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/) explains what to look for, and you can check whether your ocarina plays in tune with a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

# Scarecrow's Song on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/scarecrows-song/

Updated: 2026-11-02

On a 12-hole an easy eight-note tune for the Scarecrow's Song is D, F, A, B, high D, B, A, F. The game has no set tune for it: you choose eight notes, as long as they are not one of its own songs or one note eight times, and ours is easy to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Scarecrow's Song?

The step up from B to high D at the top of the climb, and the step back down. The high D needs more air than the B, and then the air has to ease again for the way down. On a 12-hole, Scarecrow's Song goes from B to high D: you lift the left index and left thumb. On a 6-hole, you lift the right middle and right thumb.

## How do you hold and breathe for Scarecrow's Song?

Play it as one rising line and one falling line. Take a breath at the top, after the high D if you need one, and let the air settle as the tune comes back down to the F so it does not go sharp. To check your breath, hold each note of Scarecrow's Song in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Scarecrow's Song?

Our tune goes from D up to high D. A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play it on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C.

## Which notes can you play for Scarecrow's Song?

Our tune is D, F, A, B, high D, B, A, F. In [Ocarina of Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time) you play it on the Nintendo 64 with A button, C-down, C-right, C-left, C-up, C-left, C-right, C-down: [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)), and you can change any of them within the game's rules.

In the 3DS version the same notes are L, R, Y, X, A button, X, Y, R. In the Switch 2 version, which [Nintendo says](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) responds to a played ocarina, they would be L, R, A button, Y, X, Y, A button, R, going by the button list published before that version came out. The table on the [Ocarina of Time songs](https://playocarina.com/songs/ocarina-of-time/) page shows which note each button plays.

12-hole alto C tabs: D, F, A, B, high D, B, A, F
1. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
2. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
6. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: D, F, A, B, high D, B, A, F
1. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
2. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
3. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)
6. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
7. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)

## What are the rules for the Scarecrow's Song?

[Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Scarecrow%27s_Song) says the song "can only be up to eight notes long" and has to be built from the ocarina's buttons "as long as they aren't a duplicate of one of the game's other tunes or the same eight notes in a row". Within that the notes are yours: this page gives you one that works, and you can change any of them.

## What does the Scarecrow's Song do?

Once adult Link has played the same tune to Bonooru again, playing it where Navi turns green makes Pierre appear, and Link can use the Hookshot on him to reach places he could not otherwise get to. Zelda Wiki lists the uses: [retrieving out-of-reach items, shortcuts and avoiding traps](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Scarecrow%27s_Song).

## Where do you learn Scarecrow's Song in Ocarina of Time?

As a child, Link shows Bonooru, the scarecrow in the soil by the fence at Lake Hylia, his ocarina and plays him a tune of his own, eight notes long. As an adult he plays the same tune to Bonooru again, and Bonooru offers him the services of Pierre, the other scarecrow, who wanders the lands outside. Majora's Mask asks for a tune too, from Pierre, who waits in the Trading Post or the Astral Observatory.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Zelda's Lullaby on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/zeldas-lullaby/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it is six notes: B, high D, A, B, high D, A. The short phrase from Ocarina of Time, and easy to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Zelda's Lullaby?

The jump up from B to high D, twice. The fingers have to move together, and the high D needs more air than the B before it. On a 12-hole, Zelda's Lullaby goes from B to high D: you lift the left index and left thumb. On a 6-hole, you lift the right middle and right thumb.

## How do you hold and breathe for Zelda's Lullaby?

Let each note ring: the phrase is three notes, said twice. Start soft on the B, give the high D a little more air, and ease off again for the A so it does not go sharp. To check your breath, hold each note of Zelda's Lullaby in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Zelda's Lullaby?

Zelda's Lullaby goes from A up to high D. A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play it on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C.

## What are the notes for Zelda's Lullaby?

The notes are B, high D, A, B, high D, A. In [Ocarina of Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) are C-left, C-up, C-right, C-left, C-up, C-right, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In the 3DS version, Zelda's Lullaby is X, A button, Y, X, A button, Y, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Zelda%27s_Lullaby) draws the buttons. In the Switch 2 version, which [Nintendo says](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) responds to a played ocarina, it is Y, X, A button, Y, X, A button, as [Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) listed it on 27 October 2026, before that version came out. More in [our guide to the remake](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/).

12-hole alto C tabs: B, high D, A, B, high D, A
1. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
3. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
6. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: B, high D, A, B, high D, A
1. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
2. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)
3. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)
6. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)

## Is Zelda's Lullaby in other Zelda games?

Zelda's Lullaby is in many Zelda games: it is Princess Zelda's theme. Since A Link to the Past, [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Zelda%27s_Lullaby) says, it "usually serves as background music whenever Princess Zelda appears". Skyward Sword's main theme, "Ballad of the Goddess", is a slightly changed version of the lullaby played backwards.

## Where do you learn Zelda's Lullaby in Ocarina of Time?

Link learns Zelda's Lullaby from Impa, shortly after meeting Princess Zelda at the castle. He plays it at many points in the game, for example at the entrance to Zora's Domain.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Epona's Song on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/eponas-song/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it is six notes: high D, B, A, high D, B, A. The short phrase from Ocarina of Time, and easy to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Epona's Song?

Going back up from A to the high D that starts the phrase again. It is a jump of a fourth, with several fingers moving at once. On a 12-hole, Epona's Song goes from A to high D: you lift the left middle, left index and left thumb. On a 6-hole, you lift the left index and right thumb.

## How do you hold and breathe for Epona's Song?

Start the high D with firm, steady air, then let the breath settle as the tune steps down to B and A. Take a quick breath before the repeat so the second high D is as clean as the first. To check your breath, hold each note of Epona's Song in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Epona's Song?

Epona's Song goes from A up to high D. A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play it on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C.

## What are the notes for Epona's Song?

The notes are high D, B, A, high D, B, A. In [Ocarina of Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) are C-up, C-left, C-right, C-up, C-left, C-right, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In the 3DS version, Epona's Song is A button, X, Y, A button, X, Y, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Epona%27s_Song) draws the buttons. In the Switch 2 version, which [Nintendo says](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) responds to a played ocarina, it is X, Y, A button, X, Y, A button, as [Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) listed it on 27 October 2026, before that version came out. More in [our guide to the remake](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/).

12-hole alto C tabs: high D, B, A, high D, B, A
1. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
2. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
5. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: high D, B, A, high D, B, A
1. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)
2. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
3. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)
5. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)

## Who wrote Epona's Song?

In the story, Malon's mother wrote Epona's Song: the game says it [was composed by Malon's mother](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Epona%27s_Song). Outside the story, the game's music is [credited to Koji Kondo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time). [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Epona%27s_Song) also notes that the full version of Epona's Song is the only piece in the game with a swing eighth-note rhythm.

## Where do you learn Epona's Song in Ocarina of Time?

Malon teaches Epona's Song at Lon Lon Ranch. It calls Link's horse, and playing it to a cow fills a bottle with milk.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Saria's Song on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/sarias-song/

Updated: 2026-11-02

On a 12-hole it is six notes: F, A, B, F, A, B. The short phrase from Ocarina of Time, the Lost Woods song, and then the whole song, which is medium to play and written a fourth lower, in G major, to fit the ocarina.

## What are the notes for Saria's Song?

12-hole alto C tabs: C, E, F♯, C, E, F♯ | C, E, F♯, B, A, F♯, G | F♯, D, low B, low A | low B, D, low B | C, E, F♯, C, E, F♯ | C, E, F♯, B, A, F♯, G | B, F♯, D, F♯ | D, low A, low B | C, D, E, F♯, G, A | B, high C, high D | C, low B, E, D, F♯, E, G, F♯ | A, G, B, A, high C, B, F♯, G, E | F♯
1. C (cover every main hole)
2. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
3. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
4. C (cover every main hole)
5. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
6. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
7. C (cover every main hole)
8. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
9. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
10. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
11. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
13. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
14. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
15. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
16. low B (cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole)
17. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
18. low B (cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole)
19. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
20. low B (cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole)
21. C (cover every main hole)
22. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
23. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
24. C (cover every main hole)
25. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
26. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
27. C (cover every main hole)
28. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
29. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
30. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
33. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
34. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
35. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
36. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
37. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
38. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
39. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
40. low B (cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole)
41. C (cover every main hole)
42. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
43. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
44. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
45. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
46. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
47. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
48. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
49. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
50. C (cover every main hole)
51. low B (cover every main hole, plus the right sub-hole)
52. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
53. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
54. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
55. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
56. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
57. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
58. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
59. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
60. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
61. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
62. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
63. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
64. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
65. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
66. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
67. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)

The whole Lost Woods tune, as it plays in the game's forest: the lead line of two fan MIDI files made by different people, [John Kuzma's](https://www.vgmusic.com/music/console/nintendo/n64/Z64lstwd.mid) and [Sword-Bolt's](https://www.vgmusic.com/music/console/nintendo/n64/OoT-Lost_Woods.mid). They agree on every note and on where each one starts; we took the first one's lengths where they differ, and slowed the tune from about 140 beats a minute. [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Saria%27s_Song) describes the piece as an 8-bar A section and a 10-bar B section, which is the 18 bars here, with the lead resting for two bars before each of the B section's two phrases. We wrote it a fourth lower than the game plays it, in G major, so that all of it fits a 12-hole ocarina; the six-note phrase below stays at the game's pitch.

## How do you play Saria's Song in Ocarina of Time?

The in-game phrase is F, A, B, F, A, B. In [Ocarina of Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) are C-down, C-right, C-left, C-down, C-right, C-left, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In the 3DS version, Saria's Song is R, Y, X, R, Y, X, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Saria%27s_Song) draws the buttons. In the Switch 2 version, which [Nintendo says](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) responds to a played ocarina, it is R, A button, Y, R, A button, Y, as [Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) listed it on 27 October 2026, before that version came out. More in [our guide to the remake](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/).

| Nintendo 64 button | Note | 12-hole fingering | 6-hole fingering | 4-hole fingering |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C-down | F | Cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky | Cover every hole but the right middle and right index | Cover the left middle and left index |
| C-right | A | Cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb | Cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb | Cover the left index |
| C-left | B | Cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb | Cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb | Cover the right middle |

## What is the tricky spot in Saria's Song?

The leap from F sharp up to B in the second bar, right after the quick C, E, F sharp run. Several fingers change at once, and the B needs more air than the notes before it. On a 12-hole, Saria's Song goes from F♯ to B: you lift the left ring, left middle and right ring.

## How do you hold and breathe for Saria's Song?

Tongue the quick pairs lightly and breathe on the long notes: the three-beat B that ends the fourth bar and the eighth bar is the place for a full breath. The two silent bars before each new part give you time too. To check your breath, hold each note of Saria's Song in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Saria's Song?

Saria's Song goes from low A up to high D. A 6-hole ocarina cannot reach low A and low B, and a 4-hole ocarina cannot reach low A, low B and high D, so play it on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) ocarina in C. The in-game phrase alone also fits a 6-hole or 4-hole ocarina: its fingerings are in the table under "How do you play Saria's Song in Ocarina of Time?".

## Why is Saria's Song called the Lost Woods song?

Saria's Song belongs to the Lost Woods: Saria teaches it deep in the woods, and Link plays it there, to Mido to reach the Sacred Forest Meadow and to the Skull Kid for a Piece of Heart.

In the game the same tune is also [the background music](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Saria%27s_Song) for the Lost Woods and the Sacred Forest Meadow, so you hear it on the way to Saria before she teaches it. Its notes the other way round, B, A, F, are the [Song of Healing](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-healing/) from Majora's Mask.

## Where do you learn Saria's Song in Ocarina of Time?

Saria teaches it in the Sacred Forest Meadow, deep in the Lost Woods. Playing it later lets Link talk to Saria for hints.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Song of Time on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-time/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it is six notes: A, D, F, A, D, F. The short phrase from Ocarina of Time, and easy to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Song of Time?

The drop from A down to D. Several fingers go down at once, and the D is the lowest note in the phrase, so it needs the least air. On a 12-hole, Song of Time goes from A to D: you cover the left ring, right index, right middle and right ring. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you cover the left middle and right index.

## How do you hold and breathe for Song of Time?

Breathe gently for the D, the lowest note in the phrase, and keep the air steady to the end of each note: stop it with your tongue rather than letting the breath fade, or the pitch sags. To check your breath, hold each note of Song of Time in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Song of Time?

Song of Time goes from D up to A. Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays it.

## What are the notes for Song of Time?

The notes are A, D, F, A, D, F. In [Ocarina of Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) are C-right, A button, C-down, C-right, A button, C-down, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In the 3DS version, Song of Time is Y, L, R, Y, L, R, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Song_of_Time) draws the buttons. In the Switch 2 version, which [Nintendo says](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) responds to a played ocarina, it is A button, L, R, A button, L, R, as [Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) listed it on 27 October 2026, before that version came out. More in [our guide to the remake](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/).

12-hole alto C tabs: A, D, F, A, D, F
1. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
3. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
4. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
6. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: A, D, F, A, D, F
1. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
4. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
6. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: A, D, F, A, D, F
1. C-right: A (cover the left index)
2. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. C-down: F (cover the left middle and left index)
4. C-right: A (cover the left index)
5. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
6. C-down: F (cover the left middle and left index)

## Where else does the Song of Time play?

The Song of Time is also the Temple of Time theme in Ocarina of Time, [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Song_of_Time) notes. It comes back in Majora's Mask, where playing it lets Link "warp back to the dawn of the First Day", and in Breath of the Wild, where "a slowed-down piano version" plays in the Temple of Time.

## Where do you learn Song of Time in Ocarina of Time?

Princess Zelda throws Link the Ocarina of Time and teaches him the Song of Time. It opens the Door of Time and moves the Song of Time blocks.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Song of Storms on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-storms/

Updated: 2026-11-02

On a 12-hole it is six notes: D, F, high D, D, F, high D. The short phrase from Ocarina of Time, and then the whole song, which is medium to play.

## What are the notes for Song of Storms?

12-hole alto C tabs: D, F, high D | D, F, high D | high E, high F, high E, high F | high E, high C, A | A, D, F, G | A | A, D, F, G | E | D, F, high D | D, F, high D | high E, high F, high E, high F | high E, high C, A | A, D, F, G | A, A | D
1. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
2. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
4. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
5. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
7. high E (cover the left pinky)
8. high F (all holes open)
9. high E (cover the left pinky)
10. high F (all holes open)
11. high E (cover the left pinky)
12. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
13. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
14. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
15. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
16. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
17. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
18. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
19. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
20. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
21. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
22. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
23. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
24. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
25. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
26. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
27. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
28. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
29. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
30. high E (cover the left pinky)
31. high F (all holes open)
32. high E (cover the left pinky)
33. high F (all holes open)
34. high E (cover the left pinky)
35. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
36. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
37. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
38. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
39. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
40. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
41. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
42. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
43. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)

The whole windmill tune: the lead line of two fan MIDI files made by different people, [John Kuzma's](https://www.vgmusic.com/music/console/nintendo/n64/z64inwml.mid) and [The Ultimate Koopa's](https://www.vgmusic.com/music/console/nintendo/n64/LegendOfZelda_OcarinaOfTime_-_Windmill_Hut.mid), listed as "Windmill Hut" and "Windmill Hut (XG)". They agree on every note and on where each one starts; they differ only in how short they cut some of the long ones, and we took the longer reading. [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Song_of_Storms) says the piece is in triple time, with a four-bar intro before the loop; we leave the intro out and play the tune through twice, the second time ending on D. We slowed it from about 195 beats a minute. It stays at the game's pitch, so it reaches high F and needs a 12-hole ocarina; the six-note phrase below fits a smaller one.

## How do you play Song of Storms in Ocarina of Time?

The in-game phrase is D, F, high D, D, F, high D. In [Ocarina of Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) are A button, C-down, C-up, A button, C-down, C-up, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In the 3DS version, Song of Storms is L, R, A button, L, R, A button, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Song_of_Storms) draws the buttons. In the Switch 2 version, which [Nintendo says](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) responds to a played ocarina, it is L, R, X, L, R, X, as [Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) listed it on 27 October 2026, before that version came out. More in [our guide to the remake](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/).

| Nintendo 64 button | Note | 12-hole fingering | 6-hole fingering |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A button | D | Cover every main hole but the right pinky | Cover every hole but the right middle |
| C-down | F | Cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky | Cover every hole but the right middle and right index |
| C-up | high D | Cover the left pinky and right thumb | Cover the left thumb |

## What is the tricky spot in Song of Storms?

The leap from F up to high D that opens the tune and returns in the ninth bar, with two quick notes just before it. Most of the holes open at once, and the high D needs a firmer breath. On a 12-hole, Song of Storms goes from F to high D: you lift the left ring, left middle, left index, right index and left thumb.

## How do you hold and breathe for Song of Storms?

Breathe after each held high D, and on the three-beat E that ends the eighth bar. Keep the quick D, F pairs light and let the high D have a firmer push of air. To check your breath, hold each note of Song of Storms in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Song of Storms?

Song of Storms goes from D up to high F. A 6-hole ocarina cannot reach high F, and a 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, high E and high F, so play it on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) ocarina in C. The in-game phrase alone also fits a 6-hole ocarina: its fingerings are in the table under "How do you play Song of Storms in Ocarina of Time?".

## What is the windmill song in Ocarina of Time?

The windmill song is the Song of Storms. Link learns it from the Music Man in the Windmill when he visits as an adult.

## Why is the Song of Storms a time paradox?

The man in the Windmill teaches adult Link the Song of Storms because he is angry about the damage a boy did by playing it there. That boy is young Link, who learned it from him in the future. [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Song_of_Storms) calls this "a bootstrap paradox". In Majora's Mask the song has composers after all: the Composer Brothers of Ikana Canyon.

## Where do you learn Song of Storms in Ocarina of Time?

Link learns the Song of Storms from the Music Man in the Windmill, as an adult. It is needed to enter the Bottom of the Well as a child, and it opens hidden grottos.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Minuet of Forest on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/minuet-of-forest/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it is six notes: D, high D, B, A, B, A. The short phrase from Ocarina of Time, and medium to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Minuet of Forest?

The leap of an octave from the first note to the second, with most fingers coming off at once. On a 12-hole, Minuet of Forest goes from D to high D: you lift the left ring, left middle, left index, right index, right middle, right ring and left thumb. On a 6-hole, you lift the left middle, left index, right index and right thumb.

## How do you hold and breathe for Minuet of Forest?

Start the D softly, then give the high D a firm push of air. The last four notes rock between B and A: keep them even; on a 12-hole only the left middle finger moves. To check your breath, hold each note of Minuet of Forest in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Minuet of Forest?

Minuet of Forest goes from D up to high D. A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play it on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C.

## What are the notes for Minuet of Forest?

The notes are D, high D, B, A, B, A. In [Ocarina of Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) are A button, C-up, C-left, C-right, C-left, C-right, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In the 3DS version, Minuet of Forest is L, A button, X, Y, X, Y, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Minuet_of_Forest) draws the buttons. In the Switch 2 version, which [Nintendo says](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) responds to a played ocarina, it is L, X, Y, A button, Y, A button, as [Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) listed it on 27 October 2026, before that version came out. More in [our guide to the remake](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/).

12-hole alto C tabs: D, high D, B, A, B, A
1. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
2. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
3. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: D, high D, B, A, B, A
1. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
2. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)
3. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
4. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)

## Is the Minuet of Forest in other Zelda games?

The ending of the Minuet of Forest comes back in The Wind Waker: [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Minuet_of_Forest) says it "can be heard as part of the "Ballad of Gales"". The wiki also points out a slip in the Nintendo 64 game: the song takes Link to the Sacred Forest Meadow, but the message after playing it offers a warp to the Lost Woods, fixed in Ocarina of Time 3D.

## Where do you learn Minuet of Forest in Ocarina of Time?

Sheik teaches the Minuet of Forest in the Sacred Forest Meadow. It warps Link to just outside the Forest Temple.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Bolero of Fire on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/bolero-of-fire/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it is eight notes: F, D, F, D, A, F, A, F. The short phrase from Ocarina of Time, and easy to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Bolero of Fire?

The second half rocks between F and A, moving fingers in both hands at once. On a 12-hole, Bolero of Fire goes from F to A: you lift the left ring and right index. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you lift the left middle.

## How do you hold and breathe for Bolero of Fire?

Bolero of Fire is eight notes, the longest of the twelve songs with set notes. Tongue each one lightly and keep the air steady: every note sits in the middle of the ocarina, so none needs much more breath than the others. If you need air, breathe after the fourth note, where the D closes the first half. To check your breath, hold each note of Bolero of Fire in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Bolero of Fire?

Bolero of Fire goes from D up to A. Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays it.

## What are the notes for Bolero of Fire?

The notes are F, D, F, D, A, F, A, F. In [Ocarina of Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) are C-down, A button, C-down, A button, C-right, C-down, C-right, C-down, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In the 3DS version, Bolero of Fire is R, L, R, L, Y, R, Y, R, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Bolero_of_Fire) draws the buttons. In the Switch 2 version, which [Nintendo says](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) responds to a played ocarina, it is R, L, R, L, A button, R, A button, R, as [Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) listed it on 27 October 2026, before that version came out. More in [our guide to the remake](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/).

12-hole alto C tabs: F, D, F, D, A, F, A, F
1. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
2. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
3. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
4. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
5. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
7. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: F, D, F, D, A, F, A, F
1. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
2. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
4. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
5. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
7. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: F, D, F, D, A, F, A, F
1. C-down: F (cover the left middle and left index)
2. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. C-down: F (cover the left middle and left index)
4. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
5. C-right: A (cover the left index)
6. C-down: F (cover the left middle and left index)
7. C-right: A (cover the left index)
8. C-down: F (cover the left middle and left index)

## What does the Bolero of Fire have to do with Ravel's Boléro?

The Bolero of Fire borrows its backing from Ravel. [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Bolero_of_Fire) says the parts that accompany Link's ocarina are the famous snare drum figure from Maurice Ravel's Boléro. The full piece is "a short, 6-bar piece in triple time", rooted in D minor. On a real ocarina you play only Link's part, so the drive has to come from your tongue.

## Where do you learn Bolero of Fire in Ocarina of Time?

Sheik teaches the Bolero of Fire in Death Mountain Crater. It warps Link to just outside the Fire Temple.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Serenade of Water on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/serenade-of-water/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it is five notes: D, F, A, A, B. The short phrase from Ocarina of Time, and easy to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Serenade of Water?

The repeated A. Your fingers stay still, so the two notes come only from your tongue: stop the first A and start the second with a clear "tu".

## How do you hold and breathe for Serenade of Water?

Serenade of Water is the shortest warp song, five notes that climb from D up to B. Let the breath grow a little as the notes go up, and keep the last B long and steady. To check your breath, hold each note of Serenade of Water in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Serenade of Water?

Serenade of Water goes from D up to B. Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays it.

## What are the notes for Serenade of Water?

The notes are D, F, A, A, B. In [Ocarina of Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) are A button, C-down, C-right, C-right, C-left, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In the 3DS version, Serenade of Water is L, R, Y, Y, X, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Serenade_of_Water) draws the buttons. In the Switch 2 version, which [Nintendo says](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) responds to a played ocarina, it is L, R, A button, A button, Y, as [Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) listed it on 27 October 2026, before that version came out. More in [our guide to the remake](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/).

12-hole alto C tabs: D, F, A, A, B
1. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
2. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: D, F, A, A, B
1. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
2. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
3. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: D, F, A, A, B
1. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
2. C-down: F (cover the left middle and left index)
3. C-right: A (cover the left index)
4. C-right: A (cover the left index)
5. C-left: B (cover the right middle)

## Where else does the Serenade of Water play?

The Serenade of Water also plays in Twilight Princess. [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Serenade_of_Water) says it is "the background music for the two instances when Link encounters the ghost of the deceased Rutela".

## Where do you learn Serenade of Water in Ocarina of Time?

Sheik teaches the Serenade of Water after Link gets the Iron Boots in the Ice Cavern. It warps Link to the lake above the Water Temple.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Nocturne of Shadow on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/nocturne-of-shadow/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it is seven notes: B, A, A, D, B, A, F. The short phrase from Ocarina of Time, and easy to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Nocturne of Shadow?

The jump back up from D to B. Most fingers lift at once, the biggest change in the phrase. On a 12-hole, Nocturne of Shadow goes from D to B: you lift the left ring, left middle, right index, right middle and right ring. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you lift the left middle, left index and right index and cover the right middle.

## How do you hold and breathe for Nocturne of Shadow?

Keep the air low and even, and play the repeated A with your tongue, not by lifting a finger. The phrase has one natural breath, after the D, before the jump back up to B. To check your breath, hold each note of Nocturne of Shadow in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Nocturne of Shadow?

Nocturne of Shadow goes from D up to B. Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays it.

## What are the notes for Nocturne of Shadow?

The notes are B, A, A, D, B, A, F. In [Ocarina of Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) are C-left, C-right, C-right, A button, C-left, C-right, C-down, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In the 3DS version, Nocturne of Shadow is X, Y, Y, L, X, Y, R, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Nocturne_of_Shadow) draws the buttons. In the Switch 2 version, which [Nintendo says](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) responds to a played ocarina, it is Y, A button, A button, L, Y, A button, R, as [Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) listed it on 27 October 2026, before that version came out. More in [our guide to the remake](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/).

12-hole alto C tabs: B, A, A, D, B, A, F
1. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
5. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: B, A, A, D, B, A, F
1. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
2. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
5. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: B, A, A, D, B, A, F
1. C-left: B (cover the right middle)
2. C-right: A (cover the left index)
3. C-right: A (cover the left index)
4. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
5. C-left: B (cover the right middle)
6. C-right: A (cover the left index)
7. C-down: F (cover the left middle and left index)

## Do you need the Nocturne of Shadow to finish Ocarina of Time?

Yes. [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Nocturne_of_Shadow) calls the Nocturne of Shadow "the only song actually required by adult Link to reach a temple". The full piece is 7 bars in 4/4, and the wiki hears it begin "on low, sad notes" and build "up to a triumphant note".

## Where do you learn Nocturne of Shadow in Ocarina of Time?

Link learns the Nocturne of Shadow from Sheik in Kakariko Village after the Water Temple. It warps Link to the graveyard.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Requiem of Spirit on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/requiem-of-spirit/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it is six notes: D, F, D, A, F, D. The short phrase from Ocarina of Time, and easy to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Requiem of Spirit?

The middle jump from D up to A. Several fingers lift together, then some come back for the F. On a 12-hole, Requiem of Spirit goes from D to A: you lift the left ring, right index, right middle and right ring. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you lift the left middle and right index.

## How do you hold and breathe for Requiem of Spirit?

Give each note its full length, breathe low and steady for the D, and do not rush the jump to A. To check your breath, hold each note of Requiem of Spirit in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Requiem of Spirit?

Requiem of Spirit goes from D up to A. Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays it.

## What are the notes for Requiem of Spirit?

The notes are D, F, D, A, F, D. In [Ocarina of Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) are A button, C-down, A button, C-right, C-down, A button, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In the 3DS version, Requiem of Spirit is L, R, L, Y, R, L, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Requiem_of_Spirit) draws the buttons. In the Switch 2 version, which [Nintendo says](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) responds to a played ocarina, it is L, R, L, A button, R, L, as [Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) listed it on 27 October 2026, before that version came out. More in [our guide to the remake](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/).

12-hole alto C tabs: D, F, D, A, F, D
1. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
2. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
4. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: D, F, D, A, F, D
1. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
2. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
3. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
4. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
6. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: D, F, D, A, F, D
1. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
2. C-down: F (cover the left middle and left index)
3. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
4. C-right: A (cover the left index)
5. C-down: F (cover the left middle and left index)
6. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)

## Can young Link play the Requiem of Spirit?

Young Link can play the Requiem of Spirit, and the story needs him to. [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Requiem_of_Spirit) says it warps Link to the Desert Colossus "at any age, which is necessary in order to access the Spirit Temple as a child". Sheik says as much when teaching it: "This melody will lead a child back to the desert."

## Where do you learn Requiem of Spirit in Ocarina of Time?

Sheik teaches the Requiem of Spirit when Link comes back out of the Spirit Temple for the first time. It warps Link to the Desert Colossus.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Prelude of Light on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/prelude-of-light/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it is six notes: high D, A, high D, A, B, high D. The short phrase from Ocarina of Time, and easy to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Prelude of Light?

Swinging between high D and A, twice. The fingers go down and up together, and the high D needs more air each time. On a 12-hole, Prelude of Light goes from high D to A: you cover the left middle, left index and left thumb. On a 6-hole, you cover the left index and right thumb.

## How do you hold and breathe for Prelude of Light?

Start with a firm high D, keep the air up through the swings, and finish on a strong high D. To check your breath, hold each note of Prelude of Light in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Prelude of Light?

Prelude of Light goes from A up to high D. A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play it on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C.

## What are the notes for Prelude of Light?

The notes are high D, A, high D, A, B, high D. In [Ocarina of Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) are C-up, C-right, C-up, C-right, C-left, C-up, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In the 3DS version, Prelude of Light is A button, Y, A button, Y, X, A button, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Prelude_of_Light) draws the buttons. In the Switch 2 version, which [Nintendo says](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) responds to a played ocarina, it is X, A button, X, A button, Y, X, as [Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) listed it on 27 October 2026, before that version came out. More in [our guide to the remake](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/).

12-hole alto C tabs: high D, A, high D, A, B, high D
1. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
2. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
4. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: high D, A, high D, A, B, high D
1. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)
2. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)
4. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)

## What key is the Prelude of Light in?

The Prelude of Light is in D major. [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Prelude_of_Light) describes the full piece as "8 bars long in 4/4 time", its first four bars using only I and IV chords, the "Hallelujah" or plagal cadence of church music. The phrase you play starts and ends on high D, the key note.

## Where do you learn Prelude of Light in Ocarina of Time?

Sheik teaches the Prelude of Light at the Temple of Time after the Forest Temple. It warps Link back to the Temple of Time.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Sun's Song on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/suns-song/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it is six notes: A, F, high D, A, F, high D. The short phrase from Ocarina of Time, and easy to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Sun's Song?

The leap from F up to high D. Most fingers lift at once, the biggest jump in the phrase. On a 12-hole, Sun's Song goes from F to high D: you lift the left ring, left middle, left index, right index and left thumb. On a 6-hole, you lift the left middle, left index and right thumb.

## How do you hold and breathe for Sun's Song?

Play the A and F lightly, then push a little more air into the high D. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/why-ocarina-high-notes-flat): "pressure must increase as you play higher notes". To check your breath, hold each note of Sun's Song in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Sun's Song?

Sun's Song goes from F up to high D. A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play it on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C.

## What are the notes for Sun's Song?

The notes are A, F, high D, A, F, high D. In [Ocarina of Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) are C-right, C-down, C-up, C-right, C-down, C-up, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In the 3DS version, Sun's Song is Y, R, A button, Y, R, A button, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Sun%27s_Song) draws the buttons. In the Switch 2 version, which [Nintendo says](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) responds to a played ocarina, it is A button, R, X, A button, R, X, as [Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_Songs) listed it on 27 October 2026, before that version came out. More in [our guide to the remake](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/).

12-hole alto C tabs: A, F, high D, A, F, high D
1. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
4. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: A, F, high D, A, F, high D
1. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
3. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)
4. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
6. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)

## Who wrote the Sun's Song in the game?

The Composer Brothers, Flat and Sharp. [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Sun%27s_Song) says the royal family set them to study the family's mystic powers, and that each brother studied a different song: "one to summon the sun, and another to summon the moon."

## Where do you learn Sun's Song in Ocarina of Time?

Link reads the Sun's Song from a tablet in the Royal Family's Tomb in the graveyard. It turns day to night and back, and stuns some enemies.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Song of Healing on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-healing/

Updated: 2026-10-29

On a 12-hole it is six notes: B, A, F, B, A, F. The short phrase from Majora's Mask, and easy to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Song of Healing?

Going back up from F to B to start the second half. The tune has stepped down, so the breath has dropped with it, and the B needs it back. On a 12-hole, Song of Healing goes from F to B: you lift the left ring, left middle and right index. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you swap hands: lift the left middle and left index and cover the right middle.

## How do you hold and breathe for Song of Healing?

Let each note ring its full length, and ease the air off a little as the tune falls from B through A to F, so the F does not go sharp. If you need a breath, take it after the third note, between the two halves. To check your breath, hold each note of Song of Healing in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Song of Healing?

Song of Healing goes from F up to B. Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays it.

## What are the notes for Song of Healing?

The notes are B, A, F, B, A, F. In [Majora's Mask](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Majora%27s_Mask) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Majora%27s_Mask_Songs) are C-left, C-right, C-down, C-left, C-right, C-down, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In Majora's Mask 3D, Song of Healing is X, Y, R, X, Y, R, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Song_of_Healing) draws the buttons.

12-hole alto C tabs: B, A, F, B, A, F
1. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
4. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: B, A, F, B, A, F
1. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
2. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
4. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: B, A, F, B, A, F
1. C-left: B (cover the right middle)
2. C-right: A (cover the left index)
3. C-down: F (cover the left middle and left index)
4. C-left: B (cover the right middle)
5. C-right: A (cover the left index)
6. C-down: F (cover the left middle and left index)

## What does the Song of Healing do?

The Happy Mask Salesman calls it ["a melody that heals evil magic and troubled spirits, turning them into masks"](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Song_of_Healing). Link plays it for troubled spirits across the game. The Goron warrior Darmani III and the Zora guitarist Mikau each leave a mask that lets Link use their body.

## Is the Song of Healing in Ocarina of Time?

No. The Song of Healing is from Majora's Mask, the next game. Link plays it on the same ocarina, though: [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)) says Princess Zelda gives him the Ocarina of Time before he sets off. Its notes are those of [Saria's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/sarias-song/) the other way round: B, A, F, where Saria's Song climbs F, A, B.

## Where do you learn Song of Healing in Majora's Mask?

The Happy Mask Salesman teaches it in the Clock Tower. [Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Song_of_Healing) explains the order: once Link has his ocarina back from the Skull Kid and has learned the Song of Time, he goes back to the dawn of the first day, and the salesman plays the Song of Healing on his piano. Learning it turns Link from a Deku Scrub back into his own form and leaves him the Deku Mask.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda*, *Ocarina of Time* and *Majora's Mask* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are Nintendo's; Koji Kondo is credited with the music of both games. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Song of Soaring on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-soaring/

Updated: 2026-11-02

On a 12-hole it is six notes: F, B, high D, F, B, high D. The short phrase from Majora's Mask, and easy to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Song of Soaring?

The drop from high D down to F as the phrase starts again. It is the widest move in the song, and the air has to come down with it, or the F goes sharp. On a 12-hole, Song of Soaring goes from high D to F: you cover the left ring, left middle, left index, right index and left thumb. On a 6-hole, you cover the left middle, left index and right thumb.

## How do you hold and breathe for Song of Soaring?

Start the F softly, give the B a little more and the high D the most, then let the air drop right away for the second F. A quick breath between the two halves keeps the repeat as clean as the first. To check your breath, hold each note of Song of Soaring in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Song of Soaring?

Song of Soaring goes from F up to high D. A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play it on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C.

## What are the notes for Song of Soaring?

The notes are F, B, high D, F, B, high D. In [Majora's Mask](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Majora%27s_Mask) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Majora%27s_Mask_Songs) are C-down, C-left, C-up, C-down, C-left, C-up, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In Majora's Mask 3D, Song of Soaring is R, X, A button, R, X, A button, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Song_of_Soaring) draws the buttons.

12-hole alto C tabs: F, B, high D, F, B, high D
1. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
2. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
4. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: F, B, high D, F, B, high D
1. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
2. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
3. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)
4. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
5. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)

## What does the Song of Soaring do?

The song [allows Link to warp "to all the different Owl Statues throughout Termina"](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Song_of_Soaring), but "he can only warp to an Owl Statue he has activated". Played inside a dungeon, it takes him to the dungeon's entrance.

## Where do you learn Song of Soaring in Majora's Mask?

Link learns it from a stone monument at the end of the Woodfall Temple Pathway, next to the entrance to Woodfall. In Majora's Mask 3D, [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Song_of_Soaring) says, he learns it at the entrance of the Southern Swamp instead.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda*, *Ocarina of Time* and *Majora's Mask* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are Nintendo's; Koji Kondo is credited with the music of both games. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Sonata of Awakening on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/sonata-of-awakening/

Updated: 2026-11-02

On a 12-hole it is seven notes: high D, B, high D, B, D, A, D. The short phrase from Majora's Mask, and medium to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Sonata of Awakening?

The drop from B down to the low D, a sixth, right after two high notes. The low D needs the gentlest air in the song, and the A that follows it needs more. On a 12-hole, Sonata of Awakening goes from B to D: you cover the left ring, left middle, right index, right middle and right ring. On a 6-hole, you lift the right middle and cover the left middle, left index and right index.

## How do you hold and breathe for Sonata of Awakening?

Let the high D and B ring as a pair, then ease the air right off for the low D. Breathe after the first D, B, D, B and before the drop, so the low D starts with a settled breath. To check your breath, hold each note of Sonata of Awakening in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Sonata of Awakening?

Sonata of Awakening goes from D up to high D. A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play it on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C.

## What are the notes for Sonata of Awakening?

The notes are high D, B, high D, B, D, A, D. In [Majora's Mask](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Majora%27s_Mask) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Majora%27s_Mask_Songs) are C-up, C-left, C-up, C-left, A button, C-right, A button, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In Majora's Mask 3D, Sonata of Awakening is A button, X, A button, X, L, Y, L, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Sonata_of_Awakening) draws the buttons.

12-hole alto C tabs: high D, B, high D, B, D, A, D
1. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
2. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
4. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
6. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: high D, B, high D, B, D, A, D
1. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)
2. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
3. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)
4. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
5. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
6. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)

## What does the Sonata of Awakening do?

It wakes things up. By playing it, [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Sonata_of_Awakening) says, Link can "wake anything that is asleep", such as a Deku Scrub. He needs it to make Woodfall Temple rise from the depths of Woodfall, and later to wake Captain Keeta in the Ikana Graveyard.

## Does the Sonata of Awakening need the Deku Mask?

Mostly, yes. Zelda Wiki says that apart from playing it for Captain Keeta and for the sleeping Deku Scrub in the Swamp Spider House, ["the song only works if Link is wearing the Deku Mask"](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Sonata_of_Awakening).

## Where do you learn Sonata of Awakening in Majora's Mask?

The captured monkey in the Deku Palace teaches it to Link, once he reaches the monkey from the Inner Palace Garden entrance, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Sonata_of_Awakening) tells it.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda*, *Ocarina of Time* and *Majora's Mask* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are Nintendo's; Koji Kondo is credited with the music of both games. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Goron Lullaby on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/goron-lullaby/

Updated: 2026-11-02

On a 12-hole it is eight notes: D, A, B, D, A, B, A, D. The short phrase from Majora's Mask, and medium to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Goron Lullaby?

The drop from B down to D, a sixth, in the middle of the tune. The D is the lowest note, so the air has to come right down, and the A after it needs it back. On a 12-hole, Goron Lullaby goes from B to D: you cover the left ring, left middle, right index, right middle and right ring. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you lift the right middle and cover the left middle, left index and right index.

## How do you hold and breathe for Goron Lullaby?

It is a lullaby, so keep the air low and even. The six-note intro is easy to breathe after; take the breath there, before the last two notes, so the closing A and D are not rushed. To check your breath, hold each note of Goron Lullaby in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Goron Lullaby?

Goron Lullaby goes from D up to B. Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays it.

## What are the notes for Goron Lullaby?

The notes are D, A, B, D, A, B, A, D. In [Majora's Mask](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Majora%27s_Mask) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Majora%27s_Mask_Songs) are A button, C-right, C-left, A button, C-right, C-left, C-right, A button, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In Majora's Mask 3D, Goron Lullaby is L, Y, X, L, Y, X, Y, L, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Goron_Lullaby) draws the buttons.

12-hole alto C tabs: D, A, B, D, A, B, A, D
1. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
2. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
5. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: D, A, B, D, A, B, A, D
1. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
2. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
4. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
5. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
7. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: D, A, B, D, A, B, A, D
1. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
2. C-right: A (cover the left index)
3. C-left: B (cover the right middle)
4. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
5. C-right: A (cover the left index)
6. C-left: B (cover the right middle)
7. C-right: A (cover the left index)
8. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)

## What does the Goron Lullaby do?

It puts Gorons to sleep. Link has to play it to the Goron who blocks the path to Snowhead Temple. [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Goron_Lullaby) says it has the opposite effect to the [Sonata of Awakening](https://playocarina.com/songs/sonata-of-awakening/), which wakes people up.

## Where do you learn Goron Lullaby in Majora's Mask?

The Goron Elder teaches the first six notes at the Goron Shrine in Goron Village, which [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Goron_Lullaby) calls the "Lullaby Intro". He cannot remember the rest, so Link plays the intro to the Baby Goron inside the shrine, who teaches him the last two notes.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda*, *Ocarina of Time* and *Majora's Mask* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are Nintendo's; Koji Kondo is credited with the music of both games. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# New Wave Bossa Nova on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/new-wave-bossa-nova/

Updated: 2026-11-02

On a 12-hole it is seven notes: B, high D, B, A, F, B, A. The short phrase from Majora's Mask, and medium to play.

## What is the tricky spot in New Wave Bossa Nova?

The leap from F, the lowest note, up to B, straight after the steps down through A. The fingers have to move together, and the B needs firmer air than the F. On a 12-hole, New Wave Bossa Nova goes from F to B: you lift the left ring, left middle and right index. On a 6-hole, you swap hands: lift the left middle and left index and cover the right middle.

## How do you hold and breathe for New Wave Bossa Nova?

Keep the air steady through the first four notes, which move in small steps, then ease off for the F and bring it back for the B. The final A is the place to let the air relax. To check your breath, hold each note of New Wave Bossa Nova in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play New Wave Bossa Nova?

New Wave Bossa Nova goes from F up to high D. A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play it on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C.

## What are the notes for New Wave Bossa Nova?

The notes are B, high D, B, A, F, B, A. In [Majora's Mask](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Majora%27s_Mask) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Majora%27s_Mask_Songs) are C-left, C-up, C-left, C-right, C-down, C-left, C-right, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In Majora's Mask 3D, New Wave Bossa Nova is X, A button, X, Y, R, X, Y, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/New_Wave_Bossa_Nova) draws the buttons.

12-hole alto C tabs: B, high D, B, A, F, B, A
1. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
3. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: B, high D, B, A, F, B, A
1. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
2. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)
3. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
4. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
6. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
7. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)

## What does the New Wave Bossa Nova do?

Played in front of Lulu, the singer, it lets Link [recover her voice](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/New_Wave_Bossa_Nova). The Giant Turtle that was asleep in Zora Cape then wakes and gives him access to Great Bay Temple.

## Where do you learn New Wave Bossa Nova in Majora's Mask?

Once Link has put the seven Zora Eggs he rescued into the aquarium in the Marine Research Lab, [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/New_Wave_Bossa_Nova) says, the eggs hatch and line up according to the notes of the song. Link, as Zora Link, takes out the Zora Guitar for the baby Zoras to teach him the tune.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda*, *Ocarina of Time* and *Majora's Mask* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are Nintendo's; Koji Kondo is credited with the music of both games. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Elegy of Emptiness on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/elegy-of-emptiness/

Updated: 2026-11-02

On a 12-hole it is seven notes: A, B, A, F, A, high D, B. The short phrase from Majora's Mask, and medium to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Elegy of Emptiness?

The leap from A up to high D, a fourth, just before the last note. The high D needs the most air in the tune, and then the B has to come in softer. On a 12-hole, Elegy of Emptiness goes from A to high D: you lift the left middle, left index and left thumb. On a 6-hole, you lift the left index and right thumb.

## How do you hold and breathe for Elegy of Emptiness?

The tune sways between A and B before it falls to F, so keep the air even there. Save your breath for the climb to the high D, and let the last B fade rather than stopping it. To check your breath, hold each note of Elegy of Emptiness in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Elegy of Emptiness?

Elegy of Emptiness goes from F up to high D. A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play it on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C.

## What are the notes for Elegy of Emptiness?

The notes are A, B, A, F, A, high D, B. In [Majora's Mask](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Majora%27s_Mask) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Majora%27s_Mask_Songs) are C-right, C-left, C-right, C-down, C-right, C-up, C-left, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In Majora's Mask 3D, Elegy of Emptiness is Y, X, Y, R, Y, A button, X, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Elegy_of_Emptiness) draws the buttons.

12-hole alto C tabs: A, B, A, F, A, high D, B
1. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
7. C-left: B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: A, B, A, F, A, high D, B
1. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
3. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
5. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)
7. C-left: B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)

## What does the Elegy of Emptiness do?

The song [leaves "an empty shell of the form Link is in at the time"](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Elegy_of_Emptiness), one for each of his four forms. Link needs the shells to climb the Stone Tower and to solve puzzles inside the Stone Tower Temple, and, as Zelda Wiki puts it, "shells can only be formed if Link is in any of the areas of Ikana Canyon".

## Where do you learn Elegy of Emptiness in Majora's Mask?

Igos du Ikana teaches it in the Ancient Castle of Ikana, after Link defeats him, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Elegy_of_Emptiness) describes it.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda*, *Ocarina of Time* and *Majora's Mask* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are Nintendo's; Koji Kondo is credited with the music of both games. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Oath to Order on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/oath-to-order/

Updated: 2026-11-02

On a 12-hole it is six notes: A, F, D, F, A, high D. The short phrase from Majora's Mask, and easy to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Oath to Order?

The leap from A up to high D, which ends the phrase. The tune has just come back up from the low D, so keep the air ready for the high note. On a 12-hole, Oath to Order goes from A to high D: you lift the left middle, left index and left thumb. On a 6-hole, you lift the left index and right thumb.

## How do you hold and breathe for Oath to Order?

Let the tune sink down to the D with the air easing off, then bring it back up on the rise through F and A, and give the high D the most air. It is one breath for the whole phrase if you play it steadily. To check your breath, hold each note of Oath to Order in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Oath to Order?

Oath to Order goes from D up to high D. A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play it on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C.

## What are the notes for Oath to Order?

The notes are A, F, D, F, A, high D. In [Majora's Mask](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Majora%27s_Mask) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Majora%27s_Mask_Songs) are C-right, C-down, A button, C-down, C-right, C-up, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In Majora's Mask 3D, Oath to Order is Y, R, L, R, Y, A button, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Oath_to_Order) draws the buttons.

12-hole alto C tabs: A, F, D, F, A, high D
1. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
4. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-up: high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: A, F, D, F, A, high D
1. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
3. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
4. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
5. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. C-up: high D (cover the left thumb)

## What does the Oath to Order do?

It summons the Four Giants to the Clock Tower on the eve of the Carnival, which [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Oath_to_Order) says is its only effective use in the game. The page also notes that the tune "outlines a D-minor arpeggio (A-F-D-F-A-D)", which is the order of the notes here.

## Where do you learn Oath to Order in Majora's Mask?

Link is taught it when he rescues the first of the Four Giants from Woodfall Temple and is called to their chamber, according to [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Oath_to_Order).

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda*, *Ocarina of Time* and *Majora's Mask* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are Nintendo's; Koji Kondo is credited with the music of both games. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Inverted Song of Time on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/inverted-song-of-time/

Updated: 2026-11-02

On a 12-hole it is six notes: F, D, A, F, D, A. The short phrase from Majora's Mask, and easy to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Inverted Song of Time?

The jump up from D to A, which comes twice. The A is a fifth above the D, so the air has to be firmer for it. On a 12-hole, Inverted Song of Time goes from D to A: you lift the left ring, right index, right middle and right ring. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you lift the left middle and right index.

## How do you hold and breathe for Inverted Song of Time?

Let each note ring its full length. The D is the lowest note, so breathe gently there, then give the A a little more air without pushing it, and stop each note with your tongue so the pitch does not sag. To check your breath, hold each note of Inverted Song of Time in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Inverted Song of Time?

Inverted Song of Time goes from D up to A. Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays it.

## What are the notes for Inverted Song of Time?

The notes are F, D, A, F, D, A. In [Majora's Mask](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Majora%27s_Mask) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Majora%27s_Mask_Songs) are C-down, A button, C-right, C-down, A button, C-right, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In Majora's Mask 3D, Inverted Song of Time is R, L, Y, R, L, Y, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Inverted_Song_of_Time) draws the buttons.

12-hole alto C tabs: F, D, A, F, D, A
1. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
2. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
3. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
6. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: F, D, A, F, D, A
1. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
2. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
5. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
6. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: F, D, A, F, D, A
1. C-down: F (cover the left middle and left index)
2. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
3. C-right: A (cover the left index)
4. C-down: F (cover the left middle and left index)
5. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
6. C-right: A (cover the left index)

## What does the Inverted Song of Time do?

It slows time down. [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Inverted_Song_of_Time) says that "all events related to the flow of time will move at 30% of their original speed", or half speed in Majora's Mask 3D, while Link's own speed and enemy attacks are not affected. Its notes are the [Song of Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-time/) played backwards: A, D, F there, F, D, A here.

## Where do you learn Inverted Song of Time in Majora's Mask?

Link learns about it by talking to a scarecrow, [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Inverted_Song_of_Time) says, and once he has played it, it is listed on the ocarina screen.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda*, *Ocarina of Time* and *Majora's Mask* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are Nintendo's; Koji Kondo is credited with the music of both games. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Song of Double Time on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-double-time/

Updated: 2026-11-02

On a 12-hole it is six notes: A, A, D, D, F, F. The short phrase from Majora's Mask, and easy to play.

## What is the tricky spot in Song of Double Time?

The drop from A to D after the two As. The D is the lowest note and is played twice, so the pitch has to stay steady across the repeat. On a 12-hole, Song of Double Time goes from A to D: you cover the left ring, right index, right middle and right ring. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you cover the left middle and right index.

## How do you hold and breathe for Song of Double Time?

Tongue each repeated note on its own, so the two As, the two Ds and the two Fs are clearly pairs. Ease the air off for the D, the lowest note, and keep it even through the repeat. To check your breath, hold each note of Song of Double Time in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Song of Double Time?

Song of Double Time goes from D up to A. Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays it.

## What are the notes for Song of Double Time?

The notes are A, A, D, D, F, F. In [Majora's Mask](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Majora%27s_Mask) the [Nintendo 64 buttons](https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Majora%27s_Mask_Songs) are C-right, C-right, A button, A button, C-down, C-down, and [each button plays one note](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ocarina_of_Time_(Item)).

In Majora's Mask 3D, Song of Double Time is Y, Y, L, L, R, R, as [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Song_of_Double_Time) draws the buttons.

12-hole alto C tabs: A, A, D, D, F, F
1. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. C-right: A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
4. A button: D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
5. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. C-down: F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: A, A, D, D, F, F
1. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. C-right: A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
4. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
5. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
6. C-down: F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: A, A, D, D, F, F
1. C-right: A (cover the left index)
2. C-right: A (cover the left index)
3. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
4. A button: D (cover every hole but the right middle)
5. C-down: F (cover the left middle and left index)
6. C-down: F (cover the left middle and left index)

## What does the Song of Double Time do?

It moves time forward. [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Song_of_Double_Time) says it lets Link warp "to the night of the same day if played during the day, or to the dawn of the next if played at night", and in Majora's Mask 3D to a chosen hour of the current day. It is the first three notes of the [Song of Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-time/) played twice each.

## Where do you learn Song of Double Time in Majora's Mask?

Link learns about it by talking to a scarecrow, [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Song_of_Double_Time) says, though the game does not save it on the Quest Status screen.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda*, *Ocarina of Time* and *Majora's Mask* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are Nintendo's; Koji Kondo is credited with the music of both games. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Gerudo Valley on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/gerudo-valley/

Updated: 2026-11-02

On a 12-hole Gerudo Valley's main tune opens E, A, B, high C. It is medium to play and written an octave and a minor third higher, in A minor, to fit the ocarina.

## What are the notes for Gerudo Valley?

12-hole alto C tabs: E, A, B, high C, E, A, B, high C | F, A, B, high C, F, A, B, high C | D, G, A, B, D, G, A, B | A, B, A, G♯ | E, A, B, high C, E, A, B, high C | F, A, B, high C, F, A, B, high C | D, G, A, B, D, G, A, B | high C, high D, high C, B
1. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
2. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
4. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
5. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
6. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
9. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
10. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
11. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
13. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
14. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
15. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
16. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
17. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
18. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
19. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
20. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
21. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
22. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
23. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
25. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
26. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
27. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. G♯ (cover every main hole but the left ring, right index, right middle and right pinky)
29. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
30. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
32. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
33. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
34. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
35. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
36. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
37. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
38. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
39. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
40. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
41. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
42. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
43. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
44. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
45. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
46. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
47. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
48. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
49. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
50. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
51. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
52. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
53. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
54. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
55. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
56. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: E, A, B, high C, E, A, B, high C | F, A, B, high C, F, A, B, high C | D, G, A, B, D, G, A, B | A, B, A, G♯ | E, A, B, high C, E, A, B, high C | F, A, B, high C, F, A, B, high C | D, G, A, B, D, G, A, B | high C, high D, high C, B
1. E (cover every hole but the right index)
2. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
4. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
5. E (cover every hole but the right index)
6. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
7. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
8. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
9. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
10. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
11. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
12. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
13. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
14. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
15. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
16. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
17. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
18. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
19. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
20. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
21. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
22. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
23. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
24. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
25. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
26. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
27. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. G♯ (cover every hole but the left middle and right index)
29. E (cover every hole but the right index)
30. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
31. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
32. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
33. E (cover every hole but the right index)
34. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
35. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
36. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
37. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
38. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
39. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
40. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
41. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
42. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
43. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
44. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
45. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
46. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
47. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
48. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
49. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
50. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
51. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
52. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)
53. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
54. high D (cover the left thumb)
55. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
56. B (cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb)

The main tune of Gerudo Valley, as it plays in the game: the lead line of two fan MIDI files made by different people, [John Kuzma's](https://www.vgmusic.com/music/console/nintendo/n64/Z64gerud.mid) and [KittyClaws'](https://www.vgmusic.com/music/console/nintendo/n64/Zelda2.mid). They agree on every note and on where each one starts; where they differ in how long a note is held we took the longer, and we slowed the tune from about 120 beats a minute. These are the eight bars the two files share note for note: the rest of the piece is left out, because the files write its ornament differently. [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Gerudo_Valley_%28Theme%29) says the music is in the key of F# harmonic minor; we wrote it an octave and a minor third higher, in A minor, so that all of it fits a 12-hole ocarina.

## What is the tricky spot in Gerudo Valley?

The jump from E up to A that starts the first run, a fourth, followed straight away by B and high C. The run is quick, so the fingers have to move together, and the high C needs more air than the E before it; the later runs start a step or two higher or lower and keep the same shape. On a 12-hole, Gerudo Valley goes from E to A: you lift the left ring, right index and right middle. On a 6-hole, you lift the left middle and right middle.

## How do you hold and breathe for Gerudo Valley?

Tongue the four-note runs lightly and keep the air even through them. The long G sharp and B that close the fourth and eighth bars, almost three beats each, are the places to breathe. To check your breath, hold each note of Gerudo Valley in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Gerudo Valley?

Gerudo Valley goes from D up to high D. A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high D, so play it on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) or [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) ocarina in C.

## What kind of music is Gerudo Valley?

[Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Gerudo_Valley_%28Theme%29) says the music "features a flamenco guitar rhythm accompanied by trumpets", and that it is "in the key of F# harmonic minor". An ocarina plays one line, so this page has the main tune on its own.

## Where does Gerudo Valley play in Ocarina of Time?

[Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Gerudo_Valley_%28Theme%29) says it is the music of Gerudo Valley itself and of the places beyond it: Gerudo's Fortress, the Haunted Wasteland and the Desert Colossus. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time) credits the music of Ocarina of Time to Koji Kondo.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Great Fairy Fountain on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/great-fairy-fountain/

Updated: 2026-11-02

On a 12-hole Great Fairy Fountain's main tune opens A, G, F♯, G. It is medium to play and written an octave lower, in A minor, to fit the ocarina.

## What are the notes for Great Fairy Fountain?

12-hole alto C tabs: A, G, F♯, G | G, F, E, F | F, E, D♯, E | E, D, C♯, D | A, G, F♯, G | A♯, A, G♯, A | high C, A♯, A, A♯ | A, G, F, E
1. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
3. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
4. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
5. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
6. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
7. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
8. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
9. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
10. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
11. D♯ (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky, plus the right sub-hole)
12. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
13. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
14. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
15. C♯ (cover every main hole but the right pinky, plus the right sub-hole)
16. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
17. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
18. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
19. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
20. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
21. A♯ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
22. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
23. G♯ (cover every main hole but the left ring, right index, right middle and right pinky)
24. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
25. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
26. A♯ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
27. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. A♯ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
29. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
30. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
31. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
32. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)

6-hole pendant in C tabs: A, G, F♯, G | G, F, E, F | F, E, D♯, E | E, D, C♯, D | A, G, F♯, G | A♯, A, G♯, A | high C, A♯, A, A♯ | A, G, F, E
1. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
3. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
4. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
5. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
6. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
7. E (cover every hole but the right index)
8. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
9. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
10. E (cover every hole but the right index)
11. D♯ (cover the left middle, right middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb; half-cover the right index)
12. E (cover every hole but the right index)
13. E (cover every hole but the right index)
14. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
15. C♯ (cover the left middle, left index, right index, left thumb and right thumb; half-cover the right middle)
16. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
17. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
18. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
19. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
20. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
21. A♯ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
22. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
23. G♯ (cover every hole but the left middle and right index)
24. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
25. high C (cover the left thumb and right thumb)
26. A♯ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
27. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
28. A♯ (cover the right index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. A (cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb)
30. G (cover every hole but the left middle and right middle)
31. F (cover every hole but the right middle and right index)
32. E (cover every hole but the right index)

4-hole pendant in C tabs: A, G, F♯, G | G, F, E, F | F, E, D♯, E | E, D, C♯, D | A, G, F♯, G | A♯, A, G♯, A | high C, A♯, A, A♯ | A, G, F, E
1. A (cover the left index)
2. G (cover the left index and right index)
3. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
4. G (cover the left index and right index)
5. G (cover the left index and right index)
6. F (cover the left middle and left index)
7. E (cover every hole but the right index)
8. F (cover the left middle and left index)
9. F (cover the left middle and left index)
10. E (cover every hole but the right index)
11. D♯ (cover the left middle, right middle and left index; half-cover the right index)
12. E (cover every hole but the right index)
13. E (cover every hole but the right index)
14. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
15. C♯ (cover the left middle, left index and right index; half-cover the right middle)
16. D (cover every hole but the right middle)
17. A (cover the left index)
18. G (cover the left index and right index)
19. F♯ (cover every hole but the left middle)
20. G (cover the left index and right index)
21. A♯ (cover the right index)
22. A (cover the left index)
23. G♯ (cover the right middle and left index)
24. A (cover the left index)
25. high C (all holes open)
26. A♯ (cover the right index)
27. A (cover the left index)
28. A♯ (cover the right index)
29. A (cover the left index)
30. G (cover the left index and right index)
31. F (cover the left middle and left index)
32. E (cover every hole but the right index)

The repeating melody of the Great Fairy Fountain, as it plays in Ocarina of Time: the lead line of two fan MIDI files made by different people, [james_barisax's](https://www.vgmusic.com/music/console/nintendo/n64/Zelda_-_Select_Archive.mid) and [Sirius's](https://www.vgmusic.com/music/console/nintendo/n64/z5fairy.mid). They agree on every note and on where each one starts, once the second file's half notes are read as quarter notes; we kept the pace of the first, 80 beats a minute. The first file repeats the eight bars many times and the second plays them twice; we wrote them once. The files reach above the top note of a 12-hole ocarina, so we wrote the tune an octave lower. It moves by half steps, so the staff has no key signature (A minor) and marks each sharp where it falls.

## What is the tricky spot in Great Fairy Fountain?

The jump from the D that ends the fourth bar up to the A that starts the fifth, a fifth. Most of the tune before it moves by half steps, so the leap comes as a surprise, and the A needs firmer air than the D. On a 12-hole, Great Fairy Fountain goes from D to A: you lift the left ring, right index, right middle and right ring. On a 6-hole or 4-hole, you lift the left middle and right index.

## How do you hold and breathe for Great Fairy Fountain?

There are no long notes, so breathe between the bars: after the fourth bar and after the eighth are the natural places. Keep the air soft and even, with no push on the sharps, so each half step is its own note. To check your breath, hold each note of Great Fairy Fountain in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play Great Fairy Fountain?

Great Fairy Fountain goes from C♯ up to high C. Any [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/), [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) or [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) ocarina in C plays it.

## What does the Great Fairy Fountain music sound like?

[Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Great_Fairy_Fountain_%28Theme%29) says it is played mostly on a harp and "begins with ethereal upward sweeps, before settling into a repetitive, staccato melody with many chromatic movements and soft harmonies". This page has the repeating melody on its own.

## Where does Great Fairy Fountain play in Ocarina of Time?

[Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Great_Fairy_Fountain_%28Theme%29) lists the Fairy Fountains and the Great Fairy Fountains as the places it plays, says it first appeared in A Link to the Past and has since been in many of the series' games, and notes that a version without the opening sweeps plays on the file-selection screen in nearly every game. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time) credits the music of Ocarina of Time to Koji Kondo.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Ballad of the Wind Fish on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/ballad-of-the-wind-fish/

Updated: 2026-11-02

On a 12-hole the Ballad of the Wind Fish's main tune opens A, B | high C, A. It is medium to play and written a whole step higher, in A minor, to fit the ocarina.

## What are the notes for the Ballad of the Wind Fish?

12-hole alto C tabs: A, B | high C, A, B | high C, B, A, E | G, A | A, B | high C, A, high C | high F, high E, high D | high E | B | A, E, E, F | high D, high C | B, A, E, D, E, A | F, F, G | low A♯, D, G, E | C, A | G♯, high F, high E
1. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
2. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
3. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
4. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
5. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
6. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
7. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
8. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
9. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
10. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
11. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
12. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
13. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
14. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
15. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
16. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
17. high F (all holes open)
18. high E (cover the left pinky)
19. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
20. high E (cover the left pinky)
21. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
22. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
23. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
24. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
25. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
26. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
27. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
28. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
29. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
30. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
31. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
32. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
33. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
34. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
35. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
36. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
37. low A♯ (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole)
38. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
39. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
40. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
41. C (cover every main hole)
42. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
43. G♯ (cover every main hole but the left ring, right index, right middle and right pinky)
44. high F (all holes open)
45. high E (cover the left pinky)

The whole Ballad of the Wind Fish as the Game Boy plays it: the melody line of one fan MIDI file, [The Sound Defense's](https://www.vgmusic.com/music/console/nintendo/gameboy/balladofthewindfish.mid). It is our only source for these notes, so we could not check them against a second file. We kept its pace of 96 beats a minute and wrote the tune once; the file also has a backing under the tune and plays it again lower, which we left out. The file writes the second part an octave above the first, which is too wide for one 12-hole ocarina, so we wrote the second part an octave lower and moved the whole tune up a whole step, to A minor. The file's own bar lines do not fall on the tune, so the bars here are ours.

## What is the tricky spot in the Ballad of the Wind Fish?

The jump from G sharp up to high F near the end, a major sixth to the top note of a 12-hole. The G sharp is one of the two notes the key does not have, and the high F needs firmer air than the note before it. On a 12-hole, the Ballad of the Wind Fish goes from G♯ to high F: you lift the left pinky, left middle, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb.

## How do you hold and breathe for the Ballad of the Wind Fish?

The long notes are the places to breathe: the E that fills the seventh and eighth bars, where the first part ends, and the one at the very end. Keep the air soft and even through the half-beat runs, so the notes stay separate without a push on each. To check your breath, hold each note of the Ballad of the Wind Fish in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play the Ballad of the Wind Fish?

The Ballad of the Wind Fish goes from low A♯ up to high F. A 6-hole ocarina cannot reach low A♯ and high F, and a 4-hole ocarina cannot reach low A♯, high D, high E and high F, so play it on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) ocarina in C.

## Is this the Ballad of the Wind Fish from Majora's Mask?

No. [Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ballad_of_the_Wind_Fish) says the song the Indigo-Go's play in Majora's Mask "is vastly different" from the one in Link's Awakening. This page has the Link's Awakening tune.

## Where does the Ballad of the Wind Fish play in Link's Awakening?

[Zelda Wiki](https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Ballad_of_the_Wind_Fish) says Marin sings it in Mabe Village's square, and that Link learns it from her once he has the ocarina. Played near where the Walrus was, it earns Link a Secret Seashell, and it is the song that opens the Wind Fish's Egg and wakes the Wind Fish. Some notes of it play in the background of the opening scene, part of it plays when Link gets one of the Instruments of the Sirens, and it plays during the final scene and the credits. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Link%27s_Awakening) credits the music of Link's Awakening to Kazumi Totaka, Minako Hamano and Kozue Ishikawa.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda*, *Ocarina of Time* and *Link's Awakening* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are Nintendo's. Kazumi Totaka, Minako Hamano and Kozue Ishikawa are credited with the music of Link's Awakening. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Zelda Main Theme on a real ocarina

URL: https://playocarina.com/songs/zelda-main-theme/

Updated: 2026-11-02

On a 12-hole the Zelda main theme opens D, D, D, D. It is hard to play and written a major third higher, in D major, to fit the ocarina.

## What are the notes for the Zelda main theme?

12-hole alto C tabs: D, D, D, D, D | D, C, D, D, D, D, D | D, C, D, D, D, D, D | D, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A | D, low A, D, D, E, F♯, G | A, A, A, A♯, high C | high D, high D, high D, high D, high C, A♯ | high C, A♯, A, A | G, G, A, A♯, A, G | F, F, G, A, G, F | E, E, F♯, G♯, B | A, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A | D, low A, D, D, E, F♯, G | A, A, A, A♯, high C | high D, high F | high E, high C♯, A | A♯, high D | high C♯, A, A | A♯, high D | high C♯, A, F♯ | G, A♯ | A, F, D | E, E, F♯, G♯, B | A, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A, low A
1. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
2. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
3. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
4. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
5. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
6. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
7. C (cover every main hole)
8. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
9. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
10. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
11. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
12. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
13. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
14. C (cover every main hole)
15. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
16. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
17. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
18. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
19. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
20. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
21. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
22. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
23. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
24. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
25. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
26. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
27. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
28. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
29. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
30. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
31. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
32. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
33. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
34. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
35. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
36. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
37. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
38. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
39. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
40. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
41. A♯ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
42. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
43. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
44. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
45. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
46. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
47. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
48. A♯ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
49. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
50. A♯ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
51. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
52. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
53. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
54. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
55. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
56. A♯ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
57. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
58. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
59. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
60. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
61. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
62. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
63. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
64. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
65. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
66. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
67. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
68. G♯ (cover every main hole but the left ring, right index, right middle and right pinky)
69. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
70. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
71. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
72. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
73. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
74. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
75. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
76. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
77. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
78. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
79. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
80. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
81. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
82. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
83. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
84. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
85. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
86. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
87. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
88. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
89. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
90. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
91. A♯ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
92. high C (cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb)
93. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
94. high F (all holes open)
95. high E (cover the left pinky)
96. high C♯ (cover the left pinky, right ring and right thumb)
97. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
98. A♯ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
99. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
100. high C♯ (cover the left pinky, right ring and right thumb)
101. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
102. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
103. A♯ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
104. high D (cover the left pinky and right thumb)
105. high C♯ (cover the left pinky, right ring and right thumb)
106. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
107. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
108. G (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky)
109. A♯ (cover the left pinky, left index, right ring, left thumb and right thumb)
110. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
111. F (cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky)
112. D (cover every main hole but the right pinky)
113. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
114. E (cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky)
115. F♯ (cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky)
116. G♯ (cover every main hole but the left ring, right index, right middle and right pinky)
117. B (cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
118. A (cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb)
119. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
120. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
121. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
122. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
123. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
124. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
125. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
126. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
127. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)
128. low A (cover every main hole, plus the left sub-hole and right sub-hole)

The whole main theme of the first Zelda game, the overworld theme: the melody line of one fan MIDI file for the NES, [Jeffrey M Colletti's](https://www.vgmusic.com/music/console/nintendo/nes/z1overw.mid), a plain one-line version. It is our only source for these notes, so we could not check them against a second file. The rhythm is the file's: its triplets, the groups of three notes in the time of two, are written as triplets here and on the staff. The file plays each short note shorter than its beat; we wrote every note to run up to the next one, with a rest where the file leaves a gap of about a sixteenth or more, or where a note's length cannot be written as one note on the staff. We slowed the tune from 148 to 100 beats a minute because of the fast runs, and wrote it once through, as the file plays it. The file sits too low for a 12-hole ocarina, so we moved the whole tune up a major third, to D major, which fits a 12-hole exactly, from A to high F.

## What is the tricky spot in the Zelda main theme?

The jump from the low A up to D, a fourth, which comes again and again in the fast opening bars. The low A is the bottom of the ocarina, so it takes a steady breath, and the D after it comes quickly. On a 12-hole, the Zelda main theme goes from low A to D: you lift the right pinky, left sub-hole and right sub-hole.

## How do you hold and breathe for the Zelda main theme?

Play the groups of triplets in one breath each and breathe in the rests and after the long notes: the held D at the very start, the long notes that end each of the rising runs. Keep the air even and light through the sixteenth notes, with no push on each one. To check your breath, hold each note of the Zelda main theme in turn and watch it on a tuner such as our free [ocarina tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/).

## Which ocarina can play the Zelda main theme?

The Zelda main theme goes from low A up to high F. A 6-hole ocarina cannot reach low A and high F, and a 4-hole ocarina cannot reach low A, high C♯, high D, high E and high F, so play it on a [12-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/12-hole/) ocarina in C.

## Is the Zelda main theme the same as the Legend of Zelda overworld theme?

Yes. Our page is the NES game's overworld theme, the tune [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda_(video_game)) says Koji Kondo arranged in a day. Zelda's Lullaby is a different song, and has its [own page](https://playocarina.com/songs/zeldas-lullaby/).

## Where does the Zelda main theme play in The Legend of Zelda?

It is the overworld theme of the first game. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda_(video_game)) says Koji Kondo, credited as Konchan, was forced in November 1985, late in the game's development, to drop Ravel's Boléro, which he had planned to use as the title theme, and so wrote a new arrangement of the overworld theme within one day, which "has become an iconic motif echoing throughout continued entries of the series". [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda_(video_game)) credits the music of the 1986 The Legend of Zelda to Koji Kondo.

## What to play next

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are Nintendo's. Koji Kondo is credited with the music of the 1986 The Legend of Zelda. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.

# Learn to play the ocarina, one note at a time

URL: https://playocarina.com/learn/

Updated: 2026-10-30

You learn to play the ocarina by covering and lifting its holes one note at a time, and our eight free lessons take you from your first note to your first songs, about five minutes each. They work on a 12-hole, 6-hole or 4-hole ocarina and listen through your microphone, so the page knows when you have the note.

## How long does it take to learn the ocarina?

Each lesson takes about five minutes, and you can stop at any point: the page keeps your place, in this browser until you sign in and in your account after. Nothing is ever locked, so you can open any lesson. If you would rather spread the first notes over a week, [your first week with an ocarina](https://playocarina.com/guides/ocarina-for-beginners/) is a plan for that.

## Which ocarina do you need for the lessons?

A 12-hole, 6-hole or 4-hole ocarina in C. Each lesson shows the holes for the ocarina you pick, and on a 12-hole alto C the fingerings follow [STL Ocarina's chart](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0103/7756/0119/files/12_Hole_Ocarina_Instructions.pdf?v=1766252736). Still choosing one? The [buying guide](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/) compares them, and the [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) tells you whether yours is in tune.

# Hold it, play your first note

URL: https://playocarina.com/learn/lesson-1/

Updated: 2026-10-30

Lesson 1 shows you how to cover the holes and play your first note, C, on a 12-hole, 6-hole or 4-hole ocarina. The lesson listens through your microphone and moves on once you hold C in tune.

## How do you play your first note on an ocarina?

Cover every main hole with the pad of each finger and blow gently. [Ocarina Quest](https://ocarinaquest.com/en/how-to-play-the-ocarina) advises "Cover each hole with the flat pad of your finger, not the tip", and to "blow gently and steadily, as if you were fogging a window". On a 12-hole alto C, C has all ten main holes covered and the two small holes open, as [STL Ocarina's chart](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0103/7756/0119/files/12_Hole_Ocarina_Instructions.pdf?v=1766252736) shows.

## What does the lesson listen for?

It waits for the note C and counts it once you have held it for a moment, in whichever octave your ocarina plays it. It shows no score: a note it does not hear is simply waited for. The microphone is asked for only when you press Start, and nothing you play leaves your device.

## What comes after your first note?

[Lesson 2](https://playocarina.com/learn/lesson-2/) adds D and E, a small change of fingers each. If C will not sound clean, the [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) shows which note you are playing and whether it is in tune.

# D and E

URL: https://playocarina.com/learn/lesson-2/

Updated: 2026-10-30

Lesson 2 teaches D and E on an ocarina, each a small change from the note before. The lesson shows each fingering, listens through your microphone, then has you play C, D and E in order and the first line of Mary Had a Little Lamb.

## How do you play D and E on an ocarina?

On a 12-hole alto C, D is C with your right little finger lifted, and E lifts your right ring finger as well, as [STL Ocarina's chart](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0103/7756/0119/files/12_Hole_Ocarina_Instructions.pdf?v=1766252736) shows. A 6-hole or 4-hole pendant lifts a different finger for D, so the lesson names the holes for the ocarina you picked. Press with the pads of your fingers and blow gently, as in [lesson 1](https://playocarina.com/learn/lesson-1/).

## Which tune does lesson 2 end with?

The first line of [Mary Had a Little Lamb](https://playocarina.com/songs/mary-had-a-little-lamb/), which uses only C, D and E. Our tabs follow [Heart Songs, Chapple Publishing, Boston, 1909, page 345 (Internet Archive)](https://archive.org/details/heartsongs0000vari_b8p2/page/n358/mode/1up), and the full song is on its own page with the fingering for every ocarina.

## What if a note will not come out right?

When it hears a different note, the lesson says so and points you back to the picture of the holes, and it lets you skip a note for now. If it sounds wrong on every note, [test your whole ocarina](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) before blaming your fingers.

# Your first tune

URL: https://playocarina.com/learn/lesson-3/

Updated: 2026-10-30

Lesson 3 adds F and G to the notes you know and ends with the first line of Ode to Joy, your first real tune. The lesson shows each new fingering, listens through your microphone and moves on when you hold the note.

## How do you play F and G on an ocarina?

F and G each change the fingering of the note below them, and the lesson names the holes for the ocarina you picked. On a 12-hole alto C they follow [STL Ocarina's chart](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0103/7756/0119/files/12_Hole_Ocarina_Instructions.pdf?v=1766252736). Keep pressing with the pads of your fingers, as in [lesson 1](https://playocarina.com/learn/lesson-1/).

## Which tune does lesson 3 end with?

The first line of [Ode to Joy](https://playocarina.com/songs/ode-to-joy/), written in the key of C so that it uses only the notes you know. Our tabs follow [IMSLP, Beethoven Symphony No. 9, first edition, B. Schott, Mainz, 1826](https://imslp.org/wiki/Symphony_No.9,_Op.125_(Beethoven,_Ludwig_van)), and its song page has the whole tune in its usual key.

# Up to the top of the scale

URL: https://playocarina.com/learn/lesson-4/

Updated: 2026-10-30

Lesson 4 takes you up the scale to A, B and high C, which completes the C major scale, and ends with the first line of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. The lesson listens through your microphone and moves on as you hold each note.

## How do you play the top of the scale on an ocarina?

Each note up the scale lifts or adds a finger, and the lesson names the holes for your ocarina. For a 12-hole alto C see [STL Ocarina's chart](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0103/7756/0119/files/12_Hole_Ocarina_Instructions.pdf?v=1766252736). Pitch rises with breath pressure: [Pure Ocarinas explains](https://pureocarinas.com/why-ocarina-high-notes-flat) that "pressure must increase as you play higher notes", so blow a little more as you climb.

## Which tune does lesson 4 end with?

The first line of [Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star](https://playocarina.com/songs/twinkle-twinkle-little-star/), which leaps from C to G and on to A. Our tabs follow [W. E. Hickson, The Singing Master, London, 1838, "Ah vous dirai-je" (Internet Archive)](https://archive.org/details/singingmasterno100hick/page/n121/mode/1up).

# Steady breath

URL: https://playocarina.com/learn/lesson-5/

Updated: 2026-10-30

Lesson 5 teaches a steady breath: long notes that stay at one pitch from start to finish, ending with the first phrase of Brahms' Lullaby. The lesson listens through your microphone and moves on once you have held the note steady for two seconds.

## Why does a long ocarina note go flat at its end?

The air runs out too soon. STL Ocarina's [booklet](https://site.stlocarina.com/bookletandchart/12HoleFinalPDF.pdf) says "If the air stream tapers the pitch will sag", so end a note by stopping the air with your tongue instead of letting it fade. The same breath, kept even, is what the exercises in this lesson practise.

## Which tune does lesson 5 end with?

The first phrase of [Brahms' Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/brahms-lullaby/), slow and smooth, with a short repeated note at its start. Our tabs follow [IMSLP, Brahms, 5 Lieder Op. 49, first edition, Simrock, Berlin, 1868, page 11, Wiegenlied](https://imslp.org/wiki/5_Lieder,_Op.49_(Brahms,_Johannes)).

# Clean starts

URL: https://playocarina.com/learn/lesson-6/

Updated: 2026-10-30

Lesson 6 teaches clean starts: saying doo into the ocarina so each note begins on time, and so a run of the same note sounds as separate notes. It ends with the first line of Jingle Bells.

## How do you play the same note twice on an ocarina?

Stop the air for a moment between the two notes with your tongue, as if saying "doo", and keep your fingers still. [Pure Ocarinas warns](https://pureocarinas.com/seven-common-ocarina-mistakes) that puffing the notes "causes the volume and pitch to ramp up, then roll off"; a light tongue start avoids it. The lesson says "Again" when it hears one long note where you meant two.

## Which tune does lesson 6 end with?

The first line of [Jingle Bells](https://playocarina.com/songs/jingle-bells/), which begins with seven E's in a row. Our tabs follow [Heart Songs, Chapple Publishing, Boston, 1909, pages 148 to 149 (Internet Archive)](https://archive.org/details/heartsongs0000vari_b8p2/page/n157/mode/1up).

# High notes

URL: https://playocarina.com/learn/lesson-7/

Updated: 2026-10-30

Lesson 7 teaches the high notes of your ocarina, high C and the D above it where it has one, played clear rather than airy, and ends with the opening of Amazing Grace.

## Why do high ocarina notes sound airy or flat?

They need more air than the low ones. [Pure Ocarinas](https://pureocarinas.com/why-ocarina-high-notes-flat) notes that ocarinas "are tuned with a breath curve, where pressure must increase as you play higher notes". The lesson gives you each high note with its fingering and tells you when you have the note in tune; on a 4-hole it teaches the high C that ocarina tops out on.

## Which tune does lesson 7 end with?

The opening of [Amazing Grace](https://playocarina.com/songs/amazing-grace/), in the key of F, up to its high C. Our tabs follow [William Walker, The Southern Harmony, 1835, page 8 (Internet Archive)](https://archive.org/details/southernharmonym0000walk/page/n41/mode/1up).

# Your next songs

URL: https://playocarina.com/learn/lesson-8/

Updated: 2026-10-30

Lesson 8 is the last: the whole scale up and down, leaps, and two songs you can already play, before you pick your next song from the library.

## Which songs can you play after eight lessons?

Many of the tunes on the [songs page](https://playocarina.com/songs/) fit your ocarina, and the lesson's end lists four to start with. The lesson ends with the first line of [Joy to the World](https://playocarina.com/songs/joy-to-the-world/), which runs straight down the scale, and Mary Had a Little Lamb from [lesson 2](https://playocarina.com/learn/lesson-2/) in full. Our tabs for Joy to the World follow [Lowell Mason, The Modern Psalmist, Boston, 1839, page 144 (Internet Archive)](https://archive.org/details/modernpsalmistco00maso/page/n149/mode/1up).

# Ocarina blog

URL: https://playocarina.com/blog/

Updated: 2026-10-28

The Play Ocarina blog answers one ocarina question per post. Each post adds something of our own: a measurement, a reading from our tuner, or a chart from our song and instrument data.

- [Which ocarina should you play the Ocarina of Time remake with?](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/): Every song Link plays uses the same five notes. We matched them against the range of each kind of ocarina, song by song.

# Which ocarina should you play the Ocarina of Time remake with?

URL: https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/

By Igor. Published: 2026-10-27. Updated: 2026-10-28

Any ocarina in C that plays five notes in tune: D, F, A, B and high D. Those five are every note in the twelve Link songs with set notes, so a 12-hole or a 6-hole in C covers all of them, and a 4-hole covers six of the 12. You don't need Nintendo's own ocarina. [Nintendo says](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) the Switch 2 version listens for your instrument, or your humming, through the console's microphone. So the ocarina you already own may do, and the one to buy is one that plays in tune.

![Range chart of a 12-hole alto C, a 6-hole pendant in C and a 4-hole pendant in C, with the five notes of the Ocarina of Time songs marked: D, F, A, B and high D. Only the 4-hole stops short of high D.](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/five-notes-three-ocarinas.webp)

The five notes the Ocarina of Time songs use between them, against the range of three ocarinas in C. The 12-hole and the 6-hole reach all five; the 4-hole stops at high C, one step short of high D.

## Can you play a real ocarina in the Ocarina of Time remake?

Yes. [Nintendo's 8 September announcement](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) says you can "play (or simply hum) one of Link’s learned ocarina melodies within range of the Nintendo Switch 2 system’s built-in microphone", and that "the game will also respond to instruments like the new playable and electric ocarinas".

Nintendo hasn't named a hole count or a maker for the playable ocarina, and as of 27 October 2026 it had not said how closely the game checks pitch. Since humming counts, the game may well forgive a slightly flat note. Learning the songs is a different matter: on an ocarina that is out of tune you can't tell whether a wrong-sounding note is your breath or the instrument.

## Which notes do the songs in Ocarina of Time use?

Five: D, F, A, B and high D. Each of the game's five ocarina buttons plays one of them, and every song is a short phrase built from those buttons. We wrote out all twelve in-game phrases for a real ocarina on our [Ocarina of Time song pages](https://playocarina.com/songs/ocarina-of-time/), and the high D decides which ocarinas can play a phrase. Six of the 12 need it: [Zelda's Lullaby](https://playocarina.com/songs/zeldas-lullaby/), [Epona's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/eponas-song/), [Song of Storms](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-storms/), [Minuet of Forest](https://playocarina.com/songs/minuet-of-forest/), [Prelude of Light](https://playocarina.com/songs/prelude-of-light/) and [Sun's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/suns-song/). The other six stay between D and B.

![Table of the twelve Ocarina of Time in-game phrases, the notes each one uses, and whether a 12-hole, 6-hole or 4-hole ocarina in C can play it. The 12-hole and 6-hole play all twelve; the 4-hole plays the six phrases that never reach high D.](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/songs-each-ocarina-plays.webp)

The in-game phrases on our song pages: the 12-hole and 6-hole columns are full, while the 4-hole drops the six phrases that climb to high D.

On a 12-hole in C the five notes sit in the middle of the instrument, well inside its range. Our page lists the fingering for each button:

![Screenshot of the Play Ocarina Ocarina of Time songs page: a table of the five Nintendo 64 ocarina buttons, the note each plays (D, F, A, B, high D) and its fingering on a 12-hole ocarina in C.](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/button-notes-12-hole.webp)

The five buttons and their notes, with the 12-hole fingering for each, on our Ocarina of Time songs page.

## Which ocarinas reach all five notes?

A 12-hole alto in C plays from A4 to F6 on [STL's published range](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/12-hole-fairy-tenor-ocarina) for its 12-hole Fairy Tenor, STL's name for this size (the low A and B use the two sub-holes), so D to high D leaves room on both sides. A 6-hole pendant in C plays C5 to E6 ([STL's figure](https://www.stlocarina.com/products/6-hole-tenor-ocarina-in-c-major-simple-reliable-everyday-play) for its 6-hole tenor), which still takes in high D. A 4-hole pendant plays one octave, C to high C. It has every note from D to B, but not high D, so it plays [Saria's Song](https://playocarina.com/songs/sarias-song/), [Song of Time](https://playocarina.com/songs/song-of-time/), [Bolero of Fire](https://playocarina.com/songs/bolero-of-fire/), [Serenade of Water](https://playocarina.com/songs/serenade-of-water/), [Nocturne of Shadow](https://playocarina.com/songs/nocturne-of-shadow/) and [Requiem of Spirit](https://playocarina.com/songs/requiem-of-spirit/), and not the other six. Our [4-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/4-hole/) and [6-hole](https://playocarina.com/fingering-chart/6-hole/) charts show every note each pendant has.

The key matters too. Our song pages are written for an ocarina in C. On one in G or F the same fingerings still work, but the tune sounds in a different key, and Nintendo hasn't said whether the game listens for the melody in a different key.

## Will an ocarina from years ago still work?

It will if it reaches the five notes and still plays them in tune, and the second part is worth checking. Warm it up before you judge it. In colder air an ocarina plays flatter, by about one cent for each degree Celsius according to a [Pure Ocarinas article](https://pureocarinas.com/ocarina-air-temperature-pitch) we read on 27 October 2026. Our advice: hold it in your hands for a few minutes, play some long notes, then check one note at a time with a soft, steady breath.

![Screenshot of the Play Ocarina tuner page section explaining cents and the three bands, applied to how far each note sits from the pattern of the others: up to 10 cents fine, 10 to 30 a little flat or sharp, 30 or more quite flat or sharp.](https://playocarina.com/blog/ocarina-of-time-remake-ocarina/tuner-page-cents-bands.webp)

The bands our tuning test uses: a note up to 10 cents out of line with the others reads as fine, 10 to 30 as a little flat or sharp, and 30 or more as quite flat or sharp.

Breath matters too. Each note plays in tune at one breath pressure, and higher notes generally need more: Pure Ocarinas calls this the [breath curve](https://pureocarinas.com/measure-ocarina-breath-curve) in an article we read on 27 October 2026. High notes tempt you to blow harder, and harder reads sharp. So if one note reads off, play it again more gently before you blame the ocarina. Our [tuner](https://playocarina.com/tuner/) runs the whole check for you. It grades each note against the pattern of the others rather than its raw reading, so a breath that is a little high or low all over doesn't count against the instrument.

## Is a cheap Zelda replica good enough for the game?

It may be good enough for the game, which accepts humming. It is a harder instrument to learn on. When we read the reviews of the best-selling Zelda-style replica on Amazon US on 26 October 2026, [Amazon's own summary](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076DX5PBY) said buyers report that only a few of its notes are in tune. If you already own one, test it before you decide: our guide to [whether your ocarina is out of tune, or it is you](https://playocarina.com/guides/is-my-ocarina-out-of-tune/) walks through a fair check. If you are buying, our guide to [Zelda ocarina replicas](https://playocarina.com/guides/zelda-ocarina-replicas/) compares them model by model, and our [guide to choosing an ocarina](https://playocarina.com/guides/which-ocarina-to-buy/) sets them against plain plastic 12-holes.

## Nintendo's two ocarinas

Only if you are happy to wait without knowing the price or the date. [Nintendo's 8 September announcement](https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/) promised "a playable version for the musically inclined" later in 2026, next to an electric one from HORI. When we checked on 27 October 2026, Nintendo had published no price, maker or release date for the playable one. The electric version is a different product: the same announcement describes it as one "that plays notes or entire songs at the press of a button".

Whatever you play, test it in the first week, while a new one can still go back. Breath moves an ocarina's pitch, so one sour reading is not a verdict; a note that stays far off at a soft, steady breath is.

Fan-made guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo. *The Legend of Zelda* and *Ocarina of Time* are trademarks of Nintendo. The in-game songs are by Koji Kondo for Nintendo. The notes are shown here as ocarina fingerings. To ask us to change or remove this page, email hello@playocarina.com.