Brahms' Lullaby on the ocarina

Updated 2026-10-29

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.

What are the notes for Brahms' Lullaby on the ocarina?

Brahms' Lullaby in C major, 3/4 time, bar by bar: 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. Pick your ocarina, then press Play to hear the tune.

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  1. E
  2. E
  3. G
  4. E
  5. E
  6. G
  7. E
  8. G
  9. high C
  10. B
  11. A
  12. A
  13. G
  14. D
  15. E
  16. F
  17. D
  18. D
  19. E
  20. F
  21. D
  22. F
  23. B
  24. A
  25. G
  26. B
  27. high C
  28. C
  29. C
  30. high C
  31. A
  32. F
  33. G
  34. E
  35. C
  36. F
  37. G
  38. A
  39. G
  40. C
  41. C
  42. high C
  43. A
  44. F
  45. G
  46. E
  47. C
  48. F
  49. E
  50. D
  51. C

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.

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 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.

Which ocarina can play Brahms' Lullaby?

Any 12-hole, 6-hole or 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.

Who did Brahms write his lullaby for?

For a friend's new baby. Brahms wrote it for Bertha Faber when her second son was born, and the first edition, printed by Simrock in Berlin in 1868, 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. Brahms died in 1897, so the song is public domain. We show the melody only. Music: Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), Wiegenlied, Op. 49 No. 4.

More ocarina songs

Next medium song: Frère Jacques. More: songs for a 4-hole ocarina and all the songs.