Gerudo Valley on a real ocarina
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.
Goes up to high D, so it does not fit a 4-hole.
Gerudo Valley
Bar 1 of 8
What are the notes for Gerudo Valley?
On a 12-hole. Read left to right, a line at a time.
- Tricky spot:EABhigh CEABhigh CrestFABhigh CFABhigh CrestDGABDGABrestABAG♯rest
- EABhigh CEABhigh CrestFABhigh CFABhigh CrestDGABDGABresthigh Chigh Dhigh CBrest
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 and KittyClaws'. 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 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.
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 or 6-hole ocarina in C.
The 9 notes here, on a 12-holeHoles in words, with a picture
| Note | Holes to cover | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| E | Cover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky | |
| A | Cover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb | |
| B | Cover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb | |
| high C | Cover the left pinky, left thumb and right thumb | |
| F | Cover every main hole but the right middle, right ring and right pinky | |
| D | Cover every main hole but the right pinky | |
| G | Cover every main hole but the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky | |
| G♯ | Cover every main hole but the left ring, right index, right middle and right pinky | |
| high D | Cover the left pinky and right thumb |
Drawn as you see it while playing: mouthpiece towards you, left hand on the left.
| Note | Holes to cover | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| E | Cover every hole but the right index | |
| A | Cover the left index, left thumb and right thumb | |
| B | Cover the right middle, left thumb and right thumb | |
| high C | Cover the left thumb and right thumb | |
| F | Cover every hole but the right middle and right index | |
| D | Cover every hole but the right middle | |
| G | Cover every hole but the left middle and right middle | |
| G♯ | Cover every hole but the left middle and right index | |
| high D | Cover the left thumb |
Drawn as you see it while playing: mouthpiece towards you, left hand on the left.
What kind of music is Gerudo Valley?
Zelda Wiki 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 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 credits the music of Ocarina of Time to Koji Kondo.