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Grandfather's Clock on the ocarina

On a 12-hole it starts E, A, G♯, A. Medium, 115 notes, in A major.

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Goes up to high E, so it does not fit a 4-hole.

Grandfather's Clock

Bar 1 of 24

E
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What are the notes for Grandfather's Clock?

On a 12-hole. Read left to right, a line at a time.

  1. E AG♯ABAB
    Tricky spot:high C♯high Dhigh C♯F♯BB
    AAAG♯G♯G♯
    AEE
  2. AG♯ABAB
    high C♯high Dhigh C♯F♯BB
    AAAG♯G♯G♯
    AAhigh C♯
  3. high Ehigh C♯BAG♯A
    BAG♯F♯EAhigh C♯
    high Ehigh C♯BAG♯A
    BEE
  4. ArestBrest
    high C♯high C♯high C♯high Dhigh C♯F♯BB
    AG♯
    AEE
  5. AEEF♯EE
    C♯EC♯EE
    AEEF♯EE
    C♯EC♯EE
  6. ArestBrest
    high C♯high C♯high C♯high Dhigh C♯F♯BB
    AG♯
    A

Grandfather's Clock starts on a single E and then rocks A, G sharp, A, B, a tune that moves mostly by step. Here is the first verse and the chorus in A major, from C sharp up to high E, as it was published in 1876. In the chorus the tune drops to low C sharp and back for the clock's ticks.

Grandfather's Clock ocarina tabs for a 12-hole ocarina: the fingering for each note, then the letter notes bar by bar
Grandfather's Clock as one picture, with the tabs for a 12-hole, to save to your phone. Open the picture

What is the tricky spot in Grandfather's Clock?

The second bar, where the tune climbs to high D, falls back to high C sharp and then drops a fifth to F sharp. The same bar comes back three more times. On a 12-hole, Grandfather's Clock goes from high C♯ to F♯: you cover the left ring, left middle, left index and left thumb. On a 6-hole, you cover the left index, right index and right thumb.

High D and high C sharp need a little more air than the notes around them; as you jump down to F sharp, ease off the breath or the F sharp comes out sharp or cracks upward. The high D is short, a dotted rhythm: hold the C sharp before it, then flick through D and back to C sharp quickly. In the bars that end each half, "stopped short", the notes are short and the rests are long, so stop each note cleanly with your tongue. In the chorus, keep the ticks between low C sharp and E even and steady, like a clock.

Where do you breathe in Grandfather's Clock?

After each long A that ends a line, after the long B in the middle of the verse, and in the rests after each short note in "stopped short". In the chorus, breathe before the last two short Es of the second and fourth bars, which lead into the next line.

Which ocarina can play Grandfather's Clock?

A 4-hole ocarina cannot reach high C♯, high D and high E, so play Grandfather's Clock in this key on a 12-hole or 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.

The 9 notes here, on a 12-holeHoles in words, with a picture
NoteHoles to coverPicture
ECover every main hole but the right ring and right pinky
ACover the left pinky, left middle, left index, left thumb and right thumb
G♯Cover every main hole but the left ring, right index, right middle and right pinky
BCover the left pinky, left index, left thumb and right thumb
high C♯Cover the left pinky, right ring and right thumb
high DCover the left pinky and right thumb
F♯Cover every main hole but the right index, right middle and right pinky
high ECover the left pinky
C♯Cover every main hole but the right pinky, plus the right sub-hole

Drawn as you see it while playing: mouthpiece towards you, left hand on the left.

Where do our Grandfather's Clock tabs come from?

Henry Clay Work wrote the words and music, and it was published in 1876. Our tabs follow the 1876 sheet music published by C. M. Cady in New York, moved from B flat major to A major. Music: Henry Clay Work (1832-1884), words and music.

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