Greensleeves on the ocarina

Updated 2026-10-27

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

What are the notes for Greensleeves on the ocarina?

Greensleeves in D minor, 6/8 time, bar by bar: 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. Press Play to hear the tune.

  1. D
  2. F
  3. G
  4. A
  5. A♯
  6. A
  7. G
  8. E
  9. C
  10. D
  11. E
  12. F
  13. D
  14. D
  15. C♯
  16. D
  17. E
  18. C♯
  19. low A
  20. D
  21. F
  22. G
  23. A
  24. A♯
  25. A
  26. G
  27. E
  28. C
  29. D
  30. E
  31. F
  32. E
  33. D
  34. C♯
  35. low B
  36. C♯
  37. D
  38. high C
  39. high C
  40. B
  41. A
  42. G
  43. E
  44. C
  45. D
  46. E
  47. F
  48. D
  49. D
  50. C♯
  51. D
  52. E
  53. C♯
  54. low A
  55. high C
  56. high C
  57. B
  58. A
  59. G
  60. E
  61. C
  62. D
  63. E
  64. F
  65. E
  66. D
  67. C♯
  68. low B
  69. C♯
  70. D

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, 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 high, one sub-hole is leaking. The C♯ just before it is a cross-fingering too (the right sub-hole down, 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?

Greensleeves in this key fits a 12-hole ocarina in C. It goes beyond the range of a 6-hole or 4-hole ocarina. On an ocarina in G or F, use the same fingerings and it sounds lower. Every fingering is in the 12-hole fingering chart, and you can check your notes with a chromatic tuner (our own ocarina tuner is on its way).

Is Greensleeves public domain?

Yes. Greensleeves is an anonymous English tune from the 1500s. Its first part matches William Chappell's printing of 1855; Chappell notes that the second part differs between old copies, 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.

More ocarina songs

More: easy ocarina songs and all the songs.

Sources