Jingle Bells on the ocarina

Updated 2026-10-27

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.

What are the notes for Jingle Bells on the ocarina?

Jingle Bells in C major, 4/4 time, bar by bar: 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. Pick your ocarina, then press Play to hear the tune.

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

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, from G to C you cover the right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky.

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 suggests for faster passages. Keep the breath gentle and even: these are low notes, and pushing harder makes them go sharp.

Which ocarina can play Jingle Bells?

Jingle Bells in this key fits a 12-hole, 6-hole or 4-hole ocarina in C. 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 Jingle Bells public domain?

Yes. James Lord Pierpont published the song in 1857 and died in 1893. The chorus sung today differs a little from the 1857 one, so our tabs follow a 1909 printing 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".

More ocarina songs

More: easy ocarina songs and all the songs.

Sources