Joy to the World on the ocarina

Updated 2026-10-27

Joy to the World opens with a C major scale running straight down, from high C to C; on a 12-hole that is one finger at a time. In this key it fits every ocarina, from a 12-hole to a 4-hole pendant.

What are the notes for Joy to the World on the ocarina?

Joy to the World in C major, 4/4 time, bar by bar: high C, B, A | G, F | E, D | C, G | A, A | B, B | high C, high C | high C, B, A, G | G, F, E, high C | high C, B, A, G | G, F, E, E | E, E, E, E, F | G, F, E | D, D, D, D, E | F, E, D | C, high C, A | G, F, E, F | E, D | C. Pick your ocarina, then press Play to hear the tune.

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

What is the tricky spot in Joy to the World?

The octave leap from C to high C near the end, the biggest jump in the tune. On a 12-hole, from C to high C you lift the left ring, left middle, left index, right index, right middle, right ring and right pinky.

Seven fingers come off together, and the high C needs much more air than the C below it, so practise the two notes back and forth slowly before playing the line. The middle of the carol has runs of repeated E and D: tongue them evenly with a light "tu" and keep your fingers still. The opening scale is a good warm-up in itself: play it slowly first, putting one finger down for each note, and listen for each note sounding cleanly before the next.

Which ocarina can play Joy to the World?

Joy to the World 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 Joy to the World public domain?

Yes. Isaac Watts wrote the words in 1719 and died in 1748. Lowell Mason, who arranged the tune "Antioch", died in 1872, and it was in print by 1839, the edition our tabs follow. We show the melody only. Music: the tune "Antioch", arranged by Lowell Mason (1792-1872) from Handel (1685-1759); words by Isaac Watts (1674-1748).

More ocarina songs

More: easy ocarina songs and all the songs.

Sources