How to Play the Ocarina (Beginner Guide)
To play the ocarina, hold it level in both hands, cover the holes with the soft pads of your fingers and blow gently and steadily, starting each note with a soft “too”. On a 12-hole alto C ocarina, covering all ten main holes plays low C; lifting fingers from the right little finger upwards plays D, E, F and G.
Works in the UK and the US. This version uses US music words (measure, quarter note, eighth note, staff); the UK version uses bar, crotchet, quaver and stave. · UK version of this page
Updated · By the Classfern Music Department
Key facts
- The most common ocarina is the 12-hole transverse ocarina in alto C: 8 finger holes on top, 2 thumb holes underneath and 2 small subholes.
- Range of a 12-hole alto C ocarina: low A to high F (A4 to F6), an octave and a major sixth (20 half steps).
- It sounds an octave higher than written: its low C is C5 (523.25 Hz), written as middle C.
- An ocarina is a vessel flute: air from the windway splits on a sharp edge (the labium), like a recorder, but inside a closed, rounded body.
- Breath changes the pitch: blow harder and the note goes sharp, softer and it goes flat.
- Small pendant ocarinas with 4 or 6 holes use a different (cross-fingered) system and play about one octave.
Your first ocarina notes: see and hear them
Classfern’s free ocarina tool on lessonplanner.info shows which holes to cover for each note from low C to high C on a 12-hole alto C ocarina, and plays the note so you can match it. Self-assessed Can you play each note and match the sound?
C (low C): Cover all ten main holes (both thumbs and all eight finger holes); both subholes open.
Sounds are made in your browser. This page never uses the microphone, and nothing is recorded or sent.
Keyboard: Tab to a note and press Enter or Space. A filled circle means cover the hole; an outline means leave it open; the words always say the same thing.
How do you play the ocarina for beginners?
Start with low C: cover all ten main holes, blow a slow, warm breath and say “too” to start the note. Then lift one finger at a time from the right little finger to play D, E, F and G, keeping your breath steady.
- Sit or stand tall and hold the ocarina level, mouthpiece towards you, with the left hand on the left.
- Put the soft pads of your fingers flat over the holes. The thumbs cover the two holes underneath.
- Breathe in through your nose, then blow a gentle, steady stream of air, as if you are fogging up a cold window.
- Start the note with your tongue: say “too” (or “doo” for a softer start). Do not puff your cheeks.
- Lift the right little finger for D, then the right ring finger for E, the right middle finger for F and the right index finger for G.
- Play each note four times, then walk up and down: C D E F G F E D C.
When those five notes are steady, try easy ocarina songs such as Hot Cross Buns and Mary Had a Little Lamb.
How do you hold an ocarina?
Hold a transverse ocarina level, like a small sweet potato, with the mouthpiece towards you, the left hand on the left half and the right hand on the right half. Both thumbs sit underneath on the thumb holes, and the little fingers rest on the two small end holes.
Keep your wrists relaxed and your elbows away from your body. The ocarina is held mostly by the thumbs and the little fingers, so that the other fingers can lift freely. Tilt the far end down a little if it feels heavy. On the high notes, when both thumbs come off, the left little finger and the mouthpiece in your lips hold the ocarina steady.
| Hole | Covered by | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| 8 large and small holes on top | Index, middle, ring and little fingers of both hands | All the notes from low C to high C |
| 2 thumb holes underneath | Left and right thumbs | Lifted for high D (left) and high E (right) |
| 2 small subholes | Rolling a finger forward to cover two holes at once | Low B (right subhole) and low A (both) |
What are the first notes to learn on the ocarina?
Learn low C, D, E, F and G first. They use the right hand only: start with every hole covered and lift the right little, ring, middle and index fingers in turn. Then add A, B and high C with the left hand.
| Note | What to do | Sounds |
|---|---|---|
| C (low C) | Cover all ten main holes (both thumbs and all eight finger holes); both subholes open | C5 (523.25 Hz) |
| D | Cover all ten main holes except the right little finger; both subholes open | D5 (587.33 Hz) |
| E | Cover all ten main holes except the right ring finger and right little finger; both subholes open | E5 (659.26 Hz) |
| F | Cover all ten main holes except the right middle finger, right ring finger and right little finger; both subholes open | F5 (698.46 Hz) |
| G | Cover all ten main holes except the right index finger, right middle finger, right ring finger and right little finger; both subholes open | G5 (783.99 Hz) |
| A | Cover only the left thumb, left index finger, left middle finger, left little finger and right thumb; every other hole open | A5 (880.00 Hz) |
| B | Cover only the left thumb, left index finger, left little finger and right thumb; every other hole open | B5 (987.77 Hz) |
| High C | Cover only the left thumb, left little finger and right thumb; every other hole open | C6 (1046.50 Hz) |
Every note is in the full ocarina fingering chart, including low A and B and the high D, E and F.
How do you play high notes on the ocarina?
For high D, lift the left thumb; for high E, lift the right thumb too; for high F, lift the left little finger last, so every hole is open. Blow a little faster and keep the ocarina steady with your lips and the left little finger.
High notes need slightly more breath pressure, but not a louder, harder blast. Think of blowing a faster, narrower stream of air. If a high note sounds flat or breathy, blow a little faster; if it squeals, blow slower. Practice the step from high C to high D slowly, because that is where the thumbs start to come off.
Is the ocarina easy to learn?
Yes. Most beginners play a simple tune in the first lesson, because each note has one fingering and there is no reed or bow. The hard part is steady breath, since blowing harder or softer changes the pitch.
The ocarina is a good first instrument for children from about age 7, and a quick one for adults who already read music. Its small range means you cannot play every tune, but hundreds of folk songs, hymns and classical themes fit between low A and high F.
Types of ocarina
| Type | Holes | Range | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transverse ocarina, alto C | 12 (8 + 2 thumbs + 2 subholes) | A4 to F6 | Most players; the instrument on this page |
| Transverse ocarina, soprano C | 12 | An octave higher than the alto | Bright, high melodies |
| Transverse ocarina, bass C | 12 | An octave lower than the alto | Low, warm sound; bigger hands |
| 10-hole transverse ocarina | 10 (no subholes) | C5 to F6 on an alto C | The same fingering without low A and B |
| Pendant ocarina | 4 or 6 | About one octave | Small, worn on a cord; different fingering |
A 10-minute ocarina practice plan
- 2 minutes: long notes on low C, G and high C. Hold each one for 4 slow beats and keep it steady.
- 2 minutes: C D E F G F E D C, tonguing every note.
- 3 minutes: one song from easy ocarina songs, slowly.
- 3 minutes: a new note from the fingering chart.
Self-assessed Tick each step when you can do it twice without a squeak. New to reading notes? See learn to read music.
Quick quiz: ocarina basics
Six questions on holes, range, breath and high notes. Marked by Classfern Your score stays in this browser.
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