Ocarina Fingering Chart (12-Hole, Interactive)
A 12-hole ocarina fingering chart shows which holes to cover for each note. On an alto C ocarina, all ten main holes covered play low C; lift the right-hand fingers for D, E, F and G, the left ring, middle and index fingers for A, B and high C, then the thumbs and the left little finger for high D, E and F.
Works in the UK and the US. This version uses UK music words (bar, crotchet, quaver, stave); the US version uses measure, quarter note, eighth note and staff. · US version of this page
Updated · By the Classfern Music Department
Key facts
- 12 holes: 8 on top (the two little-finger holes are small), 2 thumb holes underneath and 2 subholes.
- Range: low A to high F – 13 natural notes, A4 to F6 on an alto C ocarina.
- Low B: cover the right subhole as well. Low A: cover both subholes.
- The left little finger stays down for every note except high F; it helps hold the ocarina.
- This chart uses the standard (Asian-style) fingering on most 12-hole ocarinas sold today. Some makers’ high E and F fingerings differ, so check your own instrument’s chart.
- Sharps and flats are cross-fingerings that vary from maker to maker, so they are not in this chart.
Interactive ocarina fingering chart
Classfern’s free ocarina finger chart on lessonplanner.info: press a note to see the holes and hear the note. Self-assessed Finger each note on your own ocarina and check it against 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 read an ocarina finger chart?
Each diagram is the ocarina seen from above. A filled circle means cover that hole and an outline means leave it open. The two circles below the body are the thumb holes underneath, and the two tiny holes are the subholes.
The left hand is on the left of the diagram. The small hole at each end is a little-finger hole. Every diagram is also written out in words, so you never need to rely on the picture alone.
| Note | Holes to cover | Sounds | Diagram | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low A | Cover all 12 holes: both thumbs, all eight finger holes and both subholes | A4 (440.00 Hz) | ||
| Low B | Cover all ten main holes and the right subhole; left subhole open | B4 (493.88 Hz) | ||
| 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) | ||
| High D | Cover only the left little finger and right thumb; every other hole open | D6 (1174.66 Hz) | ||
| High E | Cover only the left little finger; every other hole open | E6 (1318.51 Hz) | ||
| High F | Every hole open (lift the left little finger last) | F6 (1396.91 Hz) |
★ marks the subhole notes and the high notes, which take more practice. The “Sounds” column gives the real pitch of an alto C ocarina; music for it is written an octave lower.
What is the range of a 12-hole ocarina?
A 12-hole ocarina plays an octave and a major sixth: from low A to high F. On an alto C ocarina that is A4 (440 Hz) to F6 (1,396.91 Hz), 13 natural notes in all.
A 10-hole ocarina has no subholes, so it starts at low C. Soprano C ocarinas play the same notes an octave higher, and bass C ocarinas an octave lower, with the same fingerings. Ocarinas in other keys (G, F) use the same finger patterns too, but every note name moves with the key.
How do you play the subhole notes, low B and low A?
Keep every main hole covered and slide a finger forward so its pad covers its own hole and the small subhole beside it. Cover the right subhole for low B, and both subholes for low A. Blow very gently: low notes need less breath.
On most 12-hole ocarinas the subholes sit just below the middle-finger holes. If low A squeaks or sounds weak, check for leaks first, then blow slower and softer. Low A and B are useful for tunes that dip below the home note, such as Amazing Grace in C.
Which fingers do you lift for the high notes?
High D: lift the left thumb. High E: lift the right thumb as well. High F: lift the left little finger last, so every hole is open. Blow a little faster for each one.
With both thumbs off, the ocarina is held by the left little finger and your lips. Press the mouthpiece lightly against your lower lip and rest your right thumb under the body without covering the hole. Some ocarinas (Italian-style fingering) reverse high E and F; if high E sounds wrong, check the maker’s chart.
Is there an ocarina finger chart PDF?
Yes – print this page, or use your browser’s Print and choose “Save as PDF”. The table prints with every diagram and description, without the buttons.
Classfern’s music tools run in the browser with nothing to download or sign up for. For songs to use the chart with, see easy ocarina songs; for posture and breathing, see how to play the ocarina.
Practise the C major scale
Play up and down the scale with the “Play every note in turn” button, then join in: C D E F G A B C′ and back. Move one finger at a time and keep the sound going between notes. Self-assessed
Looking after your ocarina
After playing, blow firmly through the mouthpiece with a finger over the window to push out moisture, and let the ocarina dry before you put it away. Ceramic ocarinas break if dropped, so keep them in a padded case; plastic ocarinas are the safer choice for school bags and young players. Never put an ocarina in a dishwasher or near a radiator.
Quick quiz: name the ocarina note
Eight questions: read the fingering, choose the note. Marked by Classfern Your score stays in this browser.
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