Five-Hole Ocarina Fingering Chart printable pdf download

5 Hole Ocarina fingering Chart 15 total notes

Note: this fingering style ,also called the “English style”, was developed by John Taylor in England in 1964

reating a sweet and pleasant

sound on the Ocarina starts by

covering all the holes com-

pletely. On a five hole Ocarina

that would be the 4 holes on the

top and one thumb hole on

bottom . The hole in the front

on the top makes the sound

so it is left uncovered . If your Ocarina has a small hole on the side by the mouthpiece, this is a pitch-

ing hole. This is used to adjust the pitch of the main chamber and is also left uncovered. Cover the

top holes with your middle and index fingers and cover the bottom hole with your right thumb. Next

blow gently in the mouth piece with a steady even air pressure, about the same amount of air pressure

you would use when you breath. Remember less is more, meaning less but steady even pressure pro-

duces a more pleasant sound. Next you need to learn to use “tonguing" because this is necessary to

give the notes a crisp clear sound. Without tonguing the ocarina will sound muffled and fuzzy. Start

by putting your tongue on the roof of your mouth and say the word “two”. Practice by repeating

“two,two,two” in a series of equal length breathes. Try playing a simple song like Twinkle , Twinkle

Little Star using a gentle breath and tonguing.

sing our number system allows you to play songs without needing to be able to read music. The

numbers refer to the notes on the musical scale , so number 1 would be the first note of the major

scale “Do” and as you see on the chart this is all the holes covered , so number 2 or “Re” would be

the upper right hole open. When you first start, concentrate on the major scale Do, Re, Mi, Fa and up

and then learn the sharps and flats as you need them for a song.

f your Ocarina is in another key besides C, play it the same way as a C but the note you hear will be

in that key, say F or G. To find more music for your ocarina try looking in piano, guitar or recorder

songbooks for more melodies to play ,writing the numbers from the fingering chart below the notes

on the sheet music can help to learn new songs. Playing along with a guitar can also be fun.

aintaining an Ocarina is easy. They are totally washable with mild soap and water ,they never

need to be retuned but you must safeguard them from getting broken . It is best store them in a bag or

a box. A well maintained Ocarina will last for hundreds of years.

his Ocarina carries on a tradition of fine Ocarina making started in Budrio, Italy in the mid 1800’s.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Thanks Chris Heuer and Amy Lake

Sixth Street Ocarina 1710 E. Eldorado Dr. Columbia , Mo. 65202

email: ocarina@socket.net

tele: 573-489-1754

Five-Hole Ocarina Fingering Chart