Ocarina

The modern ocarina, with its elongated shape vaguely reminiscent of a goose’s head, was officially invented in 1853 by the Italian Giuseppe Donati, a 17-year-old brickmaker, inspired in large part by South American globular flutes.

In reality, small ocarina-like instruments have been unearthed at archaeological sites all over the world. Examples include the Runik ocarina, discovered in Europe and dating back more than 8,000 years, the xun, one of the oldest Chinese musical instruments, played for over 7,000 years, and Chibcha, Mayan, Aztec, and Inca flutes, which could be seen as rudimentary ocarinas. What they all had in common was a maximum of eight holes, while Giuseppe Donati’s ocarina had ten.

Over time, these early instruments evolved from round or ovoid shapes into the form we recognize today, still vaguely reminiscent of a goose’s head—hence the name “ocarina,” which literally means “little goose” in Italian. Historically, Giuseppe Donati’s 10-hole ocarina is also the first to be considered a true musical instrument, while earlier versions were closer to enhanced whistles that could play only one or a few notes. Recognizing the ocarina’s melodic potential, Donati founded the “Gruppo Ocarinistico Budriese,” also known as the “Budrio Ocarina Group,” in 1864 to promote the instrument around the world. The group still performs today.

The 10-hole, elongated ocarina later spread worldwide, especially in the United States and Asia. It became so popular in Japan that sculptor Takashi Aketagawa refined the concept in 1928 by introducing a 12-hole model, which has become the modern standard.

Today, the classic ocarina remains widely played, boosted by its resurgence in popularity after appearing in the Zelda video game franchise. And to expand the instrument’s capabilities even further, double, triple, and quadruple ocarinas, with two, three, and four mouthpieces respectively, were developed. These multi-chamber models give advanced players a much wider range, letting them perform beautiful melodies on a single instrument.

The ocarina is played similarly to a flute. You blow into the mouthpiece, which uses a fipple (a built-in whistle) formed during the instrument’s construction. At the same time, you cover one or more finger holes. The sound you get depends on how many holes are covered. Generally, the more holes you cover, the lower the note.

This means you can only play one note at a time on an ocarina, although some players move so quickly it can sound like more. Another key detail is that you need to adjust your breath pressure to match the note: the higher the pitch, the more air support you’ll typically need to play in tune.

Overall, the ocarina is easy to use. It requires no tuning and very little maintenance. Learning mainly comes down to memorizing fingerings (which holes to cover) and matching them to the right notes so you can play melodies.

All ocarinas also have a register—bass, alto, or soprano—and alto models are the most common.

As you may have noticed, ocarinas are made from a rigid material and can’t be reshaped. That means the air volume inside the chamber can’t be changed. And yet, that air volume is exactly what determines the pitch range the instrument can produce. In acoustic terms, a larger chamber produces lower notes, while a smaller ocarina produces higher-pitched tones. The full range of notes an instrument can play is called its tessitura.

So bass ocarinas, which are the largest and most expensive, are built for a low range. Alto ocarinas, medium in size, are great for mid-range notes, while smaller soprano ocarinas cover higher pitches. Keep in mind that you can’t change your ocarina’s register after you buy it, so the choice really matters.

To get around this limitation, makers developed double and triple ocarinas, which are essentially multiple ocarinas joined together, each with its own mouthpiece and chamber. These multi-chamber models are much more expensive than a standard ocarina, which is typically very affordable for a musical instrument. In most cases, players choose a single alto ocarina as a solid starting point. Bass and soprano ocarinas are more often chosen by experienced musicians looking for new sounds.

Another characteristic of ocarinas is that they all have a key—most commonly C, F, or G. In theory, other keys are possible, but few makers produce them. The key is the pitch you get when all 10 main finger holes are covered and you blow into the instrument. So, with all 10 holes covered, a C ocarina won’t produce the same note as an F ocarina.

That also means the fingering (your finger placement) on a C ocarina is completely different from that on an F or G ocarina. This matters if you want to play from sheet music because most resources are written to be played on C ocarinas. That’s why, unless you have a specific musical goal in mind, it’s best to choose a C-tuned model. It’s the easiest key to learn on, and it’s where you’ll find the most learning materials. C ocarinas are also ideal for beginners.

Otherwise, you’ll often need to transpose sheet music or tablature from the key of C to the key of your F or G ocarina. Over time, that can become tedious, and it can even keep you from playing certain tunes because a C ocarina can’t play every note an F ocarina can, and vice versa, even though most notes overlap.

Finally, some manufacturers may specify whether the key is major or minor, such as C major. Most ocarinas are tuned to a major scale, so if nothing is specified, you can assume that a C ocarina is a C major ocarina.

Ocarinas have been made from many different materials across eras and regions. Historically, ceramics made from clay or terracotta were the standard. This approach makes it easier to shape the instrument before firing it in a kiln to harden it. Archaeologists have also found wooden and metal ocarinas, but they’re much rarer because they’re far more difficult to craft.

Today, you can also find ocarinas molded from durable plastics like ABS or PVC. Plastic is a great choice if you want an instrument that’s tough, lightweight, and budget-friendly—perfect for travellers who don’t want to worry about breakage, and for kids.

The ocarina has strong ties to pop culture, especially the video game franchise The Legend of Zelda, thanks to the iconic 1998 Nintendo 64 title Ocarina of Time.

Before that game’s release, the instrument had largely fallen out of favour with many musicians. It was often seen as a bit corny or outdated, with its peak popularity having passed decades earlier.

In Ocarina of Time, the young hero Link, guided by the Great Deku Tree, must complete quests to defeat Ganon, also known as Ganondorf, by assembling the Triforce. Early on, he finds a sword and, most importantly, a blue ocarina that he uses to travel through time and solve puzzles. He does this by playing melodies he learns as his adventure unfolds.

Some of these tunes, such as the Song of Time, the Water Temple theme, and Zelda’s Lullaby, became hugely popular and still bring back waves of nostalgia for players who explored Hyrule, the fictional world of The Legend of Zelda. That’s why several makers began designing ocarina models that faithfully replicate the one from the game. You can also find sheet music and tablature for these songs so you can play them yourself, just like Link.

To a lesser extent, the ocarina is also associated with the Dragon Ball universe through the character Tapion. He appears in the 1995 film Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon. In this story, the ocarina plays a central role because it’s used to control and seal Hildegarn, a massively destructive demon. By performing a special melody on the instrument, Tapion keeps the demon sealed within his own body, preventing it from devastating the universe. Like Zelda’s melodies, Tapion’s theme has also become iconic for Dragon Ball fans.

An ocarina can be a great instrument for a child. In fact, younger kids sometimes progress faster than adults because their fine motor skills can be especially strong at that age. The main drawback is the natural fragility of a fully ceramic instrument: a drop or bump can quickly cause a crack, which often means the ocarina is beyond repair.

That’s why we generally recommend plastic ocarinas for younger players. They’re just as effective for learning songs, but much more durable than ceramic models. Plastic is also lighter, which makes it easier for small hands to hold and handle.