7 Best Ocarinas For Experts & Beginners (2023)

We’ll also give you some tips on how to play the ocarina, as well as a bit of history on this charming instrument.

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About Ocarinas

The ocarina is an ancient musical instrument that can be traced back to the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas, about 12 thousand years ago.

The ocarina might be one of those instruments you’ve heard about in passing but don’t know much else about them other than their fame as a wind instrument used in the gaming industry Legends Of Zelda, Ocarina of Time.

Ocarinas come in all shapes and sizes, which also means they can serve a variety of playing functions. You can purchase one for as little as $20 or upwards of $200, depending on the make, model, size, and materials it’s made from.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned ocarina player, there’s an ocarina model just for you in our ocarina reviews below.

Let’s get into it!

Top 3 Advanced Ocarinas

12 Hole Dragon Tooth Ocarina. (Best Quality).

This ocarina is a top-quality product that is made with great precision and detail. The Songbird 12-hole Dragon Tooth Ocarina is one of the best ocarinas on the market and produces a beautiful sound.

This ocarina is easy to play and is a great instrument for beginners. The history of the ocarina dates back centuries, and this particular brand has been making high-quality ocarinas for over 20 years.

If you are looking for a top-quality ocarina, the Songbird 12-hole Dragon Tooth Ocarina is an excellent choice.

 

More Excellent Ocarina Choices

Forest Whisper 12 Hole Ocarina Classic Straw Fire Masterpiece Collectible. (Handmade ceramic).

What makes the Forest Whisper 12-hole ocarina unique is how it is produced. Each ceramic ocarina is fire-cured in a straw fire process that makes the sound of the flute more gentle and easier to blow.

Forest Whisper comes with a high-quality beaded neck-strap, sheet music with several Legends of Zelda songs, and an “OcarinaWind” protective bag.

Because the ocarina is cured in a straw fire, we noticed a distinct smell when we opened the package, but the smell went away quickly.

Overall, the sound quality is excellent, and the carrying pouch serves as a nice protective way to keep your ocarina safe and sound.

L’MS Professional 12 Hole Alto C Ocarina Classic Smoked Strawfire

To test the sound quality of the L’MS Professional, we compared the notes to a tuner and found notes C through B are very accurate, but high C through high A was slightly off, but not enough to notice.

Because of the straw fire curing process, the unit had a strong bbq smell when it arrived, but it quickly went away in a day or so.

The 12 holes are all easy to access for adult hand sizes and ergonomically comfortable.

The included fingering chart, and song booklet are great resources for getting started. It also comes with a padded bag and a beaded necklace strap (you have to slide the beads on the top towards each other to make it bigger).

12 Hole Ocarina Alto C Classic Dragon Tooth Style

If you’re looking for an inexpensive ocarina, this 12-hole Dragon Tooth ocarina is a decent quality beginner’s ocarina.

The pitch range is A4-F6, including sharps and flats.

Each ocarina comes with a fingering chart, songbook, neck strap, and protective bag.

Made from Dolomite Pottery, this a very durable ocarina, and the manufacturer claims that they have made improvements in this model to improve the high notes.

12 Hole Ocarina From Legend of Zelda Alto C Dark Blue

For Legend of Zelda fans looking for a 12-hole ocarina, this inexpensive instrument is our recommended choice.

It is constructed from ceramic and has a sturdy, smooth, and thick feel in your hands.

The design is a good copy of the well-known Zelda Tri-Force Ocarina, especially for a ceramic version.

It comes with a neck strap, fingering chart, and songbook for beginners to get started.

Different types of Ocarinas

There are four main types of ocarinas: the multi-chamber ocarina, the vessel flute ocarina, the inline ocarina, and the neck-hanging ocarina.

Multi-chamber ocarinas have two or more chambers that are connected by a small hole. Vessel flute ocarinas are similar to multi-chamber ocarinas, but they have a globular body with a wide sound hole.

Inline ocarinas have a linear body with the chambers and sound holes aligned. Neck-hanging ocarinas are similar to inline ocarinas, but they are suspended from the neck by a cord or strap.

Multi-chamber ocarinas are the most popular type of ocarina due to their versatility and range. They typically have four chambers: two for the thumbs, one for the left hand, and one for the right hand.

Vessel flute ocarinas are the second most popular type of ocarina. They are distinguished by their globular body and wide sound hole.

Inline ocarinas are the third most popular type of ocarina. They are distinguished by their linear body and aligned chambers, and sound holes.

Neck-hanging ocarinas are the fourth most popular type of ocarina. They are distinguished by their suspension from the neck by a cord or strap.

Tips on how to play the ocarina

The ocarina is a wind instrument that is played by blowing into a mouthpiece and fingering the holes with the hands.

To produce a sound, blow into the mouthpiece and cover the holes with your fingers. The pitch of the sound will change as you cover different combinations of holes.

To produce a higher pitch, cover more holes. To produce a lower pitch, cover fewer holes.

You can also vary the timbre of the sound by changing the shape of your mouth while you blow into the instrument.

The ocarina is a versatile instrument that can be used for a variety of genres, including classical, folk, and pop.

Legend of Zelda Ocarina Medley on STL Ocarina – Lena Leclaire

FAQs

What do ocarinas look like?

Ocarinas come in all shapes and sizes, from the traditional teardrop shape to more modern designs. They can be made out of a variety of materials, including ceramic, plastic, or even wood.

Most ocarinas have between four and twelve holes that are covered by your fingers to produce different notes.

How do you play ocarinas?

Ocarinas are typically held in the left hand, with the right hand covering the holes. The left thumb is used to hold the ocarina steady, while the right thumb and first three fingers are used to cover the holes. To produce a sound, you simply blow into the mouthpiece and cover or uncover different holes with your fingers.

Is the ocarina good for children to learn?

Yes! The ocarina is a great instrument for children to learn. Not only is it easy to play, but it’s also a lot of fun. And, since the ocarina is so portable, kids can take it with them anywhere they go.

How do you know which holes to cover?

Many ocarinas can be bought with songbooks to encourage learning about the basic principles and allow a direct chance for mastering melodies.

Learning uncomplicated recognizable melodies provides beginners with confidence and encourages them to grow their skills.

Does the shape of the ocarina change the sound?

The ocarina is a wind instrument with a whistle mouthpiece. It is usually egg-shaped and has finger holes on the top. The number of finger holes varies, but most ocarinas have between four and 11 holes.

Some ocarinas are made with two chambers, which gives them a richer sound. The size of the ocarina also affects the sound. Smaller ocarinas have a higher pitch, while larger ocarinas have a lower pitch.

Ocarinas are made from a variety of materials, including clay, wood, glass, metal, and plastic. Each material gives the ocarina a different timbre or tone color. For example, clay ocarinas have an earthy sound, while metal ocarinas have a bright sound.

You can play the ocarina without learning any music theory. However, if you want to learn how to read music, there are some basic concepts you need to know. The first is pitch.

Pitch is the highness or lowness of a note. You can change the pitch of a note by covering or uncovering finger holes.

The second is rhythm. Rhythm is the beat or pulse of a piece of music. Ocarinas are usually played in groups, so it’s important to be able to keep a steady beat.

Why would a player look to purchase a double chamber ocarina?

The answer is rather simple: more notes! With two chambers, a double-chamber ocarina can play an octave and a half worth of notes.

This gives the player a much wider range to work with when playing melodies and harmonies. While the added range is certainly handy, it does come at a bit of a cost.

Double-chamber ocarinas are generally more expensive than their single-chamber counterparts.

There are a few things to keep in mind when purchasing a double-chamber ocarina. The first is that, due to the added complexity of the design, they can be more fragile than single-chamber ocarinas.

It is important to be careful when handling them and to avoid dropping them. The second thing to keep in mind is that, because of the added chamber, they can be more difficult to play. This is particularly true for beginners who are still getting used to the basics of ocarina playing.

If you are looking for a challenge and want to expand your musical horizons, a double-chamber ocarina is a great option. Just be sure to handle them with care and take your time learning how to play them.

With a little practice, you’ll be making beautiful music in no time!

What materials are ocarinas available in?

Ocarinas are available in a variety of materials, including ceramic, plastic, wood, and even metal. Each material has its own unique tone and feel, so it’s important to choose the right one for you.

Ceramic ocarinas have a warm, mellow sound that is perfect for classical or folk music. Plastic ocarinas are a great choice for beginners, as they are very affordable and easy to play.

Wood ocarinas have a richer, more resonant sound that is perfect for jazz or blues. Metal ocarinas have a bright, ringing sound that is perfect for pop or rock music.

Which is the Best Ocarina for Me?

Now that we’ve gone over the basics of ocarinas and what to look for when purchasing one, it’s time to choose the best ocarina for you. Our top seven picks above range from beginner to advanced instruments, but there are plenty of other options in the market.

Conclusion

Whether you are a fan of the Zelda series or not, we hope that our list of the top 7 ocarinas has helped you to choose the right one for your needs.

And if you’re looking for other inexpensive and easy-to-learn instruments you may want to pick up a Kalimba – see our article on Kalimbas.

We wish you many hours of enjoyable play with your new instrument!