These multi-chambered ocarinas (often double or triple) exist within the other categories of ocarina to allow a wider range of notes. If you are an experienced musician, or you wish to eventually play advanced music, you might want a double or triple ocarina with an extended range.
#OCARINA TAB MAKER PORTABLE#
Are you looking for a fun, portable conversation piece to play around with, or do you want to play impressive tunes? If you are just looking for a fun diversion, a regular ocarina with eight to 13 diatonic notes should suit you fine. Oboists or clarinetists may find an inline ocarina’s design more familiar and comfortable as it is played vertically, similar to those instruments, but on a much smaller scale.Īlso consider how the ocarina will be used. English pendants typically have four to six holes, while Peruvian fingering allows eight to 10 holes. So if you travel a lot and want something you can play on the go, a pendant might be a great option for you. Also, because of their smaller range, they can be mastered quickly. Pendant ocarinas are small and have fewer holes, making them light and portable. Japanese subholes are above the right hand’s middle and index finger, while Taiwanese subholes are over both the left and right hand’s middle fingers, which tend to be more comfortable for people with longer middle fingers. The subholes-smaller holes above the main holes that extend the instrument’s diatonic range-come in two different styles: Japanese and Taiwanese. If you are a flautist, you may like the transverse or sweet potato design because these are held to the side of the mouth horizontally and played with two hands. There are three main styles of ocarina: transverse (also called a sweet potato), pendants (English or Peruvian), and inline. For example, many Peruvian ocarinas, while beautifully decorated, are meant more as tourist collectibles and don’t resonate sound well.Īnother consideration is which style of ocarina will be most comfortable for playing. Some of the most attractive models are less playable, and have lower sound quality.
The instruments come in all shapes and sizes, but be wary of purchasing the one that you find most aesthetically beautiful. Before you go out and buy your own, here are some points to consider. They have an enchanting, melodic sound, and are also fun for practiced musicians to unique tone to contemporary music, or an authentic edge to folk pieces. Ocarinas are great beginner instruments because they are pre-tuned, and can be played straight out the box. In the 1990s, there was a surge in the instrument’s popularity thanks to the video game “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.” During World War I and II servicemen were given ocarinas to carry in their pockets to improve morale.
Versions of this vessel flute, in differing shapes and sizes, were found in many cultures including Mayan, Aztec, Inca, Indian, and Chinese. However, the instruments’ origins probably go back 12,000 years. The name ocarina, meaning “little goose,” was coined in the late 19th century by Italian musician and baker Guiseppi Donati who modified the instrument to play a diatonic scale and popularized it in the west.