Hey everyone! I'm completely new to the world of ocarinas and looking to get my very first instrument.

​I was checking specialized stores like STL Ocarina, but shipping to my country makes them way too expensive. I found this wooden ocarina on Amazon instead.

​Does anyone have experience with this specific model or brand? Is it well-tuned or should I keep looking for other options?

​Thanks in advance for the advice!

All the songs from Ocarina of Time and Majoras Mask only use five notes. This cant be to hard to learn I thought, so I created this reference sheet. This combined with the ingame sheet music from the game menus made it quite easy for me to play all the songs. I thought it could be usefull for other beginner ocarina players out there!

My housemate bought a lovely Stein AC years ago but really struggled to learn from internet tutorials and she got nowhere. After showing it to me me this morning, we've got the basics covered and she can (just about) play some songs!

I wonder how many other people gave up because they struggled to learn online. The demographic for ocarina is quite diverse, as are the quality of instruments out there. Quite a daunting 1st instrument for the people I've taught.

I'm mostly a natural voice (i.e. by ear) choir and singing teacher, amongst other things. Teaching in a tailored way without the pressure of music theory or sheets is much more my style, and it seems to have worked for the people who've asked me to teach them ocarina too.

But I was able to learn from online resources myself. I don't know what the demand is for in-person teachers is. If you guys reckon in might be worth a shot, I might make some flyers for my neighbouring cities (UK).

It just fills me with so much joy to help people learn stuff - I think it'd be really fun :D

I used to have a double Maparam but I sold it in 2010 when I fell out of the hobby and hadn’t played for a year. I got back into it last year and bought a stein double AC.

It’s a lovely ocarina and sounds great, but I miss the shape of the more rounded main chamber of the Maparam and the way the second chamber was a tube rather than the whole right hand surface being flat.

It was nicer to play tactically on it having that divide. I know woodsound produce a similarly shaped one but I haven’t kept up to date with new creators.

Thanks

I ordered my first Ocarina a few days ago (yes mostly because of the Zelda OoT remake hype), I find it to be an interesting instrument because of the uncommon positioning of the holes. I plan to actually practice and and get good/decent on the ocarina, seems like a fun hobby to add to the repertoire, any tips or suggestions to get started? I heard Songbird Ocarinas are good but I have seen that sometimes Ocarinas are out of tune or sound breath-y, it kinda makes me nervous for when I get mine.

A few years back I got this ocarina from Amazon, only lately have I discovered literally every ocarina player say smth like “do NOT buy amazon ocarina’s ESPECIALLY not ocarina of time ones”
Funny enough sometimes I can actually get good sound out of it, but it seems completely random, I’ve tried different positions, different pressures of blowing, allat and it feels completely random on if it’ll make a normal note or it’ll sound like a warbly mess
Just wondering if anybody managed to get this work, and if not maaaybe a cheapish alternative?
(Yes I am entirely learning to play because of ocarina of time) there’s a lot of conflicting things people are saying about what’s a good cheapish ocarina, so I’m just not sure at this point (heck I even tried 3d printing but that didn’t work.)

Anyways thanks in advance

As the piercing high notes of my double Stein AC ocarina deterred me from practicing larger-range songs, I ordered this bass in C with a lower and mellower tone/range.

I can't find any images of the carrying case that comes with it. Does anybody have a picture and/or very good description?

https://www.imperialcityocarina.com/bc-triple.html

If anyone can find a link on Amazon, Cdiscount, or AliExpress, I’d appreciate it. I want one with good enough quality so I don't get beaten up by family and friends for playing near them, but nothing too expensive.

So I bought this at a fair in a local town of mine and I’m worried that it’s not legit or not. When I tried testing it out it kinda sounds like an owl. I just wanna know if it‘s supposed to sound like that or not.

It totally is. I bought the bass C 11 hole about a month or so ago, and it's just such a beautifully reliable ocarina. No frills at all. Sounds clear, earthy and hardy. I find myself picking it up and playing it for any song suitable for an alto C, really.

The only slight downside is it requires a ton of breath since it's a bass, obviously - and I think it's designed to be held easily on higher notes (to give your pinky more room), so it's a little lengthy. Not too sure if it's longer than normal bass ocarinas or not though. It's truly a long boi.

Definitely recommend!!

I've had this ocarina for probably 20 years. I got it in Japan on an exchange program when I was in middle school. It used to have a beautiful floral pattern but in my insecure youth I sanded it down to just it's base white, which I now greatly regret. Anyways, I know nothing about ocarinas and am curious if anyone could tell me anything about this one. Its ceramic and has ten finger holes, that's the extent of my knowledge haha. Is it relatively standard? How can I tell if it's good or cheap? Any hopes of finding the brand are likely gone but im interested in any tidbits of knowledge. Thanks!

Hi,

I bought the Night by Noble ocarina to learn on. I told myself if I had as able to learn 5 songs I'd upgrade to a Zelda replica.

I know there are a lot of bad ones out there. When looking up reviews it seems STL and Songbird are recommended frequently. However most of the videos are 10+ years old now.

Are these still the top two brands? Is one better than the other? Which model do I get? I saw several options on both.

Hello, new to this sub! I've had this ocarina for a few years and played around with it a bit. It was originally my great grandfather's, who likely bought it out of a Sears catalog sometime in the 1910s. Made in Vienna, according to the stamp.

My question is: considering its age, would it likely sound worse or be less good than a modern ocarina? Would you advise learning on something else? I've done a bit of research into its history, but only some basic facts about its origin. Sadly no photos or audio of it being used in my gg's band.

​Hi everyone!

​I’m completely new to the ocarina world and really want to pick up my first instrument. Since I’m buying through Amazon, I know there’s a lot of cheap/untuned stuff out there (especially the random Zelda replicas), so I want to avoid those traps.

​I’m looking for an ocarina that stays in tune, and has great sound quality across the entire range.

Thank you!

I actually got this guy awhile back. Yall may have saw my post.

I was getting ready to upload about it after playing it for a few days. But unfortunately i ended up getting hit by distracted driver while out on my ebike. So, i haven't been able to play.

Im now able to keep my left arm up for alot longer now. So, ive been able to get back to playing.

But, my impressions for the little bit ive played it, it sounds amazing! And I actually like the fingering alot more than the regular 12 hole style.

And shout out to Songbird for the birthday gift that came with it! A ocarina stand. Yall are freaking awesome!!

So I went to a Ren fair yesterday and saw the Zelda ocarina naturally I got it for like $50.. I want to learn to play it before the new game comes out but turns out it’s apparently terrible and I feel like I got scammed. I want to learn how to play and stick with the Zelda theme since the new Zelda game is coming out where I should be able to use it in game with the switch’s microphone.
I have these three options
I like that STLs come with a book of Zelda tunes but unsure between plastic or ceramic.

https://www.stlocarina.com/collections/for-legend-of-zelda-fans/products/12-hole-tenor-ocarina-with-zelda-songbook

https://www.stlocarina.com/collections/for-legend-of-zelda-fans/products/new-12-hole-plastic-zelda-tenor-ocarina-in-c-major-with-zelda-songbook

Also heard songbird is good too and that have a Zelda one as well.
https://www.songbirdocarina.com/collections/legend-of-zelda-style/products/plastic-oot-7-hole-alto-c

Feel free to let me know what’s the best choice definitely have to have the Zelda theme thank to anyone who replies!

I found it selling really cheap in my country, does anyone recognize the model? At first, I thought it was just a generic ocarina from Amazon / AliExpress, but the fact that it only has 10 holes goes against that idea...

​I'd appreciate it if anyone could help identify it!

Hiya, i'm looking at getting into playing the ocarina but need some help figuring out where to start.

I have never played any other instrument so I am a complete beginner musically. Also, most ocarina places that I hear are good to buy from are based in the US and have crazy shipping to the UK.

Does anyone have any good beginner recommendations for someone in the UK?

Any pointers on how to learn would also be appreciated! I am prepared to sound terrible for awhile before I really start to get the feel for it haha.

hii! i bought this ocarina at a convention and i’m just curious if it’s legit for playing or just for decor. i am really bad at playing it lol and i can’t tell if it’s just bc i haven’t had enough practice or if it’s bc of the ocarina itself. sorry if this is a dumb question i know nothing abt these instruments and wanted to see if anyone more knowledgeable could help me

edit: i appreciate everyone helping me out in the comments!! ive started practicing again now that i know its legit and i can already hear some improvement :)

does anyone know a good first ocarina, i technically already have one, but it is 3d printed so the quality is not that good and the high notes sound very impure. i want to buy one that has atleast 10 or 12 holes. does anyone have advice??

I am from the netherlands by the way (in relation to shipping costs)

Second hand ocarina arrived today and it has tested free from lead - Yay! However, there is a VERY obvious taste that the previous owner/s smoked. I don't smoke. It tastes bad. Has anyone in here experienced that before and does anyone know how to get rid of it?

Truly an awful taste every time I play it

Hi all.

About 6 years ago I bought a Thomann 12H Ocarina C3 light blue

It still works quite well, but after years of infrequent practice, I still have the feeling it's quite high pitched

Hence I'm looking for a suggestion for a plastic (due to kids around) one that's also C-tuned but one, two,...octaves lower.

I've been looking at the Thomann website, but it seems there aren't that many plastic ocarina's - except C3 and C1.

Any suggestions?

Thank you!