Optimizing the Ocarina: How to Play in Perfect Pitch

Ocarina Tips

How to Play in Tune

Many new aspiring ocarinists often share a common struggle: playing each note of the instrument at an accurate pitch.  Beginners frequently find their notes falling rather sharp or flat.  We would like to offer a quick tip for a simple solution!

The reason for this phenomenon is that the notes of the ocarina are not dependent solely upon the fingering, but also on the breath pressure.  Even if your fingering is technically correct, a breath pressure that is either too strong or too soft can result in the pitch of the note varying wildly!

So how can you know what is the correct pressure for each note?  Every ocarina follows what is called a breath curve.  What this means is that the lower notes require less breath pressure, and the higher notes require gradually higher breath pressure.  If you blow too strongly on the low notes, they will sound sharp.  If you blow too softly on the high notes, they will sound flat.

You can test the accuracy of your pitch by playing the scale along with a tuning device or app, and experiment until you find the correct breath pressure for each note.  Eventually, your ears and your breath together will learn how the scale should sound and feel, and you will begin to instinctively make adjustments to reach each note's correct pitch without any conscious thought!

Ultimate Ocarina Guidebook

Do you need to know the deepest mysteries of all aspects of ocarina articulation?  Check out our method book "Serious Ocarina Player: The Fundamentals of Excellent Performance."

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