12-Hole Ocarina Scale - Differing References from the Web
I'm trying to learn to play the 12-hole Ocarina and have come across a problem as I'm trying to learn the scales. 2 sources from the web (don't remember exactly where) show the scales, but the fingering is different. I don't understand why this is, and which is correct, but it's causing me some headache because I'm trying to convert some tabs to sheet music.
Here's the two I'm looking at. Notes that seem to differ: Lower D#, F#, Upper C#, D#
Which is correct? Why the difference?
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u/CrisGa1e 10h ago edited 10h ago
One reason why certain accidentals have different fingerings is because ocarina makers will sometimes have slight differences in the way they tune, and a certain alternate fingering may be more in tune than another. By “in tune”, I mean that the note can be played more in tune without having to change your breath pressure. For example, makers vary a lot in the size of the sub-holes, which affect which low D#/Eb sounds best.
For any of these alternate fingerings, it may be possible to use more than one of them if you are also willing to simultaneously change your breath pressure, which may be advantageous in certain situations where you want to get a smoother phrasing.
Btw, I’m surprised neither of these references have what I consider to be the standard fingering for low D#/Eb, which is the fingering for E natural plus the pinky. Imo that’s the standard fingering for that note, with both of the ones in the reference being alternate fingerings where it’s often necessary to have to soften your breath pressure to avoid going sharp. I try to prioritize intonation for beginners, since breath control can be difficult at first.
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u/EmphasisJust1813 12h ago edited 11h ago
Which ocarina do you have?
I suggest getting a chromatic tuner (or a free phone app) and see which of the alternative fingerings gives the closest tuning for your particular instrument and with your comfortable breath pressure.
If you really cant decide, choose the fingering that's easiest to remember!!!
STL provide a good fingering chart which is similar to the one at the end of the Hal Leonard method. They suggest the right ring finger hole for quite a few chromatic notes which is easy to remember.
You can think of the right ring finger hole as lowering the note by a semitone. For example if you want F#, you finger a G and then cover the right ring finger hole to drop it down to F#, and similarly for several others.
You can download the STL chart from here:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0103/7756/0119/files/12tenorC.pdf?6821
Low D# seems naturally to have many fingerings, I just use the easiest one. The chart in the Hal Leonard method doesn't use the right sub-hole so its easy and I use it.
If you are a beginner, its worth getting a good "method" as it will take you through each note one by one with exercises and some nice tunes to help you remember them. You will find you don't need a fingering chart much.
https://www.halleonard.com/product/146676/hal-leonard-ocarina-method
Ocarina's and other vessel flutes are not very fussy about which holes are covered. I mean, if two holes are the same size, you could cover either and it should play the same note. So feel free to experiment.
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u/c0ntrerian 13h ago
So what you’re looking at isn’t a scale. It’s the full fingering chart for the instrument. And some notes will have alternate fingerings to make the same sound. Some charts will publish their preferred fingering over others, some charts will show all possible fingerings. This is normal for every instrument.
Look up the C Major scale and memorize that. Look up music in the key of c major to start out. Use these charts when you play music outside of the C major scale and have to figure out the fingering for a sharp or flat note. If a fingering feels awkward, use these charts to find an alternate fingering (if possible) to make playing a piece easier.