Potato Flute › Notes › low C#
C#How to play low C# on the ocarina
Low C# is one of the low notes of the ocarina: on a 12-hole ocarina it's played with 9 of the 10 main holes covered. On every kind of ocarina it uses a half-covered hole. Choose your ocarina below to see the fingering.
Fingering on each kind of ocarina
Filled holes are covered, white holes open. The back view shows the thumb holes.
10-hole transverse
10-hole Italian
6-hole pendant
4-hole pendant
Its pitch on each size
| Ocarina | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Alto in C | C♯5 | 554 Hz |
| Soprano | C♯6 | 1109 Hz |
| Bass | C♯4 | 277 Hz |
The fingering is the same on every size; a soprano sounds an octave higher than an alto, a bass an octave lower.
Tips: why C# squeaks, and how to fix it
- Low notes need slow, warm, gentle air: blow as if you were fogging up a window. Too much air makes them jump up or squeak.
- Every covered hole must be sealed completely: use the soft pads of your fingers, not the tips. A tiny leak is the usual reason a low note sounds airy or breaks.
- Keep your hands relaxed: squeezing the ocarina lifts the pads at the edges.
- For the half-covered hole: roll or slide the finger so it covers about half of the hole. Listen and adjust: a little more open makes the note higher.