Potato Flute › Songs › Frère Jacques
A little challenge · 7 notes
How to play Frère Jacques on the ocarina
Frère Jacques ocarina notes with color coding & letters, sheet music, fingering diagrams, and interactive audio practice.
The French round about waking up Brother John. Climbs up to high E, requiring clean air support. It uses 7 notes: D, G, A, B, C′, D′, E′.
The notes & rhythm
GABGGABGBC′D′BC′D′D′E′D′C′BGD′E′D′C′BGGDGGDG
Longer blocks are longer notes; a vertical line marks each bar.
Sheet music
Standard treble clef notation with letter guides below each note.
The notes as letters
G A B G G A B G B C′ D′ B C′ D′ D′ E′ D′ C′ B G D′ E′ D′ C′ B G G D G G D G
Ocarina fingerings
Select your ocarina type to see the right fingerings. Filled holes are covered; white holes are open.
G · G
A · A
B · B
C′ · high C
D′ · high D
E′ · high E
Playing tips for Frère Jacques
- Start each note cleanly with a gentle tongue stroke (whisper "too" or "doo").
- Seal every hole completely with the soft pads of your fingers, not your fingertips.
- The ocarina's pitch follows your breath: blowing softer lowers the pitch, blowing harder raises it.
- Low notes (C, D, E) need the gentlest breath of all. If a low note warbles or squeaks, soften your breath and check that your lower fingers fully seal their holes.
- High notes (high E and F) need firm, focused breath pressure. Raise your breath slightly and keep the ocarina level so the airstream splits cleanly.
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