Potato Flute › Songs › Row, Row, Row Your Boat
A little challenge · 6 notes
How to play Row, Row, Row Your Boat on the ocarina
Row, Row, Row Your Boat ocarina notes with color coding & letters, sheet music, fingering diagrams, and interactive audio practice.
The playful 1850s round in 6/8 time. Starts low, climbs gracefully to high D, and returns home. It uses 6 notes: D, E, F#, G, A, D′.
The notes & rhythm
DDDEF#F#EF#GAD′D′D′AAAF#F#F#DDDAGF#ED
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
D D D E F# F# E F# G A D′ D′ D′ A A A F# F# F# D D D A G F# E D
Ocarina fingerings
Select your ocarina type to see the right fingerings. Filled holes are covered; white holes are open.
E · low E
F# · F#
G · G
A · A
D′ · high D
Playing tips for Row, Row, Row Your Boat
- 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.
- F# requires lifting your left pointer while covering the surrounding holes. Check that adjacent holes stay firmly sealed.
▶ Play Row, Row, Row Your Boat in Potato Flute
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