How To Play Zelda's Lullaby On Ocarina

So you want to play Zelda's Lullaby on an ocarina. Excellent choice. It is the single most soothing six-note sequence in video game history, and it makes you look like a mysterious forest child with a secret.

Good news: you do not need a magical instrument forged by a giant tree. You just need an ocarina, ten minutes, and the willingness to make some odd noises.

Step 1: Get an Ocarina (Any Ocarina, Really)

A standard 12-hole sweet potato ocarina in C major is the easiest place to start. A 4-hole pendant ocarina works too, but it has a smaller range.

Do not use a kazoo. I know it is tempting. But a kazoo sounds like a bee trapped in a paper bag, not a hero of time.

Step 2: Learn the Six Magic Notes

Here is the entire skeleton of Zelda's Lullaby: B, A, B, C, D, A. That is it. Six notes. The game only asks for six.

If you are playing on a real ocarina, find a fingering chart for your instrument. Every ocarina is a little different, like cats and USB ports.

On a 12-hole C ocarina, B, A, C, and D are usually close neighbors. You will not need to perform finger gymnastics.

Fun fact: on the Nintendo 64 controller, those notes become C-left, A, C-left, C-up, C-right, A. The game's ocarina only had five notes total: A, B, C, D, and F.

Wait, Why Only Five Notes?

Because the N64 controller had five ocarina buttons, not a full piano. It was a design choice, not a musical limitation.

Real ocarinas can play many more notes. So you can add flourishes, trills, and dramatic pauses. You are the boss now.

Step 3: Get the Rhythm Right (It's a Lullaby, Not a Boss Fight)

Zelda's Lullaby is in 3/4 time. That means it sways like a tiny waltz. Think gentle rocking, not charging into battle.

Hold the first B a bit longer. Let the A that follows be soft and short. The middle notes should trot along politely.

“Zelda’s Lullaby” - Koji Kondo The Legend of... - Easy Ocarina Tabs!

The final A is your landing. Do not slam it. Set it down like a sleeping baby or a very tired Deku Scrub.

Step 4: Breath Control (The Part Where You Stop Hyperventilating)

Ocarinas are sensitive. Blow too hard and you get a shriek that scares birds. Blow too soft and you get a sad, airy whimper.

Use warm air, like you are fogging up a mirror to write a secret message. Steady, gentle, and a little mysterious.

Practice long tones on each note. If your family asks what you are doing, tell them you are meditating. It is technically true.

Step 5: Put It All Together

Play slowly: B... A, B, C, D... A. Then play it again. And again. Repetition is how your fingers learn.

If you mess up, laugh and start over. Nobody is grading you except the ghost of a fictional owl.

Once you can play the six notes cleanly, try adding a small pause before the last A. That tiny silence makes it feel more emotional.

Step 6: Show Off (Optional but Recommended)

Play it for your cat. Your cat will leave. Play it for your friends. They will either be impressed or ask you to stop.

If you want extra credit, learn the full version by ear. The game's short version is just the hook, like a chorus without the verses.

Zelda's Lullaby Ocarina tabs tutorial - YouTube

You can also try playing it on a flute, recorder, or a very cooperative harmonica. But the ocarina still wins for style points.

What If My Ocarina Is Not in C?

Then your B, A, C, D will sound different, but the shape of the melody stays the same. You can still play it in another key.

Use a fingering chart that matches your ocarina. Or just move your fingers until it sounds right. That is called "jazz."

Surprising Facts to Drop at Parties

The ocarina is not a Zelda invention. It is an ancient instrument used by cultures around the world, from the Aztecs to the Chinese.

Some ocarinas date back thousands of years. That means people were playing soothing clay flutes long before anyone had to rescue a princess.

The word "ocarina" comes from Italian, meaning "little goose." Yes, really. You are playing a goose.

In Ocarina of Time, Zelda's Lullaby opens doors, stops time, and summons a giant bird. Not bad for six notes.

Now you have everything you need. Pick up your ocarina, take a gentle breath, and play B, A, B, C, D, A.

You may not become the Hero of Time. But you will feel a little more magical, and your neighbors will wonder why they suddenly want to take a nap.

Go forth, tiny musician. The forest is listening.