Learn The Ocarina 2: How to Make a Good Sound on the Ocarina: Breathing, Tone, and Common Mistakes

by STL Ocarina September 14, 2022

One of the most common questions new ocarina players ask is simple—but important:
“Why doesn’t my ocarina sound good yet?”

This guide is dedicated entirely to answering that question.

Learning how to produce a clear, stable, and pleasant tone on the ocarina is one of the most important skills you’ll ever develop as a player. In fact, it’s so important that this topic has become the most requested ocarina lesson by far.

In this article, we’ll go step by step through breathing, airflow, embouchure, and the most common mistakes that affect tone—along with a few realities about ocarina quality that every player should know.

This lesson is demonstrated on the Dragon Ocarina, a tenor ocarina in the key of C from STL Ocarina. Its design has a bold, cinematic look—many players say it feels right at home in a fantasy world (Game of Thrones fans, you know what I mean).

Why Breathing Is the Foundation of a Good Ocarina Sound

Before talking about fingerings or technique, we need to talk about breathing.

It’s tempting to skip ahead here—but don’t.
If you don’t breathe correctly, it is impossible to consistently produce a good sound on the ocarina.

Breathing also determines:

How long you can play without stopping
How stable your pitch is
How relaxed your sound feels

Most People Breathe Incorrectly (and That’s Okay)

In everyday life, many people take shallow breaths, lifting their shoulders and filling only their chest. You can survive just fine this way—but wind instruments require something more.

When playing the ocarina, you want to breathe by expanding:

Your stomach
Your rib cage

A simple test:
Lie flat on your back and take a deep breath. If your stomach rises and your ribs expand, you’re breathing correctly.

This is the type of breathing you want to bring into your ocarina playing.

Breathing Exercises for Ocarina Players

Exercise 1: Steady Air Control (4 Counts)

Start by breathing in for four counts, then breathing out for four counts, focusing on a steady, even stream of air.

Inhale: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4
Exhale: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Repeat a few times, concentrating on consistency rather than volume.

Exercise 2: Building Air Capacity (8 Counts)

Once you’re comfortable, try extending this to eight counts in and eight counts out.

This may feel difficult at first—and that’s completely normal. With daily practice, your breath control will improve dramatically, and your playing will feel much easier.

Long Tones: The Secret to a Beautiful Ocarina Sound

One of the most effective daily exercises for ocarina players is long tones.

A long tone simply means:

Take a deep, correct breath
Play one note
Hold it as long as possible with a steady airflow

Use an analog clock (not digital) and track how many seconds you can sustain the note. If you can hold a note for 10 seconds today, aim for 11 tomorrow.

You can do long tones on any note. What matters is consistency, not pitch.

Practicing long tones daily will:

Improve tone quality
Strengthen breath control
Reduce wavering or “shaky” notes

Embouchure: How Your Mouth Affects Your Sound

Another major factor in ocarina tone is embouchure—the way your mouth meets the mouthpiece.

A helpful image is this:
Imagine blowing gently across the top of a soda bottle. That relaxed, focused airflow is exactly what you want on the ocarina.

What you don’t want to do is overblow.

Overblowing doesn’t make the sound better—it makes it harsh, unstable, and unpleasant. The ocarina requires surprisingly little air to produce a beautiful tone.

Think gentle, not forceful.

Why Steady Air Matters More Than Strong Air

A good ocarina sound depends on consistency, not power.

Uneven airflow creates a wavering tone that sounds unfocused. A steady stream of air creates a warm, centered sound that’s much easier to control.

This is why breathing exercises and long tones matter so much—they train your body to do exactly what the ocarina needs.

Articulation: Adding Clarity to Your Notes

Once you’re comfortable producing a stable sound, you can experiment with articulation.

Articulation simply means starting a note with a gentle “ta” sound. This gives each note a clearer, more defined beginning.

Without articulation, notes may sound soft and airy. With articulation, they become more precise. Both approaches are useful—it’s just another expressive tool you can add over time.

Common Problems That Ruin Ocarina Tone

1. Not Covering the Holes Completely

Even a small air leak can throw off the pitch and tone.

If a note sounds “in between” or unstable, look at your fingers first. Make sure every hole is fully covered according to the fingering.

2. The Ocarina Itself May Be the Problem

This part is important—and sometimes uncomfortable to hear.

Not all ocarinas are made to be playable instruments. Some are designed as toys or decorative objects. They may look beautiful, but they won’t produce accurate pitches or consistent tone.

Many players write in saying, “My ocarina doesn’t sound like yours.”
In some cases, the issue isn’t technique—it’s the instrument.

This is why instrument quality matters. A well-made ocarina doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does need to be designed for real playing. That’s why many players choose instruments from trusted makers like STL Ocarina, whose instruments are built for accurate tuning and reliable tone.

Final Thoughts

Learning to make a good sound on the ocarina takes patience—but it’s absolutely achievable.

Focus on:

Proper breathing
Steady airflow
Relaxed embouchure
Complete finger coverage

If you build these habits early, everything else—songs, technique, expression—becomes much easier.

If you have questions or ideas for future lessons, leave a comment. Many topics in this series come directly from player feedback.

Thanks for reading, and happy playing 🎶