Learn The Ocarina 6: Ocarina Tabs Tutorial | Learn How To Read Ocarina Tabs!
If you’ve been following ocarina tutorials online, you’ve probably seen ocarina tabs used to show fingerings for different songs. Learning how to read these tabs opens up a huge world of music, because many ocarina arrangements include tabs alongside—or instead of—traditional sheet music.
This guide explains what ocarina tabs are, how to read them, and how to use them to learn songs. This lesson is part of the Learn the Ocarina series and builds on the fundamentals covered in earlier lessons.
This demonstration uses the Fairy Ocarina in the key of C from STL Ocarina.
What Are Ocarina Tabs?
Ocarina tabs are simple diagrams that show you exactly where to place your fingers to produce specific notes. Each tab corresponds to one note and visually represents which holes should be covered and which should be left open.
Tabs are especially helpful if:
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You’re new to reading traditional sheet music
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You want a visual guide for finger placement
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You’re learning songs from ocarina songbooks or online tutorials
Many ocarina books include both standard notation and tabs, allowing players to choose the learning method that works best for them.
How to Read the Ocarina Tab Diagram
When you look at an ocarina tab, imagine you’re looking down at your hands while holding the instrument.
Right Hand (Right Side of the Diagram)
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Right pinky
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Right ring finger
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Right middle finger
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Right index (pointer) finger
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Right thumb
Left Hand (Left Side of the Diagram)
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Left pinky
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Left ring finger
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Left middle finger
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Left index (pointer) finger
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Left thumb
Each circle in the diagram represents a hole on the ocarina.
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Filled (black) circle = cover the hole
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Empty circle = leave the hole open
Some tabs also include small auxiliary holes for sharps and flats, but these are more advanced and aren’t needed at the beginner level.
Reading Tabs from Left to Right
When playing a song with tabs, you read them from left to right, just like words in a sentence or notes in sheet music.
Each tab tells you:
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Which fingers to place down
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Which holes to leave open
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Which note to play next
By following the tabs in order, you can play entire melodies without needing to read traditional music notation.
Example: Using Tabs to Learn a Melody
To practice reading tabs:
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Start with the first tab and set your fingers as shown
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Play the note
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Move to the next tab and change your fingering accordingly
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Continue reading left to right until you complete the phrase
This method allows you to break down songs into manageable steps, making learning new pieces much more approachable for beginners.
Why Ocarina Tabs Are Helpful
Ocarina tabs are a great learning bridge because they:
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Make music more accessible to beginners
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Help you learn fingerings quickly
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Allow you to play songs even if you don’t read sheet music
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Build muscle memory as you associate shapes with notes
Over time, many players naturally transition from tabs to traditional notation—or use both together.
Final Tips for Learning with Tabs
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Take it slow at first and focus on clean finger placement
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Double-check that holes are fully covered when the tab shows a filled circle
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Practice short phrases before playing the entire song
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Combine tabs with listening to the melody to improve musical phrasing
Learning to read tabs will dramatically expand the number of songs you can play on the ocarina.
Final Thoughts
Ocarina tabs are one of the most beginner-friendly ways to learn music on the instrument. Once you understand how the diagrams work, you’ll be able to follow along with countless tutorials and songbooks.
If you’d like to go further, there are additional lessons that cover sharps and flats, advanced fingerings, and how to transition from tabs to standard sheet music.
Happy playing 🎶