The ocarina is a truly enchanting instrument with a rich history and a variety of forms, each offering a unique musical experience. Its accessibility, both in terms of cost and ease of learning, makes it a perfect choice for artists willing to learn to play the ocarina.

But with so many types of ocarinas available—each with its own shape, size, and sound—how do you choose the one that’s just right for you?

Whether you’re a seasoned musician or a newbie, this guide will introduce you to the diverse types of ocarinas, unlocking new ways to enhance your musical journey.

Types of Ocarinas

Single Chamber Ocarinas

Single-chambered are the most common type of ocarinas, featuring a single fipple leading to a single chamber with holes ranging from 4 (pendant) to 12 or 13 (transverse) and a pitch range of 1 to 1.6 octaves.

• Pendant Ocarinas: These teardrop-shaped ocarinas come with a thread for wearing around the neck and are available in plastic, ceramic, and wood. These pendant ocarinas function as vessel flutes, featuring four finger holes, producing a solid fundamental tone with subtle overtones, resembling a ‘pure tone’ sine wave.
• English Pendant Ocarinas: These round or oval-shaped ocarinas have a flat side for use as pendants, providing clear and clean tones. These tiny, portable ocarinas have an English fingering system (4-6 holes), which was devised by John Taylor.
• Inline Ocarinas: These ocarinas are oval or elongated with holes in a straight line. The mouthpiece is located at the end of the chamber, with the body held out in front, reducing wrist stress.

Multi Chamber Ocarinas

Multi-chamber ocarinas are the upper version of single-chamber ocarinas. They have larger and smaller chambers with separate mouthpieces and finger holes. They are designed to broaden the range of notes and enable a wider range of musical styles.

The various multi-chamber types of ocarinas include:

• Double Ocarinas: These ocarinas have two horizontally aligned chambers, a shared mouthpiece, and separate holes, allowing for a wider range of melodies.
• Triple Ocarinas: These ocarinas feature three chambers in a horizontal line, each with overlapping musical ranges appropriate for advanced playing.
• Quadruple Ocarinas: Evolved from triple ocarinas, these ocarinas have four chambers, typically extending the range by three or more notes. Due to their exceptional range, they are a key instrument for prop players.

Specialty and Orchestral Ocarinas

The specialty and orchestral ocarinas include:

• Tab Ocarinas: These ocarinas feature holes on tabs that stick out like wings, allowing more hole separation for big hands.
• Fipple Ocarinas: These have windways for smooth and precise control, like recorders.
• Bass Ocarinas: These ocarinas, suitable for octave music, are available in double, triple, and inline varieties.
• Contrabass Ocarinas: Being bigger than bass ocarinas, these ocarinas use a large chamber to produce a super deep tone.
• Panpipes: These ocarinas use multiple ocarina-like chambers attached in a row. The pipe produces just 1-2 notes.

Ocarina Shapes and Design Styles

Following are some common types of ocarinas with different shapes:

• Animal-Shaped Ocarinas: The Mayans, Incans, and Aztecs created clay ocarinas in the shapes of birds or animals, such as fish, owls, frogs, and pigs, to accompany other percussion instruments and dances.
• Geometric Ocarinas: These ocarinas feature detailed geometric shapes, such as spheres, pyramids, cubes, and cephalopods, making them appealing to display.
• Imitation Instruments: These ocarinas resemble miniature saxophones, accordions, and guitars, which adds more to their appeal.
• Art Ocarinas: Transforming the ocarinas into a musical masterpiece, these type of ocarinas are adorned with elaborate original artwork, paintings, or ornate filigree.
• Feng Shui Ocarinas: Feng Shui Ocarinas are decorated with gemstones or designed as per feng shui principles to enhance energy flow.
• Custom and Handmade Ocarinas: These are uniquely customized ocarinas made from scratch to tune with your personality.

Major Ocarina Materials

Following are the major ocarina types based on materials:

• Ceramic Ocarinas: These ocarinas are commonly available and are typically composed of earthenware, a low-temperature porous material.

  Ceramic ocarinas are durable but fragile, requiring careful handling. They can break if dropped. However, they do not break during normal play or knocking.

• Plastic Ocarinas: As a durable and cost-effective option, plastic ocarinas are an excellent choice for beginners. However, condensation can affect tone quality over time.
• Wood Ocarinas: High-quality wood ocarinas are rare and expensive, with a lack of advantage over ceramic or plastic due to their difficulty in making complex ergonomic designs. These types of ocarinas provide a warm and organic sound with distinct tones.
• Crystal and Glass Ocarinas: These ocarinas are known for their transparent appearance, which allows them to produce a crystalline purity of tone. However, their delicate nature, which includes susceptibility to cracks and chips, makes them extremely fragile and in need of careful handling.
• Metal Ocarinas: Unique and heavy, metal ocarinas offer a bold sound and intricate metalwork details. Made from brass, silver, or gold, they are a fascinating choice for experienced players, despite being unsuitable for beginners due to their weight.
• Stone Ocarinas: These types of ocarinas are hand-carved from soapstone, jade, or marble, boast clear, bright tones, and are extremely heavy.