Double ocarina finger chart

A double ocarina is two ocarinas sharing one body, each with its own windway. This chart is for the common Asian-system double in Alto C, the layout STL uses and most Taiwanese makers follow. Between its two chambers it covers a little over two octaves, from the low A to the C more than two octaves above. That is a fifth higher than a 12-hole can reach.

Double ocarina finger chart (Alto C)

Double ocarina finger chart for an Alto C ocarina: fingering diagrams for all 28 notes from A3 to C6, sharps and flats included
Double ocarina finger chart (Alto C), 28 notes from A3 to C6. Download the PNG or the printable PDF.
Every fingering on the C double (Alto C, Asian system)
NoteFingering
A3chamber 1, all holes covered
A♯3 / B♭3chamber 1, all holes covered except right subhole
B3chamber 1, all holes covered except left subhole
C4chamber 1, all holes covered except left subhole and right subhole
C♯4 / D♭4chamber 1, all holes covered except left subhole and right pinky (right subhole closed)
D4chamber 1, all holes covered except left subhole, right subhole and right pinky
D♯4 / E♭4chamber 1, all holes covered except left subhole, right ring and right pinky (right subhole closed)
E4chamber 1, all holes covered except left subhole, right subhole, right ring and right pinky
F4chamber 1, all holes covered except left subhole, right subhole, right middle, right ring and right pinky
F♯4 / G♭4chamber 1, all holes covered except left subhole, right index, right subhole, right middle and right pinky (forked)
G4chamber 1, all holes open except left index, left thumb, left middle, left ring and left pinky
G♯4 / A♭4chamber 1, all holes open except left index, left thumb, left middle, left pinky and right ring (forked)
A4chamber 1, all holes open except left index, left thumb, left middle and left pinky
A♯4 / B♭4chamber 1, all holes open except left index, left thumb, left pinky and right ring (forked)
B4chamber 1, all holes open except left index, left thumb and left pinky
C5chamber 1, all holes open except left thumb and left pinky
C♯5 / D♭5chamber 1, all holes open except left pinky and right ring (forked)
D5chamber 1, all holes open except left pinky
D♯5 / E♭5chamber 1, all holes open
E5chamber 2, all holes covered
F5chamber 2, all holes covered except chamber 2 right pinky
F♯5 / G♭5chamber 2, all holes covered except chamber 2 right ring (forked)
G5chamber 2, all holes covered except chamber 2 right ring and chamber 2 right pinky
G♯5 / A♭5chamber 2, all holes covered except chamber 2 right middle and chamber 2 right pinky (forked)
A5chamber 2, all holes open except chamber 2 right index (large half) and chamber 2 right index (small half)
A♯5 / B♭5chamber 2, all holes open except chamber 2 right index (small half) and chamber 2 right ring (forked)
B5chamber 2, all holes open except chamber 2 right index (small half) (small half of index)
C6chamber 2, all holes open

Chamber 1

Chamber 1 is played almost exactly like a 12-hole ocarina without the right thumb hole. The low notes, the subholes and the natural scale are the same, so if you already play a 12-hole you know most of it. It runs from the low A up to D sharp, which is played with every chamber 1 hole open.

Chamber 2

Chamber 2 takes over at E. Its holes sit in their own row under your right hand, and you move your lips to its windway, which sits next to the first. It works like the right hand of a 12-hole: cover all five holes for E, then open them from the pinky upward to climb to the top C. For the B, open the large half of the split index hole and keep the small half covered.

Changing chambers

The hardest part is the change between chambers, because you move your lips and your right hand at the same moment. Practise slow D to E and E to D slurs until the switch is clean.

Tabs that use the extra range

These tabs go above a 12-hole's top F as written. A C double plays them at that pitch; on a C 12-hole they have to move down.

More ocarina songs