Playing an instrument is a wonderful skill and an extraordinary experience. If you have picked an ocarina, you are probably a very unique person. This is not a usual choice when it comes to instruments. Most people go for a guitar, piano, or violin.
Ocarina is usually made from clay or ceramic but materials such as glass, plastic, and wood are also used. The wind instrument is believed to be as old as 12,000 years. However, if you’re ready to buy this musical device, there are several things you need to keep in mind in this situation.
Types of Ocarina
There have been numerous variations of ocarina throughout history and you have a diverse selection at your disposal. When it comes to these choices, the transverse is usually used by musicians with 10 to 12 holes. The pendant style ocarinas are also well-known and widely used. They are mostly smaller than the first type and have a smaller number of holes. These are the best options when it comes to beginners. Once you become an expert in playing these, you can even try more complex versions such as multi-chambered ocarinas.
What You Need to Know Before Buying Your First Ocarina?
To pick the right ocarina for you, there are multiple things you need to take into consideration. Let’s be honest, this is not a very typical instrument and if you’re totally unfamiliar with them, it can get quite confusing. They don’t only come in different sizes but in different pitches. Make sure you do proper research before you make your final decision.
Choosing The Right Instrument
One of the most important things you need to know is that many different but similar instruments can be grouped together under the label ‘ocarina’. That’s why you need to take a good look at what you’re buying. It’s extremely important to have a well-tuned and playable instrument. Otherwise, you will probably develop bad habits, and learning how to play would be very hard. It’s best to go for the right instrument that suits you.
The best choice for beginners is definitely a transverse version of this instrument. Also, keep in mind that those that are visually very appealing and expensive are not necessarily better. If you buy a quality instrument, it will not lose its value over time and you will be able to sell it, in the case you realize playing something like this is not for you.
Also, you need to think about tuning. One thing ocarinas are not known for is their stable pitch. So, in the case you buy poorly tuned instruments, you will struggle a lot while you learn how to play.
Multi or Single Chamber?
All beginners ask this question. The honest answer is that both versions of ocarina are good options for newbies. Simply, you will be able to learn how to play the instrument correctly on both multi-chamber and single chamber.
If we’re going to go into details, both versions have their advantages and disadvantages. The single chamber is cheaper and as such is a better option for those people who are not sure whether they’ll stick to this decision to learn how to play this instrument. The multi-chamber ocarinas are used by professional musicians as they are not limited in range. However, the difficulty is in the fact that you will probably have to switch between chambers.
Consider The Size of Your Hands
This is a very important detail when you are making your decision. This instrument comes in different sizes and hole placements are not always in the same place. Remember, not all people have the same hands and that means some ocarinas will be more playable in your hands than others. Any of them that makes your wrist fold backward is not a good choice. Also, make sure that spacing between holes is big enough so your fingers have the necessary range of motion.
Don’t Stress Too Much
This is not the most flexible instrument out there so try to stress too much about the first choice. As you develop your skills and your personal playing style, you will want different types of ocarinas and pick the one that suits you the best. So, it would probably be a good idea not to spend too much on your first instrument but even if you do and then give up, you will be able to resell it.
These are some of the key things you need to keep in mind when you decide what type of ocarina you want to buy. Being a beginner, you will need to do proper research before making a final decision.