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Free reference · Winds & Flutes
12-Hole Alto C Ocarina Finger Chart Sub-Holes Included
An ocarina is a Helmholtz resonator: pitch depends on the total open-hole area, not which holes are open — which is why cross-fingerings work and why charts differ slightly between makers. On the common 12-hole Alto C, natural notes follow a clear opening sequence through the right hand, left hand, and two thumb holes. The two small sub-holes extend the bottom of the instrument's range and must be sealed as carefully as the larger holes.
Tap or click any row for its full text fingering.
12-hole Alto C chart, note by note
| Note | Fingering |
|---|---|
| A4 | ALL closed: 10 finger holes + both thumbs + both subholes |
| A♯4 / B♭4 | all closed except the B-subhole stays OPEN (close only the A-subhole) |
| B4 | all closed except the A-subhole stays OPEN (close only the B-subhole) |
| C5 | all 10 finger holes + thumbs closed; both subholes open (home position) |
| C♯5 / D♭5 | D5 fingering + close the B-subhole |
| D5 | C5 position, lift RH pinky |
| D♯5 / E♭5 | E5 fingering + close the B-subhole |
| E5 | lift RH pinky + RH ring |
| F5 | lift RH pinky + ring + middle |
| F♯5 / G♭5 | G5 fingering + re-close RH ring |
| G5 | entire right hand lifted (pinky, ring, middle, index) |
| G♯5 / A♭5 | A5 fingering + re-close RH ring |
| A5 | right hand open + lift LH ring (LH pinky stays down for support) |
| A♯5 / B♭5 | B5 fingering + re-close RH ring |
| B5 | + lift LH middle |
| C6 | + lift LH index (only LH pinky + thumbs remain closed) |
| C♯6 / D♭6 | D6 fingering + re-close RH ring — some makers close LH index instead |
| D6 | + lift LEFT thumb |
| D♯6 / E♭6 | E6 fingering + re-close RH ring — some makers close LH index instead |
| E6 | + lift RIGHT thumb (only LH pinky remains closed) |
| F6 | everything open, including LH pinky |
The lowest notes can sound weak or breathy until both sub-holes seal cleanly and the breath pressure settles. Upper accidentals vary most between instruments: this table uses one common cross-fingering, while some makers specify a different closed hole. If your tuner and the chart supplied with your instrument disagree with this page, use your instrument’s chart.
This page is intentionally limited to the common 12-hole Alto C system. The same rows drive the fingering renderer used in Soloist Ocarina lessons and play-alongs, so the reference and the course cannot silently describe different hole patterns.
How to read this chart
- ● = covered, ○ = open, ◐ = half. LH/RH = left/right hand; T = thumb (underside holes). “Subholes” are the two small holes paired beside main holes, closed by sliding the finger pad to cover both at once.
- For the lowest note shown, every main hole, both thumb holes, and both sub-holes are covered; you climb by opening holes in the order shown.
- The left pinky hole stays covered through almost the whole range — it supports the instrument and only lifts for the top F.
- Sub-hole placement varies between instruments: some put both under the right hand, while others split them between the hands. Match each instruction to the physical sub-hole under that finger.
- Sharps and flats are cross-fingerings tuned by each maker — if a note will not centre with a reasonable breath adjustment, defer to the chart shipped with your ocarina.
Related reading
Questions
Why doesn't this chart match the one that came with my ocarina?
Because an ocarina's pitch comes from total open area, makers can tune the same note with different hole combinations — accidental fingerings especially vary. The natural-note sequence is shared by the common 12-hole Alto C system; for sharps and flats, your instrument's own chart wins if the two disagree.
What are subholes and how do I actually play them?
They're two small holes drilled beside main finger holes, covered by sliding the fingertip forward so one pad seals both at once. You only close them for the lowest three notes: slide onto the B-subhole for B4, add the A-subhole for A4 — everywhere else, leave them open and forget them.
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