🎵 Key Takeaway
Ocarina Tabs tell you where to put your fingers, but they do not tell you how long to hold the note. To play a song correctly, you must understand Rhythm. Learn the difference between Quarter notes (1 beat) and Half notes (2 beats) to stop guessing the melody.
You find a tab for a song you have never heard before.
You play the black and white dots perfectly. But it sounds like a random mess of notes. It doesn't sound like a song.
Why? Because music is 50% Pitch (the holes you cover) and 50% Rhythm (time).
Tabs are terrible at showing time. Here is a 3-minute crash course on reading rhythm so you never have to guess again.
The Pulse (The Heartbeat)
Every song has a steady pulse. Tap your foot right now at a medium, steady pace. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Every tap of your foot is exactly One Beat.
The 3 Basic Notes You Must Know
When you look at standard sheet music above your ocarina tabs, the notes have different shapes. The shape tells you how long to blow air.
| Note Name |
What it Looks Like |
How Long to Play |
The Foot Tap |
| Quarter Note |
Solid black circle with a stem |
1 Beat |
Play exactly ON the foot tap. |
| Half Note |
Empty white circle with a stem |
2 Beats |
Play on the tap, hold it through the NEXT tap. |
| Eighth Note |
Solid black circle, stem has a "flag" (or two notes connected by a bar) |
1/2 Beat |
Play twice as fast. One on the tap, one when your foot is UP in the air. |
The "Pizza" Analogy
Think of a measure of music as a whole pizza (4 slices).
- A Quarter Note is 1 slice. You need 4 of them to fill the box.
- A Half Note is 2 slices. You only need 2 of them to fill the box.
If you see a Half Note on your sheet music, do not rush. Hold your breath steady and wait for the second beat to pass before moving your fingers.
The Clapping Drill
Before you put the ocarina to your mouth, put it down.
Look at the sheet music and clap the rhythm. Say "Ta" out loud for every note.
If there is a Half Note, say "Taaaa-aaaa" and hold your hands together for two beats.
If you can't clap it, you can't play it. Get the math right in your hands, then translate it to your breath.
Summary
Stop rushing through songs just to hit the next fingering. Music breathes. Respect the long notes.
