Ocarina



An ocarina (oh-kah-REE-nah) is a wind instrument played with a whistle mouthpiece. In the games Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask and Link's Awakening, Link uses his ocarina to accomplish many tasks by playing certain songs. The ocarina is also found in A Link to the Past but in this game it is known as the flute and it really isn't an ocarina.

In Ocarina of Time, and Majora's Mask, the ocarina is assigned to a C button, and played with all four C's and the A button. In the GameCube re-releases, the X, Y and Z buttons (or-alternatively-the C stick) are used for the instrument. In all releases, the Z and R buttons (L & R on GC) lower and raise the pitch by a semitone; respectively, and the analogue stick acts as more or less a MIDI pitch bend. At least one full octave is covered, and it's possible to play a wide range of tunes with the right amount of practise.

In Majora's Mask, the ocarina is replaced by alternatives when important character masks are used-Deku Link plays an odd brass-like instrument called Deku Pipes, Goron Link plays a drumkit and Zora Link plays a guitar. Regardless of the sound, all instruments play in the same way.

In The Minish Cap Link has a blue Ocarina called the Ocarina of Winds.

In Twilight Princess, pieces of grass, and wolf Link's howling serve as replacements for the Ocarina.