Ocarina



An ocarina (oh-kah-REE-nah) is a wind instrument, often made of clay or wood, 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. A similar instrument is also found in A Link to the Past, but in this game it is known as the flute.

In Link's Awakening the ocarina is used to play the following songs once learned:
 * Manbo's Mambo
 * Frog's Song of Soul
 * Ballad of the Wind Fish

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 practice. 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. For more information on how to play the Ocarina of Time, see Playing the Ocarina of Time.

In BS The Legend of Zelda, an Ocarina is found in the third Dungeon, which can be used to warp to other dungeons. When the Ocarina is played on a pad near the eastern shore, the sixth dungeon will appear.

In The Minish Cap Link has a blue Ocarina called the Ocarina of Winds. In Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland, Tingle has a Bone Ocarina which can be used to call a pirate ship. Later he gets it upgraded to allow him to open the ten hidden blue pirate treasure chests hidden throughout the three continents.

In Twilight Princess, pieces of Hawk Grass, the Horse Call and Wolf Link's howling serve as replacements for the ocarina.

In Tingle's Love Balloon Trip, a mysterious, hooded character plays an Ocarina to call his horse. The ocarina is similar in design to the Ocarina of Time.