An ocarina is an old type of woodwind instrument that I’m sure you didn’t know about until The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time way back in 1998, I know I didn’t know what one was, never heard of one until I played the game. Since then they’ve become sort of popular, a resurgence as it were, and it seems you can buy them all over the place including Amazon. Ohuhu sent over their version of the Ocarina for my review and it even includes the Triforce symbol on it. I tried to play it and failed badly, but my son who has been playing instruments for years in school picked it up and could play it easily. Read on to learn more…
Product Name and Info:
-Beautiful, accurate craftsmanship with tri-force symbol
-Fully chromatic ocarina
-Comes with neck-strap cord and a music book
-Made from kiln-fired ceramic with a beautiful and durable glaze
This Ohuhu Handcrafted Ocarina is a high-quality, kiln-fired ceramic instrument tuned by professional. An easy-to-learn piece which can be mastered in a short period of time, with the ability to spend years. The Ocarina is the perfect instrument to practice techniques and articulations, rhythms, speed. Our 12-Hole Ceramic Ocarina is finely glazed in a beautiful dark cobalt blue, detailed with a metallic.
Specifications:
-Material: Ceramic
-12 holes
-Color: Blue
-Package dimension: 7″x 5″ x 3″
-Product weight: 229g/0.5lbs
Price: $14.99 (from Amazon at time of review)
The Review:
Normally I wouldn’t review a musical instrument but this a special case as it’s an ocarina and it’s got a Triforce on it. I like tech, I like games and The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time is one of the all time greatest ever games for sure.
I do have a video unboxing for you, so here that and then continue on:
The ocarina is packaged very well in a brown box but with plenty or styrofoam inside to protect the ocarina. Inside of the box you’ll also find a user guide as it were with how to play and sample songs and a string so you can tie the ocarina and wear it around your neck.
On the top of the ocarina you’ll see ten air holes for the notes, eight of them you put your fingers on to play and the other two smaller ones you use as well just at different times. To play you cover and/or uncover the holes to create the sound. The ocarina is made of ceramic so it’s not exactly lightweight at all, the specs say it weigh about 1/2 pound and it feels like it does for sure. It’s a very dark blue color with a glossy finish over it. All in all it looks and feels very well made.
On the bottom of the ocarina you’ll find the main blow hole and two others on the side that you put your fingers over or take them off to play the notes.
On each side of the neck you’ll find a hole, this is for the blue string that was in the box to act as a lanyard of sorts so you can carry it around your neck. On the neck of the Ocarina you’ll see a silver band with the Triforce symbol on it on the top of the ocarina.
The book shows you how to place your hands to play the ocarina and has several songs to play with pictures of where your fingers should be to create the notes. The included songs are: Auld Lang Syne, Happy New Year, Happy Birthday, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, and Mary Had a Little Lamb. The book also has a chart that shows you the actual musical notes and the corresponding finger positions for them so you could play other music as well.
I tried to play it and I just wasn’t that good, I do have an issue with my left hand so my coordination isn’t the best or as good as it used to be. It took me a long time to even get close to playing a decent sounding song on it, and even that wasn’t very good really.
My son, Nick, has been playing the viola for many years in school and he picked it up and he was playing it very easily, it took just a couple minutes and he had the hang of it and was playing the songs in the included book with ease. (Apparently it’s just me that can’t play it, at least without a lot more practice)
Overall I like this little ocarina, it’s very well made and it looks great, even if I don’t ever learn to play it I will happily display it near my gaming systems as a showpiece or conversation starter.
Pros:
+Very well made
+Looks great
+Good sounding
Cons:
-Hard to play (at least it is for me)
Disclosure: This product was given to me for review by the company for review purposes only, and is not considered by us as payment for the review; we do not, never have, and never will, accept payment from companies to review their products.