Reddit mentions: The best folk & world wind & woodwind instruments

Which ocarina is it? If it's one of these, you're going to need to upgrade if you want to actually learn to play the instrument. The cheap OoT replicas you find all over amazon are notorious within the ocarina community for their bad quality. Focalink/Stein makes two very good plastic (link 1, link 2) ocarinas that make great starter ocarinas and will provide a much more pleasant learning experience should you find the need to upgrade.

As far as advice for beginners, I'd say these are the most important things for a beginner to practice:

1. Breath control
   
   It's very important to develop good control of your breath for any wind instrument, but especially for ocarinas (and any type of vessel flute for that matter). Ocarina pitch is quite unstable compared to a tubular flute type instrument (flutes, recorders, but also reed and brass instruments since they produce resonance by the same mechanism). You have to pay close attention to how hard you're blowing because if you don't it's easy to play out of tune. It's a good idea to get yourself a chromatic tuner so you can practice intonation since ocarinas don't really do much to give you a clear indication of when you're not blowing correctly. If you're completely new to wind instruments, I'd also recommend dabbling a bit with a recorder since you can easily tell when you're blowing wrong because it sounds like this. The skill of breath control goes hand in hand with ear training.
   
   
2. Articulation
   
   Listen to an experienced wind instrument play and you'll notice that they never start a whole new breath for each note. They don't huff and puff into their instruments. Instead, they play a series of notes on one breath, breaking it up as needed. This is called note articulation and it's an essential skill for nearly all wind instruments. This is done using the tongue to interrupt your air stream with a motion like you would when pronouncing the syllable "tu" or "du". This might seem simple, but synchronizing your fingers and your tongue is actually quite challenging once you start trying to play faster pieces of music.
   
   
3. Scales and pitch intervals
   
   Whether you're a hobbyist or a trained professional, it's important to practice your scales. Knowing your scales is important because it makes it easy for you to play in different keys. Likewise, your life will be much easier and if will be much less effort to figure a lot of stuff if you know what the different note intervals are (e.g. major second, minor third, perfect fourth).
   
   As for repertoire, despite the ocarina having a rather limited range compared with most of the more mainstream instruments out there, you cam play quite a lot of songs on it. A lot of traditional folk songs and pop songs fit nicely into the ocarina's range. In general, music for voice tends to work well on ocarina. This includes many classical songs, such as Schubert's Ave Maria and Ständchen, as well as some opera songs like O Mio Babbino Caro (All three are good songs for beginner-intermediate players, Ave Maria and O Mio Babbino Caro need to be transposed to fit the range of a 12 hole C ocarina). You can even play songs like Bach's Badinerie in B minor (if you transpose it to D minor) once you get more skilled. It's really a matter of finding music you like and trying it out.

The hohner Marine Band is certainly a good harmonica. The wood comb gives you a nice sound but you'll just need to be careful with it as it's a little more sensitive to moisture. Hohner also makes the Special 20 which has a plastic comb. Then there's the Lee Oscar, the Hohner Golden Melody (a little more expensive than the others), and the Suzuki Harpmaster. They are all pretty good and I don't think you can go wrong with any of the above, even the Marine Band, just remember about the wooden comb and research the best ways to take care of it and clean it.

The best key to start with is C because that's what most instructional material is based on and is considered the "standard" beginner harmonica. I imagine that you want a G because that's what's used in heart of gold and that's fine but I'd also recommend getting a C as well so you can play along with most of the instructional material out there. (Maybe get some different types of harmonicas in different keys as a way of seeing which you like)

Finally to start learning, I'd recommend Adam Gussow's beginner special and really, any of his lessons. He has a bunch of free ones on youtube so you can get a sense of his style. He has 2 part introduction video which would be a good place to start. part 1 and part 2.

Good luck, the harmonica is a fun instrument!

Well, pretty much off the bat, I'd probably have to admit you may have more musical talent than just about any bagpiper I've ever met. (Although, this is by no means an exhaustive list...)

Most importantly, regardless of anyone's level of talent, I would ALWAYS have to recommend getting a teacher -- if you only have one lesson a month (or even less), this will still go a long way toward avoiding embedded bad habits that plague you for a long time...

However, it is certainly possible to teach yourself at least the basics. First, find a bagpiping store within reasonable driving range -- not a music store with a set of pipes in a back corner, this is not a recipe for success. From this store, you'll need to purchase a practice chanter, here are examples: http://www.piperscove.com/proddetail.asp?prod=PC Obviously, you can still do this on the internet, but I would definitely be happier touching the goods before I purchase...

Next, get this book: http://www.amazon.com/College-Piping-Highland-Bagpipe-Tutor/dp/B001PFBW42 You don't have to get it from Amazon if you don't want, the store you found in step one will certainly have a copy, and if you're REALLY Scottish (meaning cheap), the entire text of the book is here: http://mhgtr.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/piping-tutor-book-01.pdf

This book has descriptions of 99% of the technique you'll ever use, has been used by millions people already (really), and still going strong with pipers around the world. It's got a fair bit of sheet music inside, as well. (I've been playing for 16 years, btw, and I've never seen volume 2.)

I should finish up with one more thought: Piping (heck, music) is a communal activity. You're obviously a talented and experienced music and I'm guessing you already know this. If possible, find a band in your area, do their shows and march in their parades. It shouldn't be expensive -- if it is, find a different band. Your playing will definitely benefit, and so will the band you join. You could join a band and learn to play, or you could learn to play and join a band -- whichever works best for you. Again, that store you found in step one can help you, and so can this subreddit, if you need it. And if, by some chance, you live in central New Jersey, let me know and I'll send you directions to Thursday's practice....

As /u/Smufflegump has noted, Hohner, Seydel, and Suzuki all make high quality harps. But its more important to note their specific high-quality harmonica. Hohner does makes $5 pieces of crap, so don't just buy based on the company name.

Hohner Special 20 a great starter harp, but it isn't as high quality as the Hohner Crossover. The Seydel Session Steel is the high-quality harp from Seydel.

I dunno Suzuki, although I hear they make good Harps as well.

-------------

I personally only have a Hohner 1896 Marine Band. Its not bad, but the nails make it difficult to service. The harder, sharper wood is also abrasive while playing. If I were to redo things, I'd get a screw-based Harmonica (Lee Oskar or The Hohner Special 20).

One day I'll buy the top tier Harmonicas and try them out (like the Session Steel or Crossover). But I definitely can say that the ~$40 tier is perfectly acceptable for a beginner. I did have to adjust the reed distances to perform overblows however (it was literally impossible to do a 4th hole overblow until I took the harmonica apart and pushed the reeds around), which is why I'd suggest something that can be easily taken apart (ie: Special 20 or Lee Oskar). Lee Oskar gets bonus points for selling the individual reed plates to their harmonicas. If you bust your Lee Oskar due for any reason, buy a reed plate for half-off and you can fix it.

A diatonic Harmonica can be played chromatically if you learn to control the squeaky overblows, and master bending to the correct pitch. But more often, musicians seem to just buy another Harmonica in a different key, or buy a chromatic harmonica.

In any case, the "bluesy" notes come from the 2nd hole and 3rd hole draw bends. All harmonica players need to master these. The overblow technique is very advanced and doesn't seem to be used very often... but needs to be mastered if you want to play something crazy like Wammer Jammer.

1. A Joseph Gordon-Levitt poster. Because he makes me VERY hot sweaty and I would like to do things with him that would cause me to be sweaty.
   
   
2. There is nothing better than a slip and slide to help cool down on those hot days!
   
   
3. No picnic would be complete without a giant ant
   
   
4. I would love to vacation in Ireland, and I would bring home the Blarney stone [Disclaimer: Real Blarey stone is too big to bring home.]
   
   
5. A salamander! My sister and I used to go up into the woods and collect them and put them in little plastic containers and keep them as pets. I will sadly say that we were pretty cruel to the little guys...I cannot forgive myself.
   
   
6. On the camping trip, I would bring along a didgeridoo so that we could make sweet, sweet music in the woods. Pair with a harmonic and maybe some stump drums. Camping trips are always better with music!
   
   
7. This sweatshirt is magical. If you watch Workaholics, you will understand.
   
   
8. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by the Proclaimers is an essential song to get pumped for a road trip!
   
   
9. I guess I shouldn't have brought my katana in my carry on! You need protection against those plane hijackers though.
   
   
10. State Farms are so fun! My favorite food at fairs are funnel cakes. MMMMMMM.
    
    

• BONUS #1: Your have a June birthday, pearls are June's birthstone.
  
  
• BONUS #2: I will guess that your name is Meira because that is an awesome name :)
  
  Thanks for hosting! This was a lot of fun! Some of the best memories are made in flip flops.

It's over your budget, but good harmonicas are not cheap. The Suzuki promaster harps are quite good and durable.

On the low end would be a Hohner Piedmont Blues set of 7. They're super affordable and not as bad as you might think. Many musicians want to buy their own instruments. So this cheap gift might be appreciated as stop gap and a show of your emotional support and underline that you understand he would want to shop for himself. It would be a nice surprise. Make sure that if you go this route that you include a note explaining that the gift is a gesture of love and that you expect he will shop for something better himself.

> Thanks for the tip on the C ornament!

Absolutely. And you can use that same technique for other notes, too which makes the whistle a lot easier to hold as well as making note transitions more flexible. You probably need to experiment, but from what I've found as long as there's 2 holes of separation between the note you're actually fingering an the note you want to keep covered for convenience it'll sound the same.

> But there are some that have a more mellow, deeper tone who are not playing Clarke. I am seeing a trend that brass whistles have that tone, possibly.

I only have two whistles so far, but there's definitely a pretty substantial difference between how they sound and play.
The Clarke Celtic has a pretty high flute-like sound and takes very little air to play. It's relatively hard to feel the holes with your fingers.
I also have a Smart SI-922 (which from what I've heard is a Susato clone) which has a more reedy sound. It's larger and takes more air to play. Also, the holes are sunken into the barrel, so you can really feel them.

Since whistles are so cheap (both of those under $15) it's probably worthwhile to try a few of the cheap varieties and see what you like. I like playing both of the ones that I have. If you want to hear a (very bad, I've only been learning for a month) example of playing on them this youtube link starts with the Smart and then plays the same tune on the Clarke. This is what it's supposed to sound like.

Here's a few I snagged from my recently ordered list.

Secure USB Drive - For storing scans of important documents.

Mylar Blankets - Ridiculously thin. Good to keep in the car or every day carry bag for a variety of situations.

Camp Suds - Or alternately hand sanitizer. Both useful to stay healthy in Flu season or another outbreak that spreads via contact.

Emergency Whistle - Small enough to keep on a keychain. Loud enough to get attention when it's needed.

Mylar Bags + Oxygen Absorbers - If you're prepping, putting a hundred pounds or so of white rice in 5 gallon buckets is a great way to get started on a long term food supply without breaking the bank. Put it in these and it will stay fresher longer.

Water BOB - Great little device for if/when you know the water supply may be at risk. It's a cheap way to be able to store 100 gallons in preparation for an emergency.

Pepper Spray - The security product you can take most places.

Starter First Aid Kit - Gotta get that going some how. This one has a hard shell which is nice for tossing it in a pack. You'll have to fill it out with what you're likely to need.

Mainstay 2400 Calorie Bars - They stay good through some pretty extreme highs and lows which makes them ideal for tossing in a car. They last about 5 years or so and don't require any water to make them. They're very handy as they're a purchase and forget about them item (for a few years anyway) that lets you have some immediate food for however long you have them stocked for.

Life Straw - A personal filter for waterborne bacteria. Most water purification methods have some significant cost to them, but this one is a great inexpensive item to get started with.

There's a ton of little things on Amazon that are kind of cool to have on hand, but I'd recommend snagging whatever is most likely to help you in whatever your situation is likely to be. If you live in a wildfire prone area... the usb drive would be a wise start. Earthquakes? The emergency whistle. Bad neighborhood, pepper spray. You get the idea. Good luck!

Some advice I posted in a previous thread wrt buying harmonicas:

> If you like the idea of playing harmonica (and you should, its fun as hell with a perfect learning curve) try picking up a Hohner Special 20 10 hole diatonic in C. You can pick one up online for about $50: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Special20C--hohner-special-20-key-of-c

> You might be able to find one cheaper at a local shop... I tried checking amazon and was surprised to see they have a lot of more exotic harps, but very little in the ways of special 20 C, which is probably the most commonly used harp on the planet...

> A special 20 C will allow you to play along to folk and country songs in the key of C, blues songs in the key of G, all songs (but with a slightly brighter/folkier sound) in the key of Am (relative minor to C) and all songs (with a slightly more restricted range and "bluesy" sound) in the key of Dm. (third position)

and:

> No prob! Also, I just found this trying to search for your harp: https://www.amazon.com/Fender-Blues-Deluxe-Harmonica-Key/dp/B00KZHMZ1K/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?keywords=yamaha+15t+harmonica&qid=1569514054&sr=8-1-fkmr1

> Fender harmonicas don't have quite as rich a sound as special 20s, but are very very very close... and are just as responsive and nearly as sensitive in my experience. special 20s are my main, and then I have fenders for backups/for a couple of keys that aren't used much and I didn't want to drop a ton of cash on for a special 20. (the more exotic keys tend to be a bit more expensive) If you don't want to drop $50 on a harp from sweetwater, you can get that fender for $10 and it ships with amazon prime.

probably a 32 key hohner instructor: Hohner 32B Piano-Style Melodica Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055DCWKS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_XSFTDb1SSKRWE its a bit more than the 20 dollar ones but its probably the best beginner melodica you can find that can be played even when you're advanced.

otherwise, the ones going for 20 on amazon are generally fine. the only downside would be that you might have to tune it, but really you might have to tune it regardless of what you buy. if you think you're gonna commit to the melodica tho really it can be worth it to drop a bit more on it but the 20 dollar ones are perfectly fine and often sound perfectly fine

regardless, make sure the one you buy comes with a tube mouthpiece. the hohner airboards don't come with a tube and only the weird wonky mouthpiece and I had to buy a seperate tube for 20 smh

>You would be hard pressed to fill a week of entertainment

Why is being entertained seemingly the paramount goal? There are plenty of constructive things to do with one's time that are still relaxing and actually make things better for yourself or others. Some are cheap, many are free, or have a one-time cost that's within that $20 budget.

Volunteer at one of a myriad of charities.

Jog.

Go to a library and read some books. They're free. Save that entertainment money for a project that requires a little money.

Buy a used bike that needs a little work with a couple weeks' of "entertainment" money and work on it to get it into shape over the next few weeks. Borrow tools if you need them (I lived in the 12th poorest county in the country and everyone still had tools they were offering to you if you needed to borrow them. It was actually weird; I think that it was a matter of hospitality-- that tools are the only thing they can offer you without a great loss to themselves.) Go to the library and use their free resources to learn how the bike works and how to repair parts. Now you have a bike and can bike for fun.

Buy a $15 knife and launch a woodworking hobby.

Buy a $10 irish whistle and learn to play an instrument.

I've done all of these at one time or another, and I'm not even poor anymore. This is not an exhaustive list. There's 100s of other things one can do for free or cheap.

I'd really recommend getting one-on-one tuition so you don't pick up bad habits/techniques. But if you're set on teaching yourself, get the College of Piping Book 1 - it not only teaches you how to play but maintenance and everything else that goes along with bagpipes. If I remember correctly, I think there's three books which gradually get more advanced. You'll be able to get it in any music shop. YouTube is also a good source for tuition as well although a lot of the people making tutorials don't have the best technique themselves. Use your own judgement there: if it sounds shite, it probably is. Find someone who sounds like they know what they're talking about.
If you can, go into a bagpipe shop to get a chanter. Being more specialist, they'll be able to help you more than a generic music shop. Get a synthetic chanter for about £30 and absolutely don't get a cheap wooden one - it will sound awful and it will be hard for you to gauge any improvement.
Biggest piece of advice I can give you though is be patient. It will be difficult and frustrating so don't try and rush ahead. Take your time to learn the embellishments and finger techniques properly and that will set you up for playing well in the future. Reading music will come with time so don't worry about that. Good luck! And if you have any more questions, feel free to ask

Oh no :( Sorry you were sick. Get some halls defense Vitamin c drops. Yummy and have worked great for me I think!!

Something that relaxes me is essentials oils in oil diffusers!! I have an orange essential oil diffusing through the room now. If I was sick I think I'd prefer something more minty.

Might not be best for the flu since you'd probably contaminate it with flu particles everywhere haha, but an instrument you can play even when you are sick because it doesn't require much effort!! Ocarina You could play some relaxing melodies even in bed!. Just sanitize it after your flu! I personally think the zelda songs are gorgeous and I already play them on the piano for fun. Zelda's lullaby is one relaxing song! :)

I recommend the Suzuki SCX-48 as the best option. It will last you years if you take good care of it. It is one of the best chromatic harps for a relatively good price and the sound fits jazz much better than Hohner chromatic harps that often sound 'folksy.' I played on it for years and it is still going strong. Although it is not as good as my Suzuki Sirius, which is a much more high end instrument, the tone quality is still fantastic for being a fraction of the price. It even outperforms the Sirius in certain areas such as funk or any other style require more force or responsiveness to its sound.

https://www.amazon.com/Suzuki-SCX-48-Chromatix-Harmonica-Hole/dp/B00133A19S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1543094977&sr=8-2&keywords=suzuki+scx

I saw that someone recommended the Hohner Cx12 Jazz and I have no experience playing it personally, but in my opinion it would not be worth it just because it costs more than the SCX-48 with the tone and quality of the SCX-48 being better in my opinion. The covers are also plastic which visually looks tacky, but on a positive note the Cx12 is much more modified and easier to clean because no tools are necessary to take it apart. This is unlike the SCX-48, which if you want to clean it you need to unscrew the cover plates. The cover plates on the SCX-48 also tend to be smudged by figure prints so that is a negative it does have to plastic covers. The Cx-12 Jazz is much bulkier than the SCX-48 and I would imagine not quite as comfortable to hold, but I cant say for sure. I think it is still a consideration though as you should decide for yourself if you think those qualities would fit your music style better.

https://www.amazon.com/Hohner-CX-12-JAZZ-Key-C/dp/B002HMDB46/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1543095306&sr=8-3&keywords=hohner+cx12

​

If you are serious about getting into this style of music on the chromatic harp, do not buy anything of lesser quality such as the cheap harps from Swan or East Top that range around $60-80. They will become a handicap to your playing due to their lack of responsiveness, poor tone, and poor lifespan.

Happy happy cake day and thanks for the contest! :D


1 Cake or birthday related (It is my cake day after all). Scrapbook calendar tape to mark your birthday in your scrapbook.


2 Simon Pegg was in a zombie movie and this is a zombie thing, so...yeah. Yeah?


3 A book you are eager to read


4 Eating Utensils


5 Animal


6 Purple


7 A game. From the game Magic: The Gathering


8 Guilty pleasure. One of my favorite instruments! It's guilty because apparently a lot of people don't like accordions/concertinas O_o


9 A Tool


10 Something from your childhood. From going to Renaissance Fairs with my Mom when I was a kid.


11 An organizational item. Scrapbook paper, because scrapbooks are a way to organize photos.


12 Hobby. One of my hobbies is camping :D


13 Nerdy/ Geeky


14 Something Natural. Sunlight!


15 Green


16 Something you wear


17 Funny


18 Beads, Bees or Beans. Filled with BEANS!!


19 Gardening. The smells of what makes a garden grow


20 Your absolute favorite item on your wish list no matter the price.. For school because Chromebooks are awesome.

Here is a video from Kissing88 about OcarinaWind instruments

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I would recommend either one of the following ocarinas as a beginner instrument. They are plastic but still have an excellent sound and will be more durable than a ceramic ocarina. These are also demonstrated in the video I linked above.

Night By Noble Plastic Ocarina AC Black - $36.86

Legend of Zelda Inspired 12 Hole Ocarina – Alto C by Focalink - $24.95

The NIGHT by Noble requires less breath and will therefore be easier for a beginner to get started on.

I would go for a ceramic 12 hole ocarina. That's what I've got (not sure what brand though, I got it forever ago), and I've been pretty happy with it. They go for $14 on amazon like this one: https://smile.amazon.com/Ohuhu-Ocarina-Textbook-Display-Protective/dp/B0148EQYA8/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1497737339&sr=1-3&keywords=ocarina

On 6 vs 12 holes, it really depends on what you want to play on your ocarina. 6 holes cover 10 whole notes whereas 12 holes gives you 13 whole notes. And learning isn't any harder either. You learn the same way on a 6 hole or a 12 hole as you would a any instrument. You learn three notes and play a simple song like hot cross buns and then slowly add more notes.

And if you end up sticking with it, you'll find that a lot of songs need those extra notes. Like if you wanted to play the Legend of Zelda main theme, you'll need all 13 notes.

There are a bunch of cool budget instruments out there you might want to look into.

A melodica can go for as little as 30 bucks on amazon. It's the instrument that plays The Office theme -- it plays like a keyboard, that you blow into, works like a harmonica and sounds sort of like an accordion. It's really awesome.

You could also just get a harmonica. Choose between a blues harmonica an a chromatic -- blues can only play the notes in a blues scale (for jazz), while chromatic is a little more versatile but harder to play.

For 70 bucks or so you could get a pocket sax. It's a little mini saxophone that sounds like a soprano sax mixed with a clarinet, and plays like a recorder.

If you want to get a brass instrument you could get a pocket trumpet to start. 150 dollars or more, basically a little trumpet with keys and everything.

Of course, if you're not afraid to spend somewhere more in the hundreds, you could get a secondhand version of almost any instrument. Check local garage sales or craigslist for used brass, woodwind, percussion, etc. instruments.

Online you can also find cool instruments for cheap. A cheap sax might cost only a few hundred dollars.

A general rule of thumb is "the bigger it is, the more expensive." So a baritone saxophone or a tuba will be super-expensive, while a pocket sax is cheap as dirt.

The problem is, virtually all of those are unusably out out of tune. The best cheap one I've run across is this one. It's not a OoT replica, but it's inexpensive, has fantastic intonation, feels good and grippy in the hand, has a great tone, and is going to be a little more resilient than a ceramic for someone who might not treat the instrument so gingerly.

I collect some goofy instruments so i might be able to help ya out. I'm not to sure what music level you are at so I will just throw a bunch at ya. I'll keep them travel sized

Mbira - Fun little metal finger pianos.

Harmonica - Portable pocket accordion!

Melodica - Transportable Harmonica+Piano combo! Extra fun. Make some good dub Reggae tracks

Ukulele - Mini Guitar! Easier chords. Bass also available!

Merlin (M4) - Want to add a steal guitar sound and some twangyness?! Only 3 strings! Easy to learn

Native America Flute - These are absolutely beautiful while tripping. Especially the lower tones in the Tune of G. Incredible easy to learn and play. No note sounds bad. Pentatonic scale insures you will sound good no matter what. Get spiritual.

Ocarina - From Ancient Mexico. Like a small flute Similar to Native American Flute but look extra bad ass while you play it. Have people be like "wwaaahhh this dude playing a small wooden frog!"

Setar - The Persian cousin of the Sitar. Only 3 strings. Harder to learn for lack of english sources but with enough fiddling you will sound amazing. Another Spiritual sounding instrument. Sounds similar to the Indian Sitar but way more transportable. Movable frets and different "modes" (keys) make this a little more complicated.

Cajon Drum - Also often referred to as a "BangBox Drum". All in one travel drum/seat

Happy belated birthday!

1. Your dad should get you this because it's cool and unique! How many other people can say that's what they got for their birthday!
   
   
2. I want these because they light up, there is only one left in stock, and my daughter will LOVE them!
   
   
3. welcome home
   
   
4. Always have a light jacket because you never know when a warm day might get chilly :-)

Is there some limited availability in Canada or shipping restrictions or something?


Something like this perhaps?
https://www.amazon.ca/Night-Noble-Plastic-Ocarina-Black/dp/B008WYNVAW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=night+by+noble&qid=1574313098&sr=8-1


The Night by Noble is good for most levels of play, I believe. It is really good quality and has great sound.
I have one and use it myself.

I bought this one awhile back from amazon that sounds and looks pretty nice for a friend who wanted to get into it and not spend a lot of money at first, it’s a pretty basic 12 hole ocarina, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MJLZIDW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Vi2QCbQ2KK3F6

Unfortunately quality control on Amazon is shotty at best, but if you’re cool with buying from other places online, stlocarina and songbird ocarina are great shops to buy from with a really big variety in a range of prices.

Happy almost birthday [month]! My birthday is April 15th. Sadly, though, there are no tax breaks for being born on tax day.

My spirt animal is Mr. Krabs because he loves money, whales, and has an entrepreneurial spirit! But mostly he loves money.

Also, I'd kinda sorta maybe really like this or this.

Thanks for the contest =)

Most people would recommend starting out with an instructor. I guess it saves you from learning too many bad habits when you try to start learning by yourself. However, if you want to give it a go I'd recommend this book. I'm sure using it in conjunction with an instructor wouldn't do much harm either.

Not to be all negative and shit, but I wouldn't expect too much from that chanter you bought. Generally any bagpipe-related stuff made in Pakistan is of poor quality. Then again, I've never tried a Pakistani practice chanter, it might tide you over okay for a little while. I'm sure you'd have a much nicer learning experience with a chanter by a reputable maker though. You can get one bundled along with that book I recommended here.

Hope you stick with it and enjoy the ride. :)

Yeah i have this one https://www.amazon.com/Thrush-Ocarina-Pottery-Protective-Songbooks/dp/B071XHJXZF people said its pretty good and sounds almost exactly like a night by noble one. I used a tuner on my computer. I spent about an hour trying to get it to play right and couldent. Peple say with all holes covered you should get a C and i was getting like usually G. I tried all diffrent breath pressures and could not get a C. No matter what I did. So if you know this ocarina let me know if its like defective or the ocarina or its just me. Thanks for the reply

https://www.amazon.ca/Night-Noble-Plastic-Ocarina-Black/dp/B008WYNVAW/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1492671434&sr=8-7&keywords=ocarina

This Night Ocarina is universally regarded as one of the best starter Ocarinas. Easy to play, durable, and has very good sound.

This picture shows the complete range of a standard 12 hole ocarina:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/28/4e/9f/284e9f297206f84309296b20fa56273a.jpg

If you want higher you will need a Double or triple ocarina, which adds additional chambers and mouthpieces to increase the range

Well i must have the Ocarina of Time because i absolutely love The Legend Of Zelda. That or the PSP
I made my username Black-Rabbit because i like rabbits and it's like the opossite of Alice in Wonderlan's White Rabbit, so mine is calm and in no hurry. like me.

I made a bedroom album that heavily relied on a melodica. Not super strange, but super fun to play. https://www.amazon.com/Hohner-32B-Piano-Style-Melodica-Black/dp/B0055DCWKS

Please don't buy that. It's a knock off that doesn't play in tune at all. If you want a Zelda replica, buy one from STL, Songbird, Spencer, or Tenrai. If you want a good sounding ocarina and don't mind it not being Zelda-themed, then the Night by Noble is a really good plastic ocarina. They can be bought on Amazon and eBay. Songbird, STL, and Focalink also offer good quality ceramic ocarinas.

This is one of my most favorite pastimes haha!

Hohner Special 20 harmonica in C
[Set of harmonicas in different keys] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000A2HDXA?colid=1SQ1CCJDQASEJ&coliid=I37C0F3ZI7ZBL3)
Harmonica book
(I really want to learn, half the reeds are busted up on my current one)

PowerSaves for Pokemon
Cigarette case
Window crystal thingies (blue and clear)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00MJLZIDW/ref=ppx_yo_mob_b_track_package_o0_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1 it's this ocarina, it was reccomended to me by a friend, but idk if it's any good lol. And also it doesnt get quiet when I play what's supposed to be c, but when I bend it down it does

Probably the same one you found but here you go

I shall continue looking for the other instruments you mentioned.

Edit: Ukuleles: one

two

three

There are a lot more. Those are just a few and admittedly I know nothing about ukuleles so I don't know if that's what you're looking for. Be back in a bit with harmonicas. I'm having fun!

Edit 2: Here are a few harmonicas that are not G key.

one

two

three

I hope this helps. The only instruments I'm knowledgeable about are pianos and guitars so take my recommendations with a grain of salt!

Oh thank you so much for taking the time to answer! I've made my choice, to be honest I think I just want it to fool around and try to learn mainly the Zelda songs, so based on many reviews including yours, I think the best one for me would be This one, What do you think? :)

I've been trying to teach myself the harmonica. It's really easy to get into (just buy a harmonica (like this or this and maybe a book) and then you can start! My family has always been musical, and playing music is a potent release for me. I'll try to upload something to soundcloud or something to chronicle my progress.

Anyone else into playing music?

I believe that one is: http://www.amazon.com/12-Hole-Ocarina-Legend-Zelda/dp/B0018GR9VI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323134136&sr=8-1.

It looks really nice, but I'm not sure if I could shell out 85 dollars on an ocarina. I'm pretty satisfied playing them on my flute though.

I loved this Valentine and gave it this year. ;P

I also found this one and it made me smirk. "I think I need a Parlyz Heal, 'cause you're stunning."

I have always wanted to learn to play the ocarina! Link has twinkle toes!

Thanks for the contest!

Edit: Oops! Forgot the link!

I wouldn't really recommend starting out with a soprano C anyway, unless you were desperate to spend less money. Here is the alto version from Amazon. I'm not sure if that will help you out.

Osawa Alto C ocarina

With a little looking you could find the soprano one on Amazon as well.

Amazon also has the Night by Noble

Night by Noble

You can also buy the Focalink/Stein ocarinas from Songbird Ocarina if that will help with shipping.

The single chamber plastic ocarinas from STL Ocarina are also some of the cheapest decent twelve hole ocarinas you can get.

I don't know how shipping from these various US ocarina stores will work out for you.

You're new to playing it, yeah? In which case, get what I list or other reputable brands (which I also list) in the same price range. If you really get into it, you can look at more expensive super-deluxe models later.

Just get a Clarke D whistle, they're @$10-15
https://www.amazon.com/Clarke-CWD-Celtic-Tin-Whistle/dp/B0002I8Y6W

Clarke's what I play on, they play fine. Any D whistle made by a reputable manufacturer (Generation, Feadog, etc) will do, though. Some play a bit easier than others though and you may find you have a preference.

Get the Clarke book too @$15
https://www.amazon.com/Clarke-Tin-Whistle-Deluxe-Book/dp/0962345679

There's also the Geraldine Cotter books and a few others which are quite good, but if it's just the one, I'd just get the Clarke, it's fine.

I'm not sure how far out you're willing to go, but I'd bet she'd love the bundle:

http://www.gamestop.com/wii-u/consoles/the-legend-of-zelda-wind-waker-hd-wii-u-limited-edition-bundle/111373

[EDIT: More ideas]

Does she play a musical instrument? How about an ocarina with a Zelda music booklet?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018GR9VI/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=

Also found a few neat results for "navi necklace zelda" on Google images.

I started with a special 20 but eventually switched to all Marine Band. When you want to branch out to other keys I suggest this kit. These are not good harmonicas but they are great for learning and you can just slowly replace them over time. I even still use the case. https://www.amazon.com/Hohner-Piedmont-Blues-Harmonica-Set/dp/B000A2HDXA/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1VFY5L73UWSCJ&keywords=hohner+piedmont+blues+harmonica+set&qid=1569616569&sprefix=hohner++piedmont%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-4

I noticed on a few of the amazon ocarinas there's a guy that's posted mini-review videos in the comment sections. He really liked the Noble.. I'm just iffy about spending $30 on a piece of plastic (or 25 on the bravura). Did you look at the noble one too?

I've purchased two, one is a plastic Night by Noble:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008WYNVAW/

which is the one I'd recommend over the other, a clay one, some dragon-tooth shaped thing that sounds OK, not as good as the plastic one.

If I had to buy another, I'd go with clay, though. The plastic one collects moisture faster, requires draining much faster.

The ocarina. I recommend the Night by Noble plastic and my wife's ocarina method book.

Together they come in for about $50.

EDIT: oh yeah there's also /r/ocarina

I think most every piano player should buy a cheap melodica. I grabbed one on amazon for less than $40. Yea, they're skinny unweighted plastic keys and the dynamics aren't super consistent and yea yea, but if you just pretend it's a sax and play melodies like you own them it's a decent time.

Cajon (percussion)

Melodica

Ocarina

Kalimba

Beginner violin

Tin Whistle

Recorder

A lot of these may seem simple to play (or not "real" instruments), but proficiency in even these type of instruments is good. And as someone has already said, buying used opens up more possibilities.

I'm training my dog to come when using a whistle like this one. I love going outdoors with him and if the situation requires (which I sure as hell hope it doesn't), the sound of a whistle might get farther than that of my voice.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0148EQYA8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Best purchase i made on amazon

"Joy of Wood Thrush" by Awef has 4.5 stars at Amazon. It's a quality Alto C ceramic for $19.95 currently. See https://www.amazon.com/Thrush-Ceramic-Ocarina-Exquisite-Craft/dp/B071XHJXZF/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=12+hole+ocarina&qid=1574060750&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-7

You can buy very nice ones on Amazon for less than 20$. Ceramic and everything. There's like a bunch of different versions and makers and they all come with song books

I have a 12 hole, it is amazing. I've been working on the Clocktown theme.
[Pic] (http://imgur.com/CoHgu) I got it off Amazon for $85. here is the link [Amazon] (http://www.amazon.com/Hole-Ocarina-From-Legend-Zelda/dp/B0018GR9VI)

I was thinking something like this Hohner Piedmont Blues Harmonica Set: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000A2HDXA/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_U80Fub10N3NY4

I realize they're plastic, but I figure someone would rather have the other keys and a case, in case he already has like 5 Cs or something.

I got the "Forest Whisper" 12 Hole Ocarina Classic Strawfire Masterpiece Collectible https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MJLZIDW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_yDqSCb87JFB14

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004D0S690/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_r9yqub0WMPGP0

I bought it a year ago, and it's a beautiful instrument.

So my word was time.

This was the result, but just one above it was this which would have been so much cooler =P

Two $25 amazon gift cards.
or this:

http://www.amazon.com/Meinl-Percussion-DDG1-BK-Didgeridu/dp/B00275G6XQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1330825528&sr=8-3

> Seydel Blues Favorite

would this be one??

http://www.amazon.in/SEYDEL-Blues-Session-Steel-Harmonica/dp/B0057IVGVM

So this would be a good purchase then? http://www.amazon.ca/Hohner-Piedmont-Blues-Harmonica-Set/dp/B000A2HDXA/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1425172844&sr=1-1&keywords=blues+harmonica

I must say that Night by Noble seems to be very interesting. I am reading about it and can only find positive comments. I will calm down before moving to more advanced stuff :p

Is there any site (except Amazon) where I can purchase it?

PS.: I am excluding Amazon because we have a weird tax policy here in Brazil. Taxes are huge but products below $100 are not taxed. Amazon always consider an importing fee even if the price is below $100.

For example, this ocarina:

https://www.amazon.com/Night-Noble-Plastic-Ocarina-Black/dp/B008WYNVAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495573040&sr=8-1&keywords=night+noble

Will cost for me $81.60 => 33.50+ 8.32(ship) + 39.72(estimated import fee)

Such a pain!

http://www.amazon.com/12-Hole-Ocarina-Legend-Zelda/dp/tags-on-product/B0018GR9VI

I know its expensive but i am sure you could find one cheaper if you looked

It is also possible to get a Zelda songbook for the ocarina.

You think this would be good? http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Oskar-1910-C-Harmonica/dp/B000Q87DAQ

That's a different ocarina. This is the one I bought, and it got good reviews.

Thanks, I wound up ordering the Acme Tornado 636.

I'm not as sensitive to price as I am getting a quality harp this time. So anything up to $100 is acceptable.

Is this the Seydal you're referring to: Seydel Blues Session Steel? What's with the orange comb? Looks kinda funky.

Looks like they've run out of the 64...but 48 is still available at 100

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/ol/B00133A19S/ref=mw_dp_olp?ie=UTF8&condition=all

Got it from Amazon Indeed I am, I mainly play guitar

Obligatory amazon link.

well this one is even lighter :P

SUATMM

http://www.amazon.com/College-Piping-Highland-Bagpipe-Tutor/dp/B001PFBW42 that one

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0148EQYA8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_5TBtzb57N8RT5

en el foro de ocarinas me recomiendan esta https://www.amazon.es/Night-Noble-AC-Ocarina-pl%C3%A1stico/dp/B008WYNVAW, pero es de plastico :c

Doesn't seem like the hohner student is made anymore? Is this it's replacement?

OcarinaWind ocarinas are extremely inconsistent as far as quality; some are virtually unplayable. Get this one instead; you won't regret it.

A ceramic ocarina of this quality would probably cost you upwards of 80-100 USD. You won't find better value for money, I've paid a lot more for worse sounding instruments---Like STL's Water Ocarina; beautiful instrument but mediocre low and high notes and awkward to cover holes