You’ve probably got the melody of Saria’s Song stuck in your head just by reading the title. It’s okay. We all do. That catchy, bouncy tune is basically the DNA of 90s gaming. But when we talk about ocarina of time songs, we’re usually just thinking about the buttons we pressed to open a door or warp to a temple. There is actually a lot more going on under the hood of those twelve little melodies than most people realize.
Honestly, it’s kind of a miracle the music works at all. Koji Kondo, the legendary composer at Nintendo, was given a nightmare of a task. He had to write a full soundtrack using only five notes. Five. Because the N64 controller only had the A-button and four C-buttons, Link’s musical range was stuck in a very specific D-minor 6th chord (D, F, A, B, and D an octave higher).
Yet, he made it work. He didn't just make it work; he created a system where the music felt like it was part of the physical world.
The Core Melodies You Actually Use
Most of your time in Hyrule is spent playing the "utility" songs. These are the ones that change the world around you rather than just moving you through it.
Zelda’s Lullaby is the one you’ll play the most. It’s basically your "I am a friend of the Royal Family" ID card. If you see a Triforce symbol, you play this. Fun fact: if you break a sign in the game and play this song, the sign actually stitches itself back together. It’s a neat little trick that serves zero purpose for the plot but makes the world feel magical.
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Then there is Epona’s Song. You learn this from Malon at Lon Lon Ranch. Most people just use it to call their horse, but if you play it in front of a cow? They’ll give you free Lon Lon Milk. It’s weird, but hey, free health.
Saria’s Song is arguably the heart of the game’s emotional arc. It’s the first song you get from a friend. Besides cheering up Darunia (who has some surprisingly smooth dance moves for a rock man), it lets you talk to Saria from anywhere. She’ll give you hints if you’re stuck. It’s like a magical walkie-talkie with a killer soundtrack.
The Weird Ones: Sun, Time, and Storms
- Sun’s Song: You find this in the Royal Tomb. It flips day to night instantly. It also freezes ReDeads in their tracks, which is a life-saver when those creepy clay dudes are trying to jump on your back.
- Song of Time: Zelda throws the Ocarina of Time into the moat, you grab it, and suddenly you can move blue blocks with the Temple of Time’s theme.
- Song of Storms: This one is a headache for philosophers. You learn it from a guy in a windmill who is mad because a kid played it and messed up the windmill. Then you go back in time and... you are that kid. It’s a "bootstrap paradox." The song has no origin. It just exists because it exists.
The Warp Songs: Shiek’s Poetry
Once you hit the adult portion of the game, things get serious. Shiek shows up at every temple entrance to teach you a warp song. These aren't just gameplay shortcuts; they’re musical representations of the elements.
The Minuet of Forest is light and airy. The Bolero of Fire has that rhythmic, steady beat that feels like marching into a volcano. Serenade of Water is flowing and melodic, while Nocturne of Shadow sounds genuinely unsettled.
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My personal favorite has to be the Requiem of Spirit. There’s something about that desert vibe—the minor key and the slow pacing—that perfectly captures the isolation of the Colossus.
Why the Order Matters
Ever noticed that the warp songs in your menu aren't in the order you usually learn them? The menu lists them as Forest, Fire, Water, Spirit, Shadow, and Light. But most players do the Shadow Temple before the Spirit Temple. Nintendo’s "intended" path is often debated, but the musical progression in the menu suggests a specific elemental hierarchy that many players accidentally ignore.
The Secret "Scarecrow’s Song"
There is one song that isn't on the official list. If you visit Pierre the Scarecrow at Lon Lon Ranch as a kid, you can make up your own eight-note melody.
Whatever you play, he remembers it.
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When you come back as an adult, play that same custom tune. Now, whenever Navi turns green over a random ledge or a gap you can't cross, play your custom ocarina of time songs entry. Pierre will pop up out of the ground, giving you a hookshot point. It’s the only part of the game where you get to be the composer.
Beyond the Five Buttons
While the game only lets you play five notes easily, the Ocarina of Time is technically more capable. If you hold the R-button or use the analog stick while playing, you can pitch-bend and change the tone. You can actually play real-world songs like "The Star-Spangled Banner" or "Mary Had a Little Lamb" if you’re patient enough with the controls.
It’s this depth—the fact that it’s a semi-functional instrument—that made the game a cultural phenomenon. People didn't just play the game; they bought real ocarinas. Sales for the instrument skyrocketed in 1998 because of this one N64 title.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Playthrough
If you're jumping back into Hyrule soon, try these specific musical interactions:
- Gossip Stones: Don't just read them. Play the Song of Storms to get a red fairy (full health/magic) or Zelda’s Lullaby to get a regular fairy.
- The Frogs: Go to Zora’s River and play all your non-warp songs for the frogs on the log. They’ll give you rupees and eventually a Piece of Heart.
- The Dying Soldier: There is a soldier in a back alley in Castle Town after Ganondorf attacks. If you talk to him, he tells a tragic story and dies. It’s one of the few moments where the music stops, making the silence feel heavy.
The ocarina of time songs aren't just a gimmick. They are the language of the game. They bridge the gap between Link and the player, making you feel like you're actually casting spells with a flute rather than just hitting a sequence of inputs. Next time you play the Song of Time, listen to the way the notes resonate—it's a 30-year-old piece of code that still feels like magic.
To get the most out of your next run, make sure to record a simple Scarecrow's Song—something like all Up-C notes—so you don't forget it when you're 10 hours deep into the Adult Link questline.