You know that feeling when you're stuck in the Windmill Hut in Ocarina of Time? The frantic, spinning energy of Guru-Guru grinding his phonograph? It’s arguably the most infectious loop in video game history. Written by the legendary Koji Kondo, this 3/4 time waltz is more than just a nostalgic trip; for guitarists, finding a solid song of storms tab is basically a rite of passage. It's the "Smoke on the Water" of the Nintendo world, but with a lot more rhythmic complexity than people give it credit for.
Honestly, it’s a bit weird. You’ve got a song about rain that is somehow bone-dry in its execution. It’s haunting. It’s catchy. And if you’re trying to learn it on guitar, it’s a masterclass in movement.
Why the Song of Storms Tab is Secretly Hard
Most people think video game music is just simple bleeps and bloops. They’re wrong. Kondo’s work, especially in The Legend of Zelda, is rooted in deep musical theory. The Song of Storms is built on a D minor foundation, but it’s the syncopation that trips people up. If you look at a standard song of storms tab, you’ll see those three initial notes—D, F, and high D. It sounds simple. It isn't.
The rhythm is a literal "storm." It swirls.
When you're looking at tabs on sites like Ultimate Guitar or Gametabs.net, you'll notice two main versions. There’s the "cowboy chord" version where you just strum Dm and Bb, and then there's the fingerstyle arrangement. The fingerstyle one is where the magic happens. You’re trying to mimic a phonograph, which means your thumb has to keep a steady, driving bassline while your fingers dance through the melody. It’s a workout for your brain. You’ve got to keep that 1-2-3 pulse of the waltz while hitting those sharp, staccato notes that make the song recognizable.
The Problem With Most Online Tabs
Let’s be real: a lot of free tabs are trash. You’ll find a song of storms tab that looks right, but when you play it, something feels "off." Usually, it’s the tuning or the position. Most beginners try to play it all in the first position (near the headstock). While that’s fine for the basic melody, it sounds thin.
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To get that rich, moody Zelda vibe, you actually want to move up the neck. Playing the D minor melody around the 5th and 7th frets allows the strings to resonate differently. It gives it that wooden, acoustic warmth that matches the aesthetic of the Kakariko Village windmill. If your tab doesn't have you moving your hand, you're probably missing out on the best tonal qualities of your guitar.
Breaking Down the Fingerstyle Arrangement
If you're looking to actually master this, don't just stare at the numbers on the screen. Understand the structure.
The "A" section is that iconic hook. D-F-D. It repeats. Then it climbs. The beauty of a good song of storms tab is how it handles the transition to the Bb chord. This is where the tension builds. In the game, this is where the rain starts to pick up and the windmill spins faster. On guitar, this requires a quick stretch of the pinky.
If you're struggling with the reach, try this:
Keep your thumb anchored. Don't let your hand fly off the fretboard. The distance between the 3rd fret on the G string and the 6th fret on the high E string is the "danger zone" for most players. If you can bridge that gap smoothly, you've mastered the hardest part of the piece.
Many players also overlook the "B" section—the part that plays under the dialogue. It's slower, more melodic, and uses a lot of arpeggios. A high-quality song of storms tab will include these nuances instead of just looping the main riff.
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Classical Influence in Zelda Music
Koji Kondo has often cited classical composers and even 70s Japanese pop as influences. The Song of Storms feels very much like a dark European folk dance. It’s got that "oom-pah-pah" rhythm. When you're reading a song of storms tab, try to visualize it as a violin piece. The notes should be crisp. If you let them ring out too much like a pop song, it loses that rhythmic "grind" that Guru-Guru is famous for.
I’ve spent hours looking at different transcriptions. Some people arrange it in Drop D. It sounds heavy and cool, but it’s not "authentic." Standard tuning is really all you need to capture the soul of the track. The key is the D minor scale. If you know your D minor pentatonic, you can even improvise a bit in the middle, which is a great way to make the song your own during a performance or a casual jam session.
Practical Tips for Clean Playing
Speed is the enemy of accuracy here. Everyone wants to play the Song of Storms fast because the windmill guy is frantic. Don't do that. Not yet.
- Start at 60 BPM. I know, it’s painfully slow. But you need to hear every note of the song of storms tab clearly. If it’s buzzing, you’re moving too fast.
- Use a Metronome. Since this is in 3/4 time, set your metronome to a waltz beat. Accent the first beat. ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three.
- Check Your Fingernails. If you’re playing fingerstyle, having a tiny bit of nail on your picking hand will give you that "clack" sound that mimics the mechanical nature of a phonograph.
- The "Ghost" Notes. Great tabs will have small notes in parentheses. These are ghost notes. You barely touch the string. They add texture. Don't skip them; they turn a robotic-sounding tab into a living piece of music.
Where to Find the Best Versions
If you want the absolute best song of storms tab, look for arrangements by Lonlonjp or Super Guitar Bros on YouTube. They usually link to their own transcriptions. These guys understand the "voice leading"—the way one note flows into the next.
Avoid the auto-generated MIDI-to-tab conversions you see on some of the bigger sites. Those usually result in impossible finger stretches that no human could ever actually play. If a tab asks you to hold the 1st fret and the 12th fret at the same time, it’s probably a bad tab. Use your common sense.
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Moving Beyond the Tab
Once you’ve got the song of storms tab down, stop looking at it. Seriously. This song is all about feel. It’s a loop. It’s meant to be hypnotic. Once your fingers know where to go, close your eyes and imagine the rain in the Hyrule graveyard.
The Song of Storms is a perfect bridge for players moving from "just strumming" to actual musicianship. It teaches you about time signatures, minor keys, and how to maintain a melody over a steady bass. It’s a short song, but it’s dense with lessons.
Whether you’re playing on a beat-up acoustic or a high-end electric, the resonance of that D minor chord is unmistakable. It’s a piece of gaming history you can hold in your hands.
Actionable Next Steps for Guitarists:
- Download a dedicated TABS app that allows you to slow down the playback speed without changing the pitch. This is vital for the syncopated sections of the melody.
- Focus on the D minor scale for five minutes before you practice the song. It will prime your brain for the specific "sad but driving" tonality of the piece.
- Record yourself playing. You’ll think you’re in time, but the 3/4 waltz rhythm often causes players to "rush" the second and third beats. Listening back is the only way to catch it.
- Experiment with dynamics. Play the first loop softly (piano) and the second loop aggressively (forte) to simulate the storm getting closer.