One of the first questions after buying an otamatone is: what songs can I play? The good news is that any melody using single notes (no chords) works on the otamatone. The key is choosing songs with a limited number of distinct notes, a moderate tempo, and pieces you already know by ear — so you can self-correct tuning without reading sheet music.
This guide contains 15 songs sorted by difficulty, with reference notes, finger position tips and YouTube videos. Every song here has been publicly covered on YouTube by fans and has tutorials available.
The otamatone has no frets or numbered positions, so the “tabs” in this guide use relative position markers on the neck, from 1 (lowest pitch, near the head) to 9 (highest pitch, at the tip):
| Neck position | Approximate pitch | Octave (Deluxe) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 — Top (near the face) | C3 (low) | Low |
| 2–3 — Upper quarter | D3 – G3 | Low |
| 4–5 — Centre | A3 – C4 | Middle |
| 6–7 — Lower quarter | D4 – G4 | Middle–high |
| 8–9 — Tip | A4 – C5 (high) | High |
Note: these positions are approximate for the Otamatone Deluxe (44 cm). On the Classic (27 cm) intervals are smaller and everything is compressed into the lower half of the neck. Always practise with an audio reference.
These songs use 4–6 distinct notes, have slow melodies and are universally familiar. Perfect for day one.
The most-played otamatone song in the world. The opening pattern repeats a lot on the same note and the leaps are predictable. Start with the first bar and loop it until you have it memorised.
Tip: The leap from C to G (position 3 to 7) is the trickiest part. Mark the G position on your neck with a small piece of tape before you play.
Only 5 distinct notes (C, D, E, F, G, A) and a very slow tempo. The classic warm-up exercise. If you can tune this cleanly, you have basic neck control.
Tip: Play without vibrato (mouth fixed open) until the notes sound in tune. Mouth movement comes later.
The main melody uses only 5 notes (E, F, G, A, B) and moves in steps (adjacent notes), which makes finger control much easier. Ideal for practising smooth, continuous movement.
Everyone knows it by heart, which means you can self-correct by ear without needing a reference. The melody climbs gradually, training your finger from low to high notes.
More notes, faster tempos or wider leaps. It is recommended to master at least two Level 1 songs before attempting these.
The main theme from the Pirates of the Caribbean OST is one of the most popular otamatone songs online. The 3/4 rhythm can be confusing at first, but the melody is very recognisable and easy to self-correct by ear.
Tip: This theme has an octave leap. On the Classic (27 cm) it can be tricky; the Deluxe makes it far more manageable.
The unofficial anthem of the otamatone fan community. Bad Apple’s vocal melody has a perfect tempo for the instrument and its minor-key character gives that expressive, distinctive otamatone sound. Search “bad apple otamatone” on YouTube — there are dozens of reference covers.
The Tetris theme is short, cyclic and very recognisable. It has a few fourth leaps that need practice, but the repetitive structure makes it easy to memorise.
A community favourite. Its 6/8 pattern and bass line have a unique character that the otamatone’s vocal timbre highlights beautifully. Start with the opening phrase (D – F – D) and add the rest progressively.
The famous Pachelbel Canon has a soprano line perfect for the otamatone. The underlying chord progression means that even small tuning errors still sound decent within the whole. Ideal for recording yourself and listening back.
LiSA’s massive hit has a very singable opening melody in an accessible note range. The chorus phrase (“gurenge!”) is the most satisfying to play and the part audiences recognise instantly.
Tip: Learn just the chorus phrase first (4 bars). That alone gives you something impressive to play in 15–20 minutes of practice.
These require good vibrato control, speed and memory for more than 8 distinct notes. Master several intermediate songs first.
The “Mama, just killed a man” section is one of the most viral otamatone covers on the internet. Freddie Mercury’s vocal melody fits the instrument’s expressive timbre perfectly. Requires good vibrato control for the long sustained notes.
The famous saxophone intro of Careless Whisper is a real technical challenge: it has sixth and seventh leaps that require strong muscle memory. When it works, it sounds incredible on the otamatone.
Tip: Practise the long note + silence (the “saxophone breath”) with the mouth closed between notes. That gives it the right phrasing.
The Totoro theme requires precise playing in the otamatone’s upper register. The melody has a playful, bouncy character that suits the instrument perfectly. Very rewarding when it comes together.
Undertale’s final boss theme has a fast tempo demanding finger speed and accuracy on repeated notes. It is the “flex song” of the otamatone community. Expect weeks of practice.
Tip: Start at half speed. Accuracy matters more than speed — once the notes are clean at 60 bpm, the tempo will come naturally.
The ultimate technical challenge: rapid chromatic notes demanding perfectly controlled sliding. This is the otamatone’s “hard mode”. Master it and you are an expert. Some YouTube covers have passed one million views.
| Model | Recommended songs | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Classic / Sweet (27 cm) | Twinkle Twinkle, Happy Birthday, Ode to Joy | Limited range, best in middle register |
| Neo (31–35 cm) | + Super Mario, Tetris, Bad Apple | More range, more manageable intervals |
| Deluxe (44 cm) | All of the above + Pirates, Zelda, Ghibli | Long neck makes tuning much easier |
| Techno | Any song + added effects | Echo and reverb cover slight inaccuracies |
The Super Mario Bros overworld theme is the top recommendation: short note sequence, moderate tempo and dozens of YouTube tutorials showing exact finger positions step by step.
No. You can learn by relative finger position on the neck, watching video references or following visual tabs. Music theory helps but is not required to play simple melodies on day one.
Completely normal at first. The otamatone neck has no frets, so every millimetre changes the pitch. The solution is to practise slowly, listen actively, and memorise the physical position of each note.
Search YouTube for the song name plus “otamatone tutorial”. There are also position sheets on Reddit (r/otamatone) and in fan Discord servers. The community is very active sharing homemade tabs.
Absolutely — anime themes are among the most popular otamatone song choices. Demon Slayer’s Gurenge, Fullmetal Alchemist’s Melissa and Ghibli themes all work well. The otamatone’s expressive voice suits the melodic style of anime openings and endings.
Both work. Tabs (position markers) are faster for complete beginners; learning by ear trains your musical intuition and makes you more independent. Ideally combine both: use tabs to find the positions, then memorise by ear so you no longer need to look.