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The Otamatone: A Fun and Unique Electronic Instrument

The Otamatone is an electronic instrument that requires a battery to operate. The word “Otamatone” combines the Japanese “otamajakushi” (meaning “ladle” or “tadpole”) and “tone,” referencing the instrument’s shape and sound. Originally designed as a toy, it has evolved into an instrument that even musicians can enjoy.

How to Play

1. Slide the rear volume switch to the right and set the volume to a medium level.
2. Press the black part of the stem with your fingertips to produce sound.
3. One of the Otamatone’s most charming features is its fun, squishy face! While pressing the stem, squeeze both sides of its face to open its mouth - this alters the sound, creating a “wow” effect similar to human vocals.

Tuning Your Otamatone

• “Deluxe Models”: Typically start at C and go up to G-sharp (spanning one and a half octaves), though some versions start at different notes, like F to A. Check your instruction manual for details.
• “Standard Models”: Cover a single octave from C to C. Because of their smaller size, you don’t need to slide your finger far to reach the next note. Use the “octave switch” on the back to shift to a higher or lower range.
• “Digital Models”: Feature piano-like keys on the stem, while standard and deluxe versions have a smooth, touch-sensitive bar.

List of Songs

A Hunting We Will Go
A Sailor Went to Sea
Acka Backa
Amazing Grace
Alphabet Song
Are You Sleeping?
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Baby Bumble Bee
Bell Horses
Bim Bum Biddy
Bobby Shafto
Brahms Lullaby
Chumbara
Cobbler, Mend My Shoe
Cock-a-Doodle Doo
Cotton Eyed Joe
Ding Dong DiggiDiggiDong
Do You Know the Muffin Man?
Doctor Foster
Doggie Doggie
Fiddle-Dee-Dee
Five Little Ducks
Five Little Monkeys
Frog in the Meadow
Happy Birthday
Here We Go Looby Loo
Hot Cross Buns
Humpty Dumpty
I Like to Eat Apples and Bananas
I Love Little Kitty
It’s Raining
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Jack and Jill
Jingle Bells
Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
Kookaburra
La Cucaracha
Lavender’s Blue
Li’l Liza Jane
Little Jack Horner
London Bridge
Long-legged Sailor
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Michael, Row the Boat Ashore
Miss Mary Mack
My Hat
Ninety-Nine Bottles
Ode to Joy
Oh Susannah
Oh We Can Play on the Big Bass Drum
Old Bald Eagle
Old Blue
Old McDonald
Old Mother Hubbard
One, Two, Three, Four
Peace Like a River
Rain, Rain, Go Away
Ring Around the Rosie
Row Row Your Boat
Rub-a-Dub-Dub
See-Saw Margery Daw
Ten in the Bed
Ten Little Fingers
The Baker
The Bear Went Over the Mountain
The Bee and the Pup
The Big Sheep
The First Noel
The Mulberry Bush
The Wheels on the Bus
This Old Man
Tinga Layo
To Market, To Market
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
When the Saints Go Marchin In
Wishy Washy Wee
Yankee Doodle