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🎵 Key Takeaway When playing high notes (High D, E, F), you must open the thumb holes on the back. If you lift your thumbs completely off the instrument, it will wobble or fall. The secret is the Thumb Roll: keep the tip of your thumb touching the clay, and just roll the joint to open the hole. You are playing a fast song. The melody climbs up to a High F. To play this note, almost all your fingers must be off the holes, including your thumbs. Suddenly, the ocarina feels like a slippery bar of soap. You panic, grip it tightly with your pinkies, and your fingers freeze. This is the "Flying Thumbs" problem. Here is how the pros fix it. The Mistake: "Flying Thumbs" When a beginner wants to open a thumb hole, they lift their entire thumb 2 inches away from the instrument. This destroys your stability. Your thumbs are the main pillars holding the ocarina against your mouth. If you remove the pillars, the roof collapses. The Solution: The "Thumb Roll" You do not need to move your t