Zelda franchise strategy guide/Songs

The Legend of Zelda is a series of video games developed by Nintendo. Musical instruments are a common part of the gameplay, having appeared in the very first game as well as every other one since (with the exceptions of Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures and Phantom Hourglass). They are most commonly used to teleport Link from one place to another. They can be used for a variety of other tasks, including defeating enemies, summoning and awakening characters, and manipulating time. In his various quests, Link obtains or encounters many instruments upon which these songs are played, and several games cannot be completed without their aid. While it may not always be required to learn or use every song in the game in order to beat it, it is always to the player's advantage.

The Legend of Zelda

In The Legend of Zelda, Link plays a melody on his Recorder. In the Overworld, this summons a whirlwind which will carry Link to a dungeon entrance he has already visited (in numerical order). It is also used to open one dungeon and reveal certain secrets. In dungeons, particular enemies are vulnerable to the sound of the Recorder. The melody is also mixed into the background music in the title screen of Ocarina of Time, and is also featured as the tune of the Warp Whistle in Super Mario Bros. 3, which also summons a warping whirlwind when played. The Wind Ocarina in The Minish Cap also plays this tune to warp Link to various points around Hyrule.

The Adventure of Link

In The Adventure of Link, playing the Recorder will get Link past certain obstacles in the overworld. It is also used to open the sixth dungeon.

A Link to the Past

In the Light World of A Link to the Past, the ocarina is used to summon a bird that can carry Link to eight different locations, some of which require the use of the ocarina to teleport to in order to complete the game. Though the instrument has always been called an ocarina in the Japanese releases of the game, the US releases all refer to it as a flute.

Link's Awakening

In Link's Awakening, Link obtains an ocarina. He can play it before he learns any songs but will only produce a flat, tuneless string of notes with no coherent melody. Interestingly, though, it does bear a slight resemblance to the recorder melody from The Legend of Zelda.

Ballad of the Wind Fish

This is used to open the entrance to the final dungeon, as well as to kill Pols Voices. A tune of the same name is featured in Majora's Mask, but the two tunes are the same in name only ("the tune played by the Wind Fish" is merely mentioned as the Zora band's biggest hit, by their manager).

Manbo's Mambo

This song is used to teleport Link to Manbo's Pond next to Crazy Tracy's house, which is approximately in the center of the island map. He can also use it in dungeons to warp to the dungeon entrance.

The Frog's Song of Soul

Learned from the frog Mamu. This song is used to resurrect the dead and animate the non-living.

Ocarina of Time

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In Ocarina of Time, Link initially makes use of the Fairy Ocarina, which is soon replaced by the Ocarina of Time. There are twelve predefined songs that can be learned and played in the game, but it is also possible to play a songs of the player's creation. This phenomenon is due to the fact that the player must input a sequence of notes that may thereafter be recognized as a valid song, called the Scarecrow's Song. This method contrasts to those of previous games of the series, wherein all songs were created as part of the game.

The songs of the ocarina are based on five notes which correspond to five buttons on the game controller when Link uses it. Therefore, in order for Link to play a song, the player presses the corresponding C button (or direction on the C-stick or other button in the Gamecube versions) to make Link whip out the Ocarina, and then the buttons for the song (s)he wants Link to play. To play Zelda's Lullaby, for instance, the player will tap the corresponding C buttons (or directions or other buttons, in the case of the Gamecube versions), which are C left, C up, C right, C left, C up, C right (which, in the C-Major scale, corresponds to BDABDA). Although not required at any point in the game, the player can use the R and Z buttons to play various other notes by pressing the R or Z buttons, and can alter regular notes by moving the joystick, allowing for a wide range of songs to be played. Coincidentally, all the available notes are represented by the draw notes on a normal C-Major harmonica. Some of these songs are used in an Ocarina of Time medley set to appear in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Zelda's Lullaby

A simple arrangement of Zelda's theme (which was actually first heard in A Link to the Past, with the title "Princess Zelda's Rescue"), this is the first song Link learns, and is used to perform various actions throughout Hyrule by playing it when standing on or near a Triforce emblem. Link can also play Zelda's Lullaby near a Gossip Stone to generate a fairy, and playing it near a broken sign will repair it. This melody also serves as the background music for the courtyard in which Link first meets Zelda early on in the game.

Saria's Song

Link is taught this song as a child by his best friend Saria, and uses it to communicate with her magically over long distances. It is based on the theme of the Lost Woods in Ocarina of Time, which is also the theme of the Woods of Mystery in Majora's Mask. Additionally, the background music of the Forest Haven in The Wind Waker, Young Link's theme in Super Smash Bros. Melee and the background music of the Sacred Grove in Twilight Princess are remixes of Saria's Song.

Song of Time

When played in the Temple of Time on the Ocarina of Time by one who holds the three Spiritual Stones, the Song of Time opens the Door of Time. This allows Link, the Hero of Time to pull the Master Sword from its pedestal (the Pedestal of Time), which acts as the gateway to the Sacred Realm. Wherever there are large blue blocks present, this mysterious melody can be used to move them, or make them disappear and reappear. This song is the melody of the background music in the Temple of Time, and is also used in Majora's Mask, where it plays a separate and more significant role: sending you to the first day in the three-day cycle. It returns again in Twilight Princess, serving once again as the background music in the Temple of Time.

Song of Storms

This song summons a rainstorm at any time, which manifests itself even inside buildings. It's haunting melody is also used as the background music in the Windmill. It is taught to adult Link by the keeper of the Windmill, who tells Link that a boy in green clothes played it seven years before and made the Windmill spin out of control. Later on in the game, child Link plays the song inside the Windmill in order to drain the well, making Link himself the boy who played the song for the man, in effect creating an ontological paradox. The Bottom of the Well then becomes a pivotal place of interest (and a dungeon of sorts), where Link acquires the Lens of Truth and after which he can proceed to the Shadow Temple. The Song of Storms returns in Majora's Mask, where it can be used to heal jinx. It is also played by Guru-Guru, a man who strongly resembles the owner of the Windmill in Ocarina of Time. It is heard yet again in Oracle of Seasons as the Windmill theme.

Epona's Song

This melody will summon Link's horse, Epona, after Link (as an adult) acquires use of her. Link can also obtain a full bottle of milk when he plays this melody to a cow. The melody is learned at Lon Lon Ranch from Malon, the ranch owner's daughter. Epona's Song is one of two optional songs (the other being the Sun's Song), but it is necessary for Link to learn it if the player wants to obtain Epona when Link is an adult. Once the melody is learned and played, Epona will gallop closer to allow Link to ride her. This can be done in Lon Lon Ranch and any place on the overworld (or just about any area where time passes normally), but not in places where time is fixed or in dungeons. This melody can be heard in Lon Lon Ranch, and in Romani Ranch in Majora's Mask (where this song is re-learned in this game). Epona's Song also features in Twilight Princess, where it serves the same purpose.

Sun's Song

This simple melody is used to change the time from day to night and vice versa. In places where time passes normally it just greatly speeds it up so the transition takes only a few seconds. Time flow returns to normal when either the rooster crows at 6am (Hyrule time) or when the wolf howls at 6pm. In locations where time is fixed, such as in towns, the screen fades out and reappears, depositing Link at the site of his entrance to the area. In these instances, the in-game time is either noon or midnight. Hyrule time can be checked when Link hits a Gossip Stone with his sword, or by talking to the guard at the entrance to Kakariko Village. This song can also be used to paralyze ReDeads and Gibdos. The melody of the Sun's Song is also played in overworld areas at dawn (with the exception of Gerudo Valley) in Ocarina of Time, as well as in Majora's Mask, The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess.

See also: Song of Passing in The Wind Waker.

Teleport songs

In Ocarina of Time, each temple and sage combo have their own song, and share their names (or titles) with the corresponding temple. They are taught to Link by Sheik and used to teleport him to large pads on the ground near the temple entrances.

Minuet of Forest: Saria and the Forest Temple; Teleports Link to the Sacred Forest Meadow
Bolero of Fire: Darunia and the Fire Temple; Teleports Link to the Death Mountain Crater
Serenade of Water: Princess Ruto and the Water Temple; Teleports Link to Lake Hylia
Nocturne of Shadow: Impa and the Shadow Temple; Teleports Link to the Kakariko Graveyard
Requiem of Spirit: Nabooru and the Spirit Temple; Teleports Link to the Desert Colossus
Prelude of Light: Rauru and the Temple of Light. Since the Temple of Light is situated within the Sacred Realm and is thus unreachable by Link except when he is receiving Medallions, the Prelude of Light teleports Link to the Temple of Time.

Scarecrow's Song

This song is used to summon a scarecrow named Pierre in certain locations, allowing Link to access places he couldn't normally reach by latching onto him with the Hookshot (or Longshot). Unlike the main songs of the game, the sequence of notes for this song is customizable and is not shown in the menu—it can only be composed and memorized by the player (Link) as a child, and Link will be reminded of it as an adult so that he can use it to summon Pierre at certain places.

Majora's Mask

In Majora's Mask, as in Ocarina of Time, Link possesses and frequently uses the Ocarina of Time to play songs that have various tunes and effects. However, each of Link's transformations produce their own instrument when he uses the ocarina; Deku Link plays the Deku Pipes, Goron Link plays the drums, and Zora Link plays a fish-bone guitar, and participates as the lead in a Zora band famous in Termina, the Indigo-Gos.

Songs carried over from Ocarina of Time

Majora's Mask reuses several of songs from Ocarina of Time, most notably the Song of Time, which is crucial to the gameplay as it is used to travel back to the start of the three-day cycle. It also features Epona's Song, the Song of Storms and the Scarecrow's Song, which has to be retaught to the scarecrow every three-day cycle. As an Easter egg, certain songs from Ocarina of Time sometimes appear on a wall marked with controller buttons in north Termina Field. If Link plays the song(s) written on the wall, it will generate Rupees.

Song of Soaring

This is the game's teleportation song, and Link can use it to warp to Owl Statues he has found and activated. There are ten such statues across Termina — one for each cardinal direction, one for each dungeon, one in Clock Town and another in Milk Road. Link can also use this melody to warp to the entrance of a dungeon he is traversing.

Song of Healing

This song is first used to rid Link of the curse the Skull Kid places on him to turn him into a Deku Scrub. After that, Link can use it to heal other people, mostly notably Darmani and Mikau, from whom he receives special masks for transformation. The first six notes of this song are the inversion of Saria's Song, but the two songs diverge after that. This song can also be played to repair broken signs. The tune is used as the melody for the theme song inside the base of the clock tower, a faster-paced version of which serves as the theme of the Happy Mask Salesman. It is also used in Twilight Princess when Link learns sword techniques.

Oath to Order

This song is taught to Link by the giant that he frees from the Woodfall Temple. It is used at the end of the game to summon all four Giants to prevent the moon from crashing into the Clock Tower. This allows Link to go through a series of mini-dungeons on his way to fight Majora.

Song of Double Time and Inverted Song of Time

These are both modifications of the Song of Time that alter time in different ways. Both are taught or explained to Link by the scarecrow at the Trading Post while speaking with him. The Song of Double Time is similar to the Sun's Song in Ocarina of Time, as it is used to jump forward to the next dawn or dusk time. Playing this song is essentially the same as speaking to the scarecrow at the Trading Post and agreeing to dance with him, except it can be used anywhere in the game (note: the song has no effect during the Night of the Last Day or on the moon). The Inverted Song of Time is used to slow time down (and speed it back up again) and is just the Song of Time played backwards. These two songs are not noted in the menu, similar to the Scarecrow's Song.

Dungeon entry songs

Sonata of Awakening: Melody taught to Link by the captured monkey in the Deku Palace, this song makes the Woodfall Temple rise out of the swamp waters in Woodfall. This song may also be used to awaken sleeping characters in the game, such as the Stalchild giant, Captain Keeta.
Goron Lullaby: Melody taught to Link by the Goron Elder and his son, this lullaby puts Gorons to sleep, including the Biggoron in Snowhead, so that Link can reach the Snowhead Temple without getting blown off the path by the Biggoron's blizzards.
New Wave Bossa Nova: Melody taught to Link by the Zora tadpoles after Link gathers all seven and dumps them into the Marine Research Laboratory tanks, this song awakens a giant sea turtle that carries Link to Great Bay Temple.
Elegy of Emptiness: Melody taught to Link by Igos du Ikana after Link defeats him in Ikana Castle, this song is used to generate eerie decoys of Link that can be useful in distracting enemies and depressing switches in the Stone Tower. The shell of Deku Link is so light that it is useless for holding down switches, while the shell of Goron Link is heavier and can hold down larger switches.

Ballad of the Wind Fish

This is a tribute to the song from Link's Awakening of the same name; however, the song itself bears no similarity to the one in Link's Awakening. It is not a normal song as it cannot be learned. Instead Link plays it for the manager of the Indigo-Gos. Link performs four different parts, each in a different form, until he has performed all four and it shows them being played together.

The Oracle games

In both Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons Link gets a flute called the Strange Flute. It is used to summon his animal companion once he gets them, at which point the name will change to Ricky's, Moosh's, or Dimitri's Flute.

Oracle of Ages

In Oracle of Ages Link is given a harp called the Harp of Ages, which he can use to manipulate time. He learns three songs for it—the Tune of Echoes, Tune of Currents, and the Tune of Ages each of which enables him to travel through time in a particular way.

Tune of Echoes

This melody is used to activate Time Portals to travel between the past and the present. Time Portals are found only in certain locations; consequently, at first, Link's time-travelling ability is limited.

Tune of Currents

This melody allows Link to travel from anywhere in the past to the present without finding a Time Portal, but does not work the other way around. It does, however, leave a small portal on the ground in the present that allows Link to travel back to the same point in the past. This is similar to the Magic Mirror from A Link to the Past, which allows Link to return from the Dark World.

Tune of Ages

This is the final tune that Link learns. It serves the same purpose as the Tune of Currents, except that it allows travel freely between the past and present.

The Wind Waker

In The Wind Waker, Link receives a conductor's baton called the Wind Waker, that can be used to control the wind as well as conduct magical songs on the wind. Although controlled with the C stick, like the C buttons used in Ocarina of Time, Link must also match the tempo displayed on screen, changing between 3/4, 4/4, and 6/4 as is needed.

Wind's Requiem

The Wind's Requiem is the first song Link learns. It is used to change the direction of the wind. By doing this Link can manipulate the wind to power his sailboat, which will then bear him to his destination all the faster.

Ballad of Gales

Link later learns the Ballad of Gales, used to summon cyclones from the wind god Cyclos to instantly teleport him to select areas on the Great Sea.

Song of Passing

The Song of Passing is identical to the Sun's Song from Ocarina of Time, and is used to change day to night, and vice versa. Interestingly, this melody sounds the same as its Ocarina of Time counterpart.

Command Melody

The Command Melody is used inside dungeons to take control of other characters to perform specific tasks. In the Tower of the Gods, for instance, Link can conduct this melody to take control of certain statues, and while in the Earth and Wind Temples, he uses it to take control of his templar companions, Medli and Makar, respectively.

Earth God's Lyric and Wind God's Aria

Each of these melodies is associated with both a dungeon and a sage in the game — the Earth God's Lyric with Medli and the Earth Temple, and the Wind God's Aria with Makar and the Wind Temple—in similar fashion to the association of songs, sages, and temples in Ocarina of Time. These melodies are used to awaken their sages and open the internal dungeon doors, as well as clear obstacles inside the respective dungeons. These melodies are also slower versions of the game's title screen music, each half of the titular music being one of the songs. According to the in-game item screen, the songs' original purpose was to be used to worship the respective gods.

The Minish Cap

This game contains only one song played on one instrument: the Ocarina of Wind. Its sole use is almost identical to that of the Flute that Link obtains in A Link to the Past—both are used to summon a bird that Link can use to quickly get around Hyrule. This bird, however, can only transport Link to Wind Crests scattered throughout Hyrule, each of which, with one exception, must first be found and activated by Link before they can be used, something akin to the Song of Soaring and Owl Statues in Majora's Mask. The tune Link plays on the Ocarina is the same one played on the Recorder in The Legend of Zelda. It also sounds like the tune played on the flute in Super Mario Bros. 3, which is used to summon tornadoes to carry Mario to warp zones.

Twilight Princess

At certain points in the game, Wolf Link has the ability to howl in three different pitches. In order to learn special sword maneuvers, Link (in wolf form) must visit six special Howling Stones and howl a song as noted above. Though the songs are not identified by title in the game, all are familiar tunes from other games. They are the Song of Healing (Majora's Mask), Requiem of Spirit (Ocarina of Time), Prelude of Light (Ocarina of Time), two arguably unfamiliar songs, and the Twilight Princess Hyrule Field theme (Link howls the bass line rather than the melody).

Epona's Song

In Twilight Princess, Link can pick a plant referred to as "horse grass", which he can use to play Epona's Song to summon his horse, Epona. As a wolf, he can also howl the song, but only at the Horse Grass. Later in the game, Ilia gives Link the Horse Call, which he can use to call Epona without the use of Horse Grass. Like the Horse Grass, the Horse Call is shaped like a horseshoe.

Hawk's Song

Link can also pick another plant known as "Hawk Grass", which, when played, summons a hawk that can be released at targets. When Wolf Link howls this song in front of the hawk grass, the hawk will swoop down to tell Link about a hidden item in the area.

Zelda's Lullaby

Howling Zelda's Lullaby at a uniquely-designed Howling Stone (marked with the Triforce symbol) in the Sacred Grove is used to gain access to the Master Sword, as well as the Temple of Time dungeon. Zelda's Lullaby also plays during various encounters with Princess Zelda, and is also integrated into the Twilight Princess title screen theme.

Serenade of Water

In addition, the Serenade of Water (from Ocarina of Time) makes a return in the background music that plays during Link's encounter with the ghost of Queen Rutela of the Zoras, but it is not a song he can actually play. The Twilight Princess version contains two extra lines after the original first two of Ocarina of Time.

Saria's Song

The background music of the Sacred Grove is the same as that of the Lost Woods in Ocarina of Time, a melody called Saria's Song. The Skull Kid in the forest also plays this in the same area when Link is chasing him and it can be used as a guide to find him, similar to the Lost Woods mazelike passage to the Sacred Forest Meadow in Ocarina of Time when Link follows the melody to find Saria there. When Link is near him, the Skull Kid's horn becomes audible over the background music.

Song of Time

This is the exact same version of the song as heard in Ocarina of Time. It can be heard before entering the Temple of Time, but, like other recurring themes, Link cannot play this melody in Twilight Princess.

Skyward Sword

Link plays a harp in Skyward Sword.

Breath of the Wild

Link does not use a proper instrument in the Breath of the Wild.

References

Games in The Legend of Zelda series
Respective instruction manuals and Official Nintendo Power Player's Guides