Aquaria/Songs

There are two learned spells, or songs, both of which you acquire early in the game. These spells are automatically recorded into your spell menu when you first discover them.

Shield Song


The first song you acquire, Shield Song protects absorbs damage when hit. Be aware that this effect fizzles should you change into another form, leaving you vulnerable to damage.
 * Hotkey: 9

Bind Song


The Bind Song allows you to drag certain objects, having them trail behind you as you swim. This spell is primarily used to access new areas, but can also be used offensively by dropping rocks onto enemies, or removing shells from turtles, for example.
 * Hotkey: 0

Li's Song


After you meet Li, you can use Li's Song to call him to you if he has gotten stuck off screen. When he is on screen, this toggles whether or not he attacks.

Unrecorded Songs
Additionally, there are a few significant songs that don't get recorded automatically when discovered:

The Ghost Mother's Song


The Ghost Mother's Song is necessary to proceed through certain portions of the Abyss and the Body but isn't explicitly given to you as other songs are. Instead it's sung in the background of a particular area. The onus is on the player to interpret and remember what the notes are and play them back at the appropriate time. Given that this song is rather complicated this can be a frustrating task for those of us without a well developed sense of pitch.

The Whale's Song


This song allows entry into the stomach of the whale that resides in the Abyss, to the left of the transporting sea turtle, past a sun-form door and some steam. The song can be found inscribed on a wall over an image of a whale hidden behind a false wall and a heavy current in the area between Open Waters and The Abyss, just above the Arnassi Ruins.

The Seahorse's Song
Played to start the race mini-game in the Arnassi Ruins. Unlike the others these notes are written on the wall in the only place you'd need to use them. Mentioned here only for completion's sake.