Music can be a deadlier weapon in Baldur’s Gate 3 for Bards. The power of the tunes can help your party in various circumstances, but you’ll need to figure out how to play instruments in BG3 first.
A particular musical proficiency level will be necessary to create useful tunes. If you already have that covered, you can experiment with the available instruments in the game and identify where they can be used.
How to play instruments in BG3
You’ll need a background in Entertainment or choose Bard as your class to play instruments in BG3. Choosing this background option or the class will allow you to have Performance proficiency, a required trait to play instruments in BG3.
If you have the proficiency part covered, you’ll only need an instrument to let your character’s creative side flow.
Can you learn to play instruments in BG3?
Even if you aren’t a Bard or have a background in Entertainment, you can still learn to play instruments in BG3. To unlock the powers of music, you’ll need to help Alfira with her song.
You can start Alfira’s quest east of Druid’s Grove (X: 280, Y: 496). Her storyline will revolve around writing a song; if you offer to help her, there will be two Performance checks. Completing these checks will grant players the Performance trait, allowing them to start playing instruments.
Can you make money with music in BG3?
It’s possible to earn money with music in BG3. Take your instrument and go to a rather crowded place. Start playing and watch non-player characters (NPCs) gather around you. If you continue playing your instrument long enough, the NPCs will give you money.
Though it isn’t quite possible to earn huge chunks of money by playing music, it’s still a fun side income you can use whenever you need some coins.
All musical instruments in BG3
At the time of writing, there are five musical instruments in BG3. Here are all of them.
| Instrument Name | Rarity | Item Description |
| Hand Drum | Common | Whether you sound the drums for war, celebration, or simple rhythm, it’s a stable part of any entertainer’s arsenal. |
| Flute | Common | It has been told that Diores the Charming lured a group of harpies to their deaths with the help of a flute. |
| Lute | Common | Lute tends to be the first instrument of bards, and it can be heard in taverns all across Faerûn. |
| Lyre | Common | Followers of the goddess Sune believe that the seven strings of the lyre symbolize the seven various types of love. |
| Violin | Common | Copper-bound silk strings give the violin a unique range, spanning from gentle, soft notes to sharp, jarring tones |
If you aren’t a Bard, you can purchase instruments from vendors or find them while discovering in loot. Bard’s get one right away.
If you want to start playing BG3 with the best Bard build, you can power up your character by choosing the best race and ability scores for the Bard class. Regardless, you know everything you need to play instruments in Baldur’s Gate 3. Enjoy!
