Musical Instruments in Baldur's Gate 3 are equippable items used to play music with the Perform action. A character with Musical Instrument Proficiency can entertain nearby NPCs, draw attention toward the performance, and earn gold from successful Performance checks. Musical Instruments are most closely associated with the Bard class, but any character can use them properly after gaining Musical Instrument Proficiency. They are mainly used for roleplay, crowd distraction, the Busker achievement, and specific story interactions such as using the Spider's Lyre on the route to Moonrise Towers.
BG3 Musical Instruments Table of Contents
- How Musical Instruments Work in BG3
- How to Get Musical Instrument Proficiency
- Starting Musical Instruments
- Rare and Story Musical Instruments
- All Musical Instruments Comparison Table
- Musical Instruments Notes and Tips
How Musical Instruments Work in BG3
Musical Instruments are used through the Perform action. When a proficient character performs near NPCs, the game uses a Performance check to determine how well the music lands. Successful performances can entertain nearby characters, gather listeners, and earn small gold tips from the crowd.
Performing is also useful for party tactics. A character playing music can pull attention toward the performance while another party member moves, steals, opens containers, or prepares a separate interaction. This works best in safe settlements, camps, taverns, crowded streets, and other areas where NPCs are not already hostile.
Do Musical Instruments Give Combat Bonuses?
Musical Instruments are mainly utility and roleplay items. They do not replace weapons and do not provide direct combat stats. Their value comes from Performance, NPC distraction, Bard flavor, story interactions, and achievement progress.
How to Get Musical Instrument Proficiency in BG3
Musical Instrument Proficiency is required to play instruments properly. Without proficiency, a character can still equip an instrument, but they will not perform with the same reliability as a trained musician.
| Method | How it Works |
|---|---|
| Play a Bard | The Bard class is the natural choice for musical play and Performance-focused checks. |
| Learn from Alfira | Helping Alfira with her song in the Emerald Grove can teach a character to play instruments. |
| Take the Performer Feat | The Performer feat supports characters who want music and Performance without being a Bard. |
If a character has Musical Instrument Proficiency but does not have an instrument equipped, they can still perform by whistling. Equipping an instrument changes the style of the performance and lets the character play that instrument's music.
Starting Musical Instruments in BG3
Bards can choose a starting instrument during character creation, and these common instruments can also be found during the adventure. The starting instruments are mechanically similar, so the best choice is usually the sound, visual style, or roleplay identity you prefer for the character.
Rare and Story Musical Instruments in BG3
Several Musical Instruments are unique, rare, or tied to story moments. These instruments are useful for collectors and roleplay-focused characters, and some are connected to specific NPCs or quest routes.
| Instrument | Rarity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alfira's Lute | Unique | Associated with Alfira, the tiefling Bard found in the Emerald Grove. |
| Battered Lute | Story Item | A worn lute marked with the initials AC. |
| Dostrealt's Piccolo | Rare | A petite flute engraved with drow sigils. |
| Falataeric Cli Lyre | Rare | A finely crafted lyre connected to the legendary Moonshaean bard Falataer. |
| Glimmergad's Selgaunt Fiddle | Rare | A rare fiddle tied to the gnomish bard Fiddlesticks Glimmergad. |
| Kiam Goda's Kilat Drum | Rare | A Lulutiun hand drum covered in sealskin. |
| Lihala's Lute | Story Item | A story lute connected to Alfira's late teacher, Lihala. |
| Lute of the Merryweather Bard | Common | A special lute that hums with the voices of sprites and spirits. |
| Spider's Lyre | Story Item | A story instrument tied to Minthara and the Follow the Convoy route toward Moonrise Towers. |
| Stolyarof's Table Lute | Rare | A heavy, deep-voiced table lute known for its unusual weight and sound. |
All Musical Instruments in Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 Musical Instruments Comparison Table
You can search by Name, Rarity, Proficiency, etc. Just type into the search box what you are looking for.
Quick Search of All Musical Instruments
| Name | Rarity | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Common | Whether sounding war, celebration, or simple rhythm, the drum is a main-stay of any entertainer's arsenal. |
|
Common | It is said Diores the Charming once lured a nest of harpies to their deaths, using only a flute. |
|
Common | Many a bard's first instrument, the lute is heard in taverns all across Faerûn. |
|
Common | Devotes of the goddess Sune hold that the lyre's seven strings represent the seven different forms of love. |
|
Common | Strings of silk bound in copper lend the violin a distinctive range - mellow soft notes to harsh, discordant edges. |
Battered Lute |
Story Item | A lute with the initials AC meticulously carved into the body. |
Dostrealt's Piccolo |
Rare | This petite flute, engraved with drow sigils, is said to have belonged to Captain Dostrealt of the spelljammer flitter 'Erevan's Clutch'. |
Falataeric Cli Lyre |
Rare | This exquisite instrument is said to come from the shop of the legendary Moonshaean bard Falataer. Fewer than twenty of his handcrafted lyres still survive. |
Glimmergad's Selgaunt Fiddle |
Rare | The notorious gnomish bard Fiddlesticks Glimmergad was said to play violin tunes so sad they made bank guards weep - while his accomplices robbed the bank's vaults. |
Kiam Goda's Kilat Drum |
Rare | A Lulutiun hand drum covered in sealskin, like those played at koatulit peace festivals. Kiam Goda was famous for his finger-thumb taradiddles. |
Lihala's Lute |
Story Item | This lute's wooden body is worn dull from time and use, but its strings and frets are still in excellent condition. |
Lute of the Merryweather Bard |
Common | An old lute that hums with the voices of numerous sprites and spirits. |
Spider's Lyre |
Story Item | The strings of this lyre are as sharp as an assassin's blade. Pluck with care, or you may lose a fingertip. |
Stolyarof's Table Lute |
Rare | This heavy, deep-voiced instrument is of the type called a 'table lute' due to its weight. Famously, the late Ahndri Stolyarof refused to let anyone else play it. |
Baldur's Gate 3 Musical Instruments Gallery
FLUTE
It is said Diores the Charming once lured a nest of harpies to their deaths, using only a flute.
HAND DRUM
Whether sounding war, celebration, or simple rhythm, the drum is a main-stay of any entertainer's arsenal.
LUTE
Many a bard's first instrument, the lute is heard in taverns all across Faerûn.
LYRE
Devotes of the goddess Sune hold that the lyre's seven strings represent the seven different forms of love.
VIOLIN
Strings of silk bound in copper lend the violin a distinctive range - mellow soft notes to harsh, discordant edges.
BG3 Musical Instruments Notes and Tips
- Best user: A Bard with strong Charisma and Performance is the most reliable performer.
- Busker achievement: Playing in crowded areas can earn gold tips from NPCs. Keep performing in busy settlements to build progress toward earning gold through music.
- Distraction use: Perform near neutral NPCs to draw attention, then use another party member for stealth, stealing, or positioning.
- Instrument choice: The five common instruments mainly change the look and sound of the performance, so choose the instrument that fits the character.
- Spider's Lyre: Keep the Spider's Lyre if you plan to interact with the convoy route into the Shadow-Cursed Lands.
- Whistling: A proficient character without an equipped instrument can still perform by whistling.
AnonymousIn act 3 there’s a shop in the lower city called the chromatic scale he sells rare versions of all the instruments if your a bard you can talk to him about music and he’ll give you a discount. They don’t do anything special as far can I can tell
- Anonymous
No one mention the special instruments? Like the Spider's Lyre?
- Anonymous
If you want to get all the different instruments easily you can just respec your bard and choose a different starting instrument, you'll still keep your old one in your inventory so basically you can buy them all from Withers for 100 gold each
- Anonymous
as far as I can tell nearly all common instruments are guaranteed to spawn at the House of Healing in 2nd act - just an FYI in case you're really having trouble finding them.
- Anonymous
I wish the higher rarity instruments gave you a performance bonus, even if its just a +1 or something
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
If you play along with Alfira in the grove for your first interaction, you gain proficiency in musical instruments on that character
- Anonymous
If you play near Alfira, she'll join in with her lute. That way, with four proficient party members, you can have all five instruments playing along at once.
- Anonymous
I thought the entertainer background would give me Musical Instrument Proficiency... it doesn't.
- Anonymous
You can attract people attention by using the perform action once every 5 minutes.
- Anonymous
The Bard at the Druid Grove had a Lute that was a quest item. In my playthrough she died after the druids kicked out all the Teiflings so I only got it after she died at the Blighted Village
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Are there any special musical instruments with magical effects?
- Anonymous
There is a misc item, Music Box, on top of a shelf at Zhentarism Basement. Tho it is not a musical instrument for Bard. The music box plays the soundtrack when double clicking. It was such a beatiful plinking tune and awesome small detail it had to be shared. <3
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
The Italian version of the game has a piano stool. It is found in the 3rd act in Wyrm's Crossing in a warehouse adjacent to the potion shop. It is not clear whether this is a translation error to define a bench
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