Best Musical Instruments In Baldur's Gate 3

Highlights

Baldur's Gate 3 incorporates comical aspects through the Bard Class, known for their humorous antics and ability to ridicule enemies with insults.
The game features several musical instruments, including the hand drum, lyre, lute, violin, and flute, each with unique visual animations and sound design.
Players can use the instruments to create music, entertain crowds, inspire allies, and even make money by playing in areas with NPCs.

While Baldur’s Gate 3 tugs at heartstrings with its serious storytelling and darker elements, the game also successfully manages to sprinkle in comical aspects. In the Dungeons & Dragons universe, it’s almost a rite of passage for players to experience absurd interactions, often leading to ridiculous situations. Characters of the Bard Class in particular are known for their humorous antics, well-loved by the fan base, and seen as entertainers and comedians.

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Baldur’s Gate 3 did a fantastic job at conveying this humor through the Bard’s bread-and-butter Vicious Mockery Cantrip, allowing players to ridicule enemies with nonsensical insults. However, perhaps one of the greatest traits of the Bard Class is their ability to play musical instruments. In Baldur’s Gate 3 there is no denying that the sound design is phenomenal, an element that carries through to the handful of musical instruments available to players.

5 Hand Drum

A Cumbersome But Comedic Instrument

Weight: 1.5
Value: 14

The hand drum is a comical instrument that has little impact when played on its own. While the sound design team at Larian Studios certainly tried to give the hand drum the same audible appeal as the other musical choices, there’s unfortunately very little variation in sound that can be achieved with a single drum. Moreover, while unequipped, the awkwardly shaped instrument sits stiffly on the character's back, sticking out like a sore thumb. Still, despite its drawbacks, the hand drum is a solid musical instrument.

Perhaps the greatest element of the hand drum is its ability to back up other instruments, adding a beat to the music that none of the other instruments can achieve. When accompanied by two or more instruments wielded by other Bards, or characters possessing the Performer Feat, the hand drum is a nifty instrument. Alternatively, players without the Musical Instrument Proficiency can equip and play the hand drum to enjoy their goofy performance. Players looking to obtain a free hand drum can locate one within the Last Light Inn, an important location in Act II.

4 Lyre

A Delicate Instrument For Elegant Characters

Weight: 1
Value: 14

The fantastical sound and graceful visual elements of the lyre make it one of the most beautiful instruments to use in Baldur’s Gate 3. Additionally, the instrument’s compact frame makes it visually one of the best instruments to carry while unequipped, allowing it to sit neatly on the character’s back. Lolth-Sworn Drow and Lolth-Worshiping Clerics with an affinity for music that are looking for immersion will appreciate the Spider Lyre, a unique lyre dropped by Minthara in Act I, that has an additional song.

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When played, the lyre produces a graceful, charming melody somewhat like a harp. This gentle tune makes the lyre the perfect instrument for soft characters, such as support-oriented College of Valour Bards. The only aspect that lets the lyre down as an instrument in Baldur’s Gate 3 is the unimpressive plucking animations, where the player stands stiffly with the lyre at arm’s length. Still, the lyre is a decorative instrument with an elegant melody.

3 Lute

An Iconic Instrument In Fantasy Games

Baldurs Gate 3 Alfira Lute Cutscene Song

Weight: 1
Value: 14

The lute is a well-recognized instrument in fantasy games, known for its audible similarities to a modern-day acoustic guitar. In Baldur’s Gate 3, the lute is a majestic instrument, though it is a little cumbersome. A solid solo instrument, the lute’s melody feels complete even without the help of the other instruments, making it one of the better instruments to pick if the player is a one-man-band.

The only downside to using the lute is its size. Slightly larger than the lyre but with a tall neck, the lute sits rather awkwardly at a vertical angle on the player's back. However, unlike the lyre, the acoustic instrument has much better visual animations, and its sound design is effective at immersing the player in the medieval-like fantasy world of Baldur’s Gate 3. Players can receive a free lute from Alfira in the Druid’s Grove, a friendly NPC that can also help the player learn how to play the musical instrument.

2 Violin

The Most Flamboyant Instrument In Baldur’s Gate 3

Weight: 0.5
Value: 14

Able to captivate audiences with its graceful tune, or easily convey the tense atmosphere of battle, the violin is one of the best musical instruments in Baldur’s Gate 3. With brilliant sound design and flamboyant playing animations, the violin is the perfect instrument to be played alone or within a band. Like the other musical instruments, playing the violin outside of combat will draw in large crowds that can create strategic openings for allies. Bards that focus on inspiring allies with their Bardic Inspiration will do so with a graceful flourish of their violin’s bow, playing an uplifting melody to turn the tides of battle.

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While unequipped, the violin will be placed comfortably on the player's back. Unlike the hand drum, the violin’s small frame makes it a great accessory to wear alongside the player’s arsenal of weapons. In addition to distracting large crowds, the violin, like the other musical instruments, can be an easy way to make quick money. To do this, players simply need to find an area bustling with NPCs and begin playing their instrument. As long as the player succeeds on the repeated performance checks, excited crowds will form that are more than willing to part with their coins.

1 Flute

A Slender Instrument For Nimble Characters

Weight: 0.5
Value: 14

The flute’s elegant sound design, slender shape, and nimble playing animations easily make it the best instrument to use in Baldur’s Gate 3. Able to cover all aspects of song, including soft, alluring melodies, comedic jingles, and the more intense, dramatic tunes, the flute is a tasteful instrument in every situation. In addition to its excellent sound design, the flute has great visual animations, especially when used to inspire allies with Bardic Inspiration.

One of the lightest instruments, the flute only weights 0.5 weight, meaning it won’t take up as much space as the hand drum does. Both in and outside of battle, Bards can encourage their allies with a quick, nimble flourish, using the exhilarating melody of their flute to inspire targets. Furthermore, while unequipped, the lithe shape of the flute looks great as an accessory alongside ranged weapons such as the bow. While a great instrument for any type of character, nimble characters with a focus on swift movements will surely appreciate the flute as a musical companion most.