Musical instruments add to the richness of game play within Dungeons & Dragons, and there are many to choose from. Each of the instruments can be categorized into four general themes: string instruments, percussion instruments, woodwind instruments and brass instruments. In this article, we provide a guide for DnD musical instruments to use for your next adventure.
Looking for something simple? Then perhaps a flute or dulcimer might work. Looking for something a bit more unique? Then perhaps the sackbut or even the hurdy-gurdy might suit you best. Regardless, choose the instrument (or instruments) that best matches your DnD playing style.
What are Musical Instruments in DnD (5E)?
One of the things that is appealing in Dungeons & Dragons is the fact that musical instruments have few rules. There are few references to them in the Dungeon Master’s Guide – or even the Player’s Handbook for that matter.
Try to convince your Dungeon Master to allow you to use your instrument(s) as weapons. That is how they will get the most use and realize their highest potential.
Purpose of Music in DnD
Music plays an important role in Dungeons & Dragons. But what is the real purpose of music in DnD? At a minimum, it helps set the tone of whatever fantasy world you find yourself in. However, one key use for instruments in DnD is with the bard. Bards often use musical instruments as an arcane focus which they use to cast a variety of enchanting spells.
In addition to the bard, there are a few other ways where instruments can be useful. These include making money, getting lodging accommodations, playing songs around the fire, or even attracting crowds. There may be more as well.
The reality is that musical instruments in DnD can be used for just about anything – so long as you can convince the Dungeon Master. That is the essence of roleplay.
So besides their use as arcane focus, instrument usage can be fun and applied in many situations. For example, want to impress someone at a local tavern with your killer bagpipe skills? Or perhaps convince a hotel owner to provide lodging by playing your dulcimer? That’s the nice thing about musical instruments in DnD. There are few rules.
How are Musical Instruments Useful in DnD
Musical instruments can be useful in DnD in many ways. Like other things in your fantasy world, instruments are just crafted items. And they can be associate with magic. Let’s take a look at a few ways DnD musical instruments are useful in roleplay.
Bardic Spells
Instruments are generally required to cast many of Bard’s spells. These include the Song of Rest as well as Bardic Inspiration. While it is true that some of the “higher-level” spells don’t typically require an instrument, Bard’s like their instruments. Technically, however, a player doesn’t really need an instrument for Bard spells but it can help with your character.
Entertainment
Who doesn’t enjoy a nice song at the end of a long, tiresome mission around a campfire? Entertaining your party can be a welcome use of musical instruments in DnD. You can even make your own songs. Some Dungeon Masters may allow you to create a new song for a variety of reasons, including persuading shop owners, hotel owners, or for healing purposes.
Arcane Focus
What is you’re not a Bard? If you happen to be a Sorcerer, Warlock or Wizard, you can still use a musical instrument as arcane focus in DnD. Go ahead and get creative when casting a spell.
Seducing a Non-Player Character (NPC)
In DnD, a non-player character (NPC) is usually any character that is not controlled by a player. If you want to seduce or otherwise manipulate an NPC, a song can never hurt. You will likely have to roll many Persuasion, Performance, or other Charisma-based checks to accomplish this however.
Making Money
Yes, street musicians are a common sight in DnD roleplay. Interested in making a few bucks in the cities you pass through? Pick up a dulcimer or other instrument and start playing. Of course just like in the real world – the best players make the most money. So best to start practicing if you want to make enough money to support yourself.
Use of the Dulcimer in DnD (5E)
When it comes to DnD musical instruments, our favorite is – of course – the dulcimer. The mountain (or Appalachian) dulcimer is a unique fretted string instrument of the zither family. The mountain dulcimer typically has three or four strings which are plucked or strummed. Traditionally, ones plays the instrument by laying it flat on the lap. The right hand can be used to pluck or strum the strings, which the left hand can do all the fretting.
A mountain dulcimer is quite different than a hammered dulcimer, which typically has several strings that are played by either plucking or striking with small hammers.
Cost: 8 GP
Weight: 3 lbs.
In DnD 5E, the dulcimer instrument is sometimes also referred to as a Santur. The Santur is available from the Damara, and is the stringed instrument that is well-known in the realms. In this particular case, the Zakharan version was known as the Santur.
For this hammered dulcimer type, the strings are stretched over the sounding board which is typically trapezoidal in shape. Typically, the strings would be plucked or else struck with the hammer. These instruments were in Damara as well and made by Damarian craftsmen. Despite their many uses, they are often used to provide entertainment around a fire.
Cost: 25 GP
Weight: 10 lbs.
Other Instruments in DnD (5E)
Besides the elusive mountain and hammered dulcimers, there are many other kinds of instruments to use in Dungeons & Dragons. These span across four groups, including string instruments, percussion instruments, woodwind instruments, and brass instruments.
Read more >>> Check out our complete list of musical instruments in DnD.
Final Words
There are many uses for musical instruments in DnD, ranging from Bardic spells to arcane focus to even good old entertainment. One of the nice things about instruments is that there are few rules during roleplay. As such, they can come in quite handy in many scenarios. A world would be boring without music. Luckily there are plenty of DnD musical instruments to choose from in 5E.
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