Bards are an incredibly versatile class inDungeons and Dragons, and it’s only fair that their instruments are versatile and easy to use in battle, too. The Player’s Handbook recommends a handful of instruments for bards to pick from, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that all of them are good or even well suited to the battle-heavy, traveling lifestyle.
Different instruments fit different bards, but you do need to consider how those instruments affect fighting style. Of course, it’s always important to remember that if you work with your Dungeon Master, you can add a magical flavoring to your instruments to make them viable for the adventuring life.
Updated July 30, 2025, by Zackary Wiggs:A major update to Fifth Edition is on the way, which means there’s no better time to grab a pen, sit down, and build the next character for a thrilling Dungeons & Dragons adventure. This list has been updated with some new instruments from older editions and some ideas on how to make these instruments shine with some RP ideas for your character, Bard or otherwise.
14Dulcimer
Some Dulcet Tunes
Although the Dulcimer is undeniably a beautiful instrument to listen to, with a lot of versatility in what it can play, it just isn’t practical for battle. The Dulcimer is the kind of instrument that you need to set up its stand and sit to play, which isn’t really a viable tactic for battle unless someone, or a few people, are going to be viciously defending the bard or you have it enchanted so it’s easier to play.
The Dulcimer is a large instrument and isn’t easily packed around for a fight, though it creates an epic scene. Just imagine conjuring up this massive, intricate spell with a dulcimer in the midst of battlein one of the coolest areas of the entire Dungeons & Dragons universewhile the rest of the party defends you.
13Wargong
Let Them Know You’re Coming
An idea from the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, the Wargong is, in many ways, exactly what you think it is. A smaller, portable gong often used on the battlefield to let armies know when to strike and to raise morale.
The long thrumming sound that gongs produce is quite unique, and while it may not be the best to play a song with, it would make for quite a musical instrument for a Bard (or similar class) who has a more combat-focused playstyle.
There are various versions of the Wargong discussed. Some are small and handheld, while others need stands to ring appropriately.
12Viol
Sit And Rest For A While
The Viol is another instrument that sounds amazing and can provide drastically different atmospheres depending on how it’s played. However, it would be incredibly unwieldy in battle. The Viol is relatively large and is generally played while sitting down, which is a very bad battle tactic to take.
If you wanted to play this instrument the traditional way, then you would be willingly putting yourself at a disadvantage as a bard. Realistically, this instrument would be better for a roleplay-heavy campaign that experiences limited battle.
11Horn
Doot
The Horn, in the way that Wizards of the Coast probably meant it to be, probably isn’t something like a French Horn. Instead, it’s probably the more traditional hollowed-out horn that was generally used as a signal.
Although it makes a noise, the horn doesn’t really release enough nuanced notes to be a genuine musical instrument. Instead, it releases one loud and continuous note, so there’s no denying that anybody would be able to hear it, but at least it’s portable and fairly self-intuitive to use.
10Bagpipes
Do You Have A Brave Heart?
The Bagpipes are certainly an impressive instrument with a strong presence. However, they are incredibly difficult to learn and play. They can be a bit big and intensive to play, which may make it easier for your character to, realistically, lose track of what’s going on around them if they get a bit too into their playing.
Mechanically, nothing will actually happen, given that you probably aren’t playing the bagpipes in real life. However, they are loud, so even in the midst of battle, your party is probably going to hear you play.
9Yarting
Get The Band Back Together
If you want your character to be in a ye-olde rock band, there are few instruments better suited for that than the Yarting. It somewhat resembles a banjo or guitar but with a neck that bends slightly back towards the rest of the instrument.
This would definitely be a two-handed instrument to play, but there is a fun amount of open-endedness that stringed instruments have. A sad dirge, a jaunty tune, and anything in between are all available to you.
8Drum
Solo Time
Thankfully, the Drum is one of the easier instruments to carry around, whether you’re carrying it on a strap or marching band style. However, the drum doesn’t fit easily with every style of bard and may require you to experiment with a handful ofdifferent aesthetics or even collegesto figure out what fits best.
Depending on the type of drum, you’re able to also get different styles and create different atmospheres, so it’s worth playing around with for a minute. Maybe you can even find a magical drum with some unique effects.
Drums, usually made of some sort of animal hide or similar stretched fabric, also adds a fun detail element to add to your character.
7Shawm
Control Your Breathing
The Shawm is basically the ancestor of the modern oboe and is great for some more upbeat songs, but it also lends itself well to the slow and ominous. It’s on the bigger side, but it’s not so large and hard to handle that you can’t pick it up and run when the time comes.
However, given that you need to have amazing breath control to play it, your bard is either going to have amazing lungs or run out of breath very quickly if they have to stop mid-play to run. If you run into any Treants, this is a great way to get on their good side, since Treants love the sound of a Shawm.
6Thelarr
Simple, But Effective
The Thelarr may not be the most astounding musical instrument to pull out of your adventurer’s pack, but it is an easy one to carry around, thankfully. The Thelarr closely resembles a recorder or similar simple woodwind instrument.
It is made of reeds, which, when blown into, gives it a more raspy sound than one may have imagined. It would make sense for RP for this to be a good backup instrument for Bards, or one for a low-level character as they branch out into other musical instruments.
5Lyre
Pants On Fire?
The Lyre lends itself incredibly well to somber and melancholic songs as well as much more whimsical and fantastical songs, which gives it much more nuance than other instruments from the Player’s Handbook.
The Lyre can vary in size, which means that it can be incredibly easy to carry (though the trade-off is you lose a lot of strings), or it can be significantly bigger with more strings (but much harder to run around with). This could be a great instrument for a bard who only has eyes for their lost love,which would break traditional bard stereotypes.
