Baldur's Gate 3: How to Get Musical Instrument Proficiency…

In Baldur's Gate 3, there is a variety of different skills in which a character can have Proficiency. Doing so will give them bonus perks, benefits, and better rolls for certain stats, which go a long way. Among these Skill Proficiencies is Musical Instrument Proficiency, which happens to be a fan-favorite among many players for the sheer enjoyment it can bring to the game.

Of course, there are multiple ways to obtain Musical Instrument Proficiency for your character or companions. However, this will require locking these characters to certain Classes or Feats, which may throw a wrench into the build plans you have in mind - especially as there isn't much utility to be gained from Musical Instrument Proficiency in most cases.

If you're looking to gain Musical Instrument Proficiency without being restricted to the Bard Class or taking on the Performer Feat, then there is a one-time method that can be used to gain Musical Instrument Proficiency for just one character or companion of your choosing. Once you get all set up, this is a surprisingly simple addition to gain, which will give you the enjoyment of playing musical melodies and tunes for yourself and your party in no time.

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By Artur Novichenko

How to Get Musical Instrument Proficiency in Baldur's Gate 3

In Baldur's Gate 3, Musical Instrument Proficiency can be gained in one of two different ways. The first way in which you can gain Musical Instrument Proficiency is simply by choosing the Bard Class for the character that you'd like to receive this Proficiency. This includes any Multiclass level splits that you'd like to incorporate, meaning that you'll gain Musical Instrument Proficiency by taking even just one level in Bard. Upon doing so, the character in question will automatically receive this Proficiency and be able to choose one of several different starting instruments to begin.

The second way in which you can gain Musical Instrument Proficiency for any character is by equipping them with the Performer Feat. Upon gaining this Feat, your character will have their Charisma stat increased by 1, to a maximum of 20, as well as gain Musical Instrument Proficiency. This can be obtained as soon as your character reaches level 4 in one Class, or upon any other Feat selection level, which will depend on your Multiclass split, if any.

Apart from this, there is one other technique that can be used to allow one character or companion of your choice to gain Musical Instrument Proficiency. This is available to complete only through Act 1 and is achieved by visiting Emerald Grove, where you can find Alfira and help her complete a song about her mentor, who passed away in a vicious Gnoll attack. To gain Musical Instrument Proficiency through this method, you will first need to travel to Emerald Grove and locate Alfira, which is covered in detail below.

How to Find Alfira & Gain Musical Instrument Proficiency From Her

To find Alfira, players must first reach Emerald Grove near the beginning of Act 1. Upon reaching the Grove and being introduced to the problems between the Tieflings and Druids, you will be able to explore the location and meet a few more individuals here and there. Alfira can be found sitting on a log on a path on the hill that overlooks the Druid's ritual, but for her exact location, feel free to examine the map screenshot below:

alfira map location — Alfira's map location in BG3.

Upon arriving at this location, you will notice Alfira struggling to complete writing a song. Speak with her, and she will reveal her struggles to you. At this point, you can offer to help her complete the song, which will cause Alfira to mention a second Lute, and offer to let you borrow it to help her. At this point, you will have the option to encourage her to finish the song on her own, which will eventually result in a beautiful cutscene of Alfira performing the finished piece, or to pick up the second Lute and help her make some progress on the song, but not polish it.

alfira song part one — Alfira's song Quest in BG3,

Accept this offer to play side by side with her mentor's old Lute, and you will now have the opportunity to play with her by undergoing a Performance Check. To succeed in this check, you will need to meet or beat a roll of 15.

However, don't worry too much if you fail this attempt, as you will also get a second chance to complete the song, this time by meeting a DC of 10. Failing one check and beating the second will still enable you to get Musical Instrument Proficiency. As a thank-you gift, Alfira will then gift you the Lute to keep permanently, enabling you to use it to play one of several songs.

What Does Musical Instrument Proficiency Do in Baldur's Gate 3?

bg3 instrument proficiency — Character using Musical Insturment Proficiency to perform in BG3.

In Baldur's Gate 3, Musical Instrument Proficiency enables you to play Instruments either by yourself or with a group of other eligible individuals. This is a fun little feature that can bring joy to many players, who find this ability worth obtaining purely for that sense of satisfaction. On a funny note, this skill can be used as a Free Action in any battle to give your party some custom battle music.

Taking a more serious approach, performing music with these instruments can enable you to draw the attention of nearby NPCs, who will wander over to admire your talents and even throw a few gold pieces your way. While this may seem entertaining on the surface, it can also be extremely useful in providing a distraction so stealthier members of your party, such as your designated Rogue, can sneak around and loot or steal from vendors or enemies, earning you valuable items that can be used to gain some extra perks or Gold.

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