Player's Handbook[]
The character can play a specific musical instrument. An additional instrument can be added for every extra slot devoted to this proficiency. The character plays quite well, and no proficiency check is normally required. The DM may direct the character to make a proficiency check in what he feels are extraordinary circumstances.
Player's Option: Skills & Powers[]
Musical Instrument: The character can play a specific type of musical instrument, adding an extra instrument for every character point expended on this proficiency after its initial purchase. The skill enables the character to play the instrument very well, though a proficiency check might be required when attempting a very difficult piece.
A character with the music/instrumental trait knows how to play two instruments immediately (when this proficiency is selected). For each character point spent, two (not one) additional instruments can be learned.
The Complete Barbarian's Handbook[]
A barbarian must choose an instrument from his homeland. Typical instruments include the
- bow and gourd (an animal sinew stretched taut on a curved stick with a hollow gourd attached; bending the stick when the string is plucked varies the pitch, which is amplified by the gourd);
- elephant horn (a hollowed tusk with openings at both ends, played like a trumpet); reed whistle (a hollowed branch or reed, perforated with holes that can be covered with the fingers and played like a flute);
- log drum (a hollowed log with an animal skin stretched across the top, played with sticks or hands);
- and lamellaphone (a thumb piano, made from bamboo strips secured to a small box; the plucked strips produce tones that resonate inside the box).
A barbarian's approach to rhythm and harmony may be unusual, but the complexity and emotional content of his performances are comparable to those of a trained outworld musician.