Instruments

Most bards would not be caught dead without at least one musical instrument upon their person or near at hand. Many of their special abilities rely upon the use of an instrument. Instruments are also used as status symbols, trade symbols, and as part of the bard's per-

sonal garb. Some instruments take on a life of their own, gaining more fame than the bards who play them.

Musical instruments are very rare, expensive, and complicated devices. Only a master craftsmen would even think of constructing a lyre or herald's trumpet, let alone a pipe organ. Bards not only understand how these rare and complex devices work, they can use them to produce beautiful sounds. By simply working the strings and keys of these devices, bards can bring a crowd to tears or have them leaping for joy (all this without even using their kit's special benefits).

Most bardic colleges agree that the instruments of the time should be divide into four general categories: wind, stringed, percussion, and keyboard. Common instruments within each of these categories follow in Table 20 (as well as an "Other" category for several instruments that do not fall into the four general categories). After each instrument is a one-letter code that identifies the time period during which this instrument was developed and used; these periods coincide with the following dates.

Table 19: ERAS

Code Era Time Span

A Ancient World prior to A.D. 450

D Dark Ages A.D. 450-1100

M Middle Ages A.D. 1100-1450

R Renaissance A.D. 1450-1600

MuslcaI Proficiency

There are now well over 50 musical instruments for bard players to choose from. Although such a large selection is nice, players might wonder if they have to spend a proficiency slot for each instrument they wish their bards to master. Fortunately, the answer is “no”.

The instruments in Table 20 have been broken down into convenient categories and grouped appropriately into an indented outline format. A number in parenthesis appears after each level that contains subentries. This is the number of proficiency slots that must be spent in order to gain proficiency in all instruments indented beneath that level. For example, for five proficiency slots, a character can become proficient in all wind instruments; for only three slots he can limit himself to becoming proficient in all instruments in the flute family. Those instruments that don't have a number next to them cost a single slot to gain.

Note that proficiency in an instrument or category includes not only those instruments listed, but any others in his campaign world that fall into the same category. Thus, if a bard spends two slots to gain proficiency in bagpipes, he isn't limited to lust the dudy and zampogna. He knows how to play any bagpipe that exists in his campaign world.

Cost And Weight

Note that some category names, such as "Bagpipes," are also the names of specific instruments. These categories have a gold piece cost and weight in pounds listed next to them so you can buy the instrument of that name. However, purchasing a generic bagpipe does not mean that you have both a dudy and zampogna-you have only a generic bagpipe.

Table 20: NUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Era Cost Wt

Iinstrument Code (gp) (lb)

Wind (5)

- Using holes or reeds (4)

Bagpipes (2) D 80 8

Dudy D 75 8

Zampogna D 85 8

Clarinet/Oboe family (3) A - -

Auloss R 35 2

Hautboy M 30 2

Serpent R 50 3

Shawm family (2) A - -

Crumhorn M 20 1

Curtail M 25 1

Rackett M 20 1

Shawm D 15 1

Tibia A 25 2

Flute family (3) A - -

Fipple flute (2) A - -

Bamboo pipe A 5 1

Cornett M 10 1

Double fipple M 20 1

Flageolet D 15 1

Nose flute M 5 1

Recorder (1) D 10 1

Gemshorn A 5 2

Whistle flute (1) A 5 .5

Penny M 5 .5

Pipe D 3 .5

Transverse flute (2) A - -

Ocarina A 15 1

Mouth Organ family (3) A - -

Harmonica A 5 .5

Khen A 5 2

Panpipes A 5 3

Sheng A 5 3

Syrinx A 5 2

- Using tubes and lips (4)

Horn/Trumpet family (3) A - -

Metal horns (2) M - -

Coiled M 65 5

Fanfare M 35 4

Heralding M 35 4

Posthorn R 40 3

Slide M 80 5

Straight M 30 3

Nonmetal horns (2) A - -

Alphorn D 50 50

Animal horn A 5 2

Conch shells A 5 2

Hunting horns D 10 3

Lur A 5 1

Side horn A 10 2

Trombone family (2) M - -

Sackbut M 95 12

Stringed (5)

- Struck or plucked (4)

Dulcimers (2) M 60 15

Cimbalom M 55 15

Cimbal M 55 14

Psaltery M 65 13

Santouri M 60 15

Guitar family (3) D - -

Balalaika R 35 5

Citole M 40 5

Cittern (1) M 40 5

Pandora (Bass Cittern) R 65 12

Bandora R 45 6

Cittern M 55 8

Lutd (2) D 35 4

Mandora R 40 5

Shamisen D 35 4

Sitar M 40 4

Double-necked (1) R - -

Chitarrone R 65 8

Theorbo R 70 8

Mandoline (mandolin) M 40 5

Harp family (2) A 75 8

Aeolian harp A 12 6

Clarsach A 50 3

Lyre(1) A 40 5

Crwth D 35 4

Tallharpa D 65 7

Zither family (2) A 40 12

Ganun A 35 12

Koto A 35 15

- Bowed (4)

Fiddle (2) D - -

Short-necked (1) D 30 4

Lirica M 30 4

Spiked D 25 3

Hurdygurdy(2) M 80 8

Organistrum M 85 7

Rota M 80 6

Rebec (2) D 55 5

Lira da braccio M 65 8

Lira da gamba R 65 8

Lyra D 55 6

Tromba marina D 15 7

Viol M 70 8

Violin (2) R 65 4

Kit R 85 2

Percussion (5)

- With membranes (4)

Drums (3) A - -

Bongos D 6 3

Cylinder drums (2) A 20 15

Changgo A 25 10

Friction drums (2) A 10 5

Gong drum A 35 40

Kettledrums(2) A 30 30

Nakers M 35 25

Tom-tom D 30 30

Side drums (2) A 15 15

Tabor M 20 15

Slit drum A 40 80

Talking drums (2) A 30 20

Tambourine (1) A 5 2

Tambourine de provence D 5 2

- Without membranes (4)

Chime family (3) A - -

Bells A 25 3

Cymbals D 20 4

Chimes M 30 5

Gong(1) D 20 35

Tam-tam D 20 35

Triangle D 5 1

Clappers (1) A - -

Bones A 1 1

Castanets M 2 1

Claves A 1 1

Rattle (1) A 3 2

Gourds A 2 2

Sistrum A 10 4

Wooden Special Effects (2) A - -

Clogs D 2 .5

Scraper A 1 2

Stamping stick A - 8

Wooden block A 1 1

Xylophone family (2) A - -

Glokenspiel M 80 25

Metallophone D 95 35

Wooden Xylophone A 60 20

Keyboard (5)

Clavichord (2) R 500 150

Harpsichord (3) R 300 90

Clavecin R 275 85

Clavicembalo R 300 90

Spinet R 275 85

Virginals R 300 85

Organ (3) A - -

Hydraulis A 250 100

Positive organ D 350 120

Pipe organ M 1200 500

Other (3)

Jew's harp D 5 .5

Kazoo A 3 .5

Nightingale D 25 2

Sansa A 5 4

Glossary of MusicaI Instruments

The following section describes some of the aforementioned musical instruments.

AEolian harp:

Named after the Greek god of winds, this instrument is played by the wind. AEolian harps resemble flat boxes with strings.

Alphorm:

An alphorn is a 6- to 12-foot-long, "J"-shaped, Swiss horn used to call cattle, among other things.

Bagpipe:

This ancient instrument was used throughout the world: Rome, Northumberland, Scotland, Ireland, Brittany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Finland, Poland, Russia, Greece, Persia, China, India, and the Balkan countries.

Balalaika:

This is a three-string Russian triangular guitar. It comes in various sizes, the largest resting upon the ground when played.

Bells:

These are sometimes attached to c10thing to accentuate rhythm in dance.

Bones:

A simple instrument in which two pieces of bone are clacked together.

Castanets:

This Spanish instrument consists of two small, hollow-shaped pieces of wood. Castanets are worn on the finger and thumb. Like bones, they are clacked together.

Cembalo:

This was the old Italian name for dulcimer (but it was later used to refer to the harpsichord).

Chitartone:

This double-necked lute is very large, often six feet long, and has 20 wires. It was also called the Roman theorbo.

Citole:

This instrument was invented in Italy. It has a flat body, a short neck, four brass or steel strings, and is plucked with a quill. By 1550 this was known as the cittern.

Citterm:

A member of the guitar family, the cittern is shaped like a fig, with a flat back, fretted fingerboard, and wire strings (usually four pairs). It is a descendant of the Medieval citole. The bass cittern is also called the pan- dora.

Clappers:

Two pieces of bard material (wood, bone, metal, etc.) struck together are called clappers. They have existed for thousands of years in all parts of world (as spoons, bones, etc,).

Clarsach:

An ancient small harp of the Scottish highlands.

Clavecin:

French harpsichord.

Claves:

When these short, round sticks of .bardwood are used, the hollow of one's hand acts as a resonating cavity for sound amplification.

Clavicembalo:

This is the Italian harpsichord and is often abbreviated as "cembalo." The word derives from latin "clavis"-a key, and "cembalo"-a dulcimer, which describes the instrument-it's a keyed dulcimer.

Clavichord:

This keyboard instrument is small, often lust an oblong box placed on the table. It can have its own legs and stand on the floor, but this was a later development. Sound is made when a small piece of metal hits a string, producing a soft, quiet tone. Clogs: Wooden shoes.

Cornett:

The cornett (not cornet) is a wood- wind with a cupped mouthpiece (like that of a trumpet) that comes in three sizes: treble, small treble, and tenor. It is shaped either as a straight tube or as a tube curved like an S.

Crumhorn:

This double-reed woodwind comes in all sizes: trebles, tenors, and basses.

Cymbals:

These are brass dishes that are slammed together.

Drums:

Drums have existed for thousands of years. The many types have one thing in common: a skin or membrane stretched tightly over some kind of hollow vessel. The membrane is beaten with sticks or the hands.

The exception is the friction drum, which has its skin pierced by a stick or string that is rubbed or pulled, causing the skin to vibrate.

Kettledrums

are metal bowls with parchment stretched over them.

Side drums

are wooden or metal cylinders with skin over each end. The lower end has string or gut, called snares, stretched over it that causes the drum to rattle when it is beaten.

Bass drums

are very large, double-headed drums from two to three feet in diameter and of equal length.

Gong drums

are like bass drums but they have only one head (membrane).

Bongos

are two small drums that sit side by side.

Tom-toms

are small Oriental drums with pigskin heads stretched over a bowl-shaped shell.

Cylinder drums

are a type of base drum that is beaten at both ends.

The changgo is a Korean two-headed lap drum.

Talking drums

are used to send messages. Slit drums can be made by hallowing out a tree or log through a long narrow slit. The wood is then beaten to produce the sound.

Dulcilner:

Used in Hungary, Rumania, and Czechoslovakia, the dulcimer is a shallow, closed box over which are strung wires that are struck with a wooden hammer. In Hungary and Rumania this is called a cimbalom, and in Greece, a santouri.

Fanfare trumpet:

This is often hung with a heraldic banner and used for state and ceremonial purposes.

Fiddle:

There are two types of fiddles: folk (or spiked) fiddles and medieval fiddles. A spiked fiddle is a type of bowed lute and either has a long neck (typical of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East) or a short neck as found in Europe. Most spiked fiddles have one to three strings.

Medieval fiddles were replaced by the viol family and usually had three to five strings with both flat and rounded backs.

Fipple flute:

This type of flute is held vertically and is winded from the end.

Flute:

There are two types of flutes: the vertically winded tipple flute and the horizontally held transverse flute. The transverse is made of wood or metal stopped at one end. The player blows in a side hole, with notes made by closing holes along the flute's body.

Gennshorn:

This is an ancient type of recorder made of chamois or goat horn.

Cittern:

A medieval guitar. Glokenspiel: This originated in Germany and was used in war bands.

Gong:

A gong is a large metal plate that is struck with a mallet.

Harmonica:

This instrument originated in Asia and China around 1100 B.C.

Harp:

The harp is an ancient instrument. It consists of a sound box near the player and numerous strings that are each plucked to produce a specific tone.

Harpsichord:

This is much like a keyboarded psaltery in that its keys cause the string to be plucked.

Horns:

Horns have existed all over the world throughout recorded history. The earliest form was the animal horn or large sea shell. Most are end-blown, but some sideblown horns exist. Metal horns arose in the 14th century and were made of brass, copper, and occasionally silver. They were slender tubes 6 to 12 feet long, often coiled in several circles with a flared bell.

Hurdy gurdy:

This mechanical instrument resembles a viola with a handle to crank. Cranking it causes a wheel to revolve under its four to six strings like an endless bow. A small keyboard is used to silence certain strings.

Jewss harp:

This instrument is called a feugdtromp (child's trumpet) by the Dutch. It has no connection to the Jewish religion. It is a bottle-shaped wire frame with metal tongue held in teeth, allowing the mouth cavity to alter the sound it produces.

Kazoo:

Although considered a humorous instrument today, the kazoo is of ancient origin.

Kit:

A small violin.

Koto:

The most famous Japanese instrument is the 13-stringed Japanese zither known as the koto. The instrument is played on the ground or while resting on a low table.

Lira da braccio, lira da gamba:

These are Italian stringed instruments. The lira da brac- cio has seven strings and is played like a violin.

The lira da gamba is a bass instrument held between the knees and has'll to 16 strings.

Lur:

The lur is an ancient trumpet of Scandinavian origin. It is made in pairs twisting in opposite directions to resemble horns or the tusks of an animal.

Lute:

The lute is of Persian-Arabian origin and Gamete Europe at the time 'of the crusades. The body resembles a pear split lengthwise. Thus, it has a curved back, a flat belly, and a fretted neck. It ranges in size from the large chitarrone and theorbo to the small mandora.

Lyre:

The lyre has existed since 3000 Be. It has four components: a sound box, two arms, and a crossbar. Strings run from the cross bar down across the sound box.

Mandoline or mandolin:

A lute-shaped, small stringed instrument.

Metallphone:

This resembles a xylophone, but it has metal bars that are beaten with small hammers.

Nakers:

These are small kettledrums of Arabian origin that came west during the crusades. They are made of metal or wooden bowls covered with skin and are used in pairs like bongos.

Nightingale:

This toy whistle of glass is lowered into water to emit a bubbling sound not unlike the nightingale (l.e, the bird).

Ocarina:

This vessel flute is globular or pear-shaped with a mouthpiece on one side and holes cut in its body. The holes are opened and closed with the fingers.

Organ:

An organ has pipes connected to a wind supply that is controlled by a keyboard. There are two types of organ pipes: flue pipes and reed pipes. Flue pipes produce sound like a whistle-flute. Reed pipes contain a thin strip of metal that vibrates. Organ pipes range from lengths of a few inches to 64 feet.

If an organ is keyed with the hands it is called a "manual," if played with the feet it is a "pedal boards."

Pandora or Bandora:

This is the bass cittern; it has a flat back with wire strings and frets. It usually has three pronounced ridges, making it easy to identify.

Panpipes:

Panpipes are simply a set of whistle-flutes supposedly invented by the god Pan.

Posthorn:

posthorn was used to announce the arrival of a mail coach. Most were straight, although a few were coiled.

Psaltery; This type of dulcimer has a square or triangular box over which are strings. It is held on the lap or against the chest and plucked.

Rackett:

This is an early double-reed wood- wind.

Rattle:

A rattle can be made of a gourd, clay, wood, or leather, and it is filled with pellets.

Rebec:

This is the stringed ancestor of the violin family. The rebec evolved from the Arabian fiddle but has a rounded back, unlike the fiddle. The body is pear shaped and has three strings. The rebec is played on the shoulder or against the chest.

Recorder:

Also known as the English flute, the recorder is blown at the end. It has eight holes with which to alter the produced sound.

Sanaa:

The sansa is African in origin and has a metal or cane tongue attached to a wooden board or box. It is also called the thumb piano.

Scraper:

When you scrape a stick over a series of notches in wood or bone, you have a basic scraper.

Serpent:

This woodwind is shaped like a pronounced S.

Shalmsen (samisen):

This Japanese long-necked lute has a square wooden body. Its belly and bottom are made of cat skin and it has frets with three strings that are plucked bard.

Shawm:

This early double-reed is an outdoor instrument that produces a loud buzzing sound.

Sheng:

This is a Chinese mouth organ. Sistrum: The sistrum is an open, U-shaped rattle that contains metal discs or other objects that rattle when shaken.

Sitar:

This three- to seven-stringed Indian lute was invented in Persia.

Stamping stick:

One of the oldest known instruments is the stamping stick. It is simply a length of hollow wood or bamboo that is beaten on the ground. It was often used to beat grain or other food into pulp while providing simple music during work.

Tabor:

This early side (snare) drum is usually slung from the waist. Smaller versions can be played with lust the left hand while the bard plays a small whistle flute in the other hand.

Tambourine:

The tambourine likely originated in Rome. It is a shallow wooden hoop parchment stretched over a frame that is struck with knuckles or rubbed with the thumb. The hoop has imbedded metal plates that jingle when shaken.

Tam-tam:

Bronze gong of Chinese origin. Theorbo; A double-necked instrument.

Triangle:

A triangle is a steel bar bent into a triangle that is struck with a metal rod.

Trumpet:

The Medieval trumpet was non- valved and was played from the side or end.

Violin:

This instrument evolved from the fiddle, rebec, and lira da braccio.

Viols and Viol family:

These instruments produce a soft sound; they resemble violins. However, their shoulders slope, their backs are flat, their sound holes are C-shaped, they have broader necks, and they have six strings, not four.

Wood block:

A Chinese percussion instrument made of a hollow wooden block that is struck with a stick.

Zithers The zither has a flat box that is strung with strings of metal or gut. It is plucked while resting on a table.

Xylophone:

This consists of bardwood blocks that are hit with a mallet.

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