The Dragon Bard - Play Violin in Skyrim
🟠 Updated over a year ago⚠️ Install Order · 5 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview
🔍 Analysis
- 👍 0.1% endorsement rate
- 🏆 #4 of 6 Items and Objects - Player mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
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This mod is now part of a larger mod and will receive further updates on there. Download the Dragon Bard Ultimate here!
Skyrim has plenty of amazing bard mods, however a majority of them only use the vanilla instruments. I was never able to find a mod that added new playable instruments to my liking, so I decided to give a try at making one myself.
The Dragon Bard adds 4 different violins and 2 bows to the game, which can be crafted at a forge or added via console commands/AddItem Menu mod. After equipping them (technically they are armor pieces) you can choose from a short list of songs to play. The Violin Song Menu lesser power can be obtained from its respective spellbook, which is craftable at a forge.
When a song is selected from the menu, the character should start playing the instrument (assuming it's equipped). The animation and music will play regardless of the violin/bow being equipped or not, but it'll look pretty goofy without them. You can reactivate the song menu to cancel the music at any point, however the animations will not stop until the character jumps or takes out their weapon. I am still working on a fix for this.
The violins come in 2 basic variants and 2 unique variants:
Violin - This is the basic instrument you need the craft the other variants. Can be crafted with firewood and steel ingots.
Ebony - A dark grey/black version of the basic violin. Can be crafted with the original violin and an ebony ingot.
Dragon: Adds glowing blue designs to the basic violin model, including actual runes in the dragon language! (I designed the glowmaps, the runes actually translate to words). Can be crafted with the original violin and a dragon bone.
Daedric: Adds glowing red symbols to the Ebony model, for a more dark/evil style. Can be crafted with the Ebony violin and a daedra heart.
There are 2 bow variants - one that matches the basic/dragon variants, and another that matches the ebony/daedric. They can be crafted with firewood at a forge.
Install with a mod manager. MO2 Strongly Reccomended.
Requirements:
Project New Reign - Nemesis Unlimited Behavior Engine at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and Community
Required for animations to work. Don't forget to run the engine after installing this mod!
Credits:
m150's Profile - Nexus Mods - Original violin and bow models are from his mod Melee String Instruments.
The songs in this mod were used from different Youtube covers, links provided below:
Song 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zlTb8N8qY8
Song 2 + 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL5K09mqwZc
Song 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDWzzjIng8U
Song 5: https://www.yo
Adds playable violins to Skyrim with custom animations and multiple song options. A niche but popular cosmetic/roleplay mod with 101 endorsements and 72,461 downloads, last updated May 2025.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Solid download count (72,461) shows real interest despite modest endorsements.
- Custom animations add a fresh roleplay layer for bards and performers.
- Multiple song options give variety for different moods and performances.
⚠️ Cons
- Only 101 endorsements relative to downloads suggests some players may have issues or move on.
- Potential compatibility conflicts with other animation mods or custom race skeletons.
- Limited to violins—if you want other instruments, this won't cover them.
For Skyrim roleplayers and bards who want to actually perform music in-game. If you're into immersion and character expression, this is a must-try. Skip if you're looking for combat or gameplay overhauls—this is purely for flavor.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Make sure to check the mod's page for any required animation frameworks like FNIS or Nemesis.
- If you use other animation mods, run your animation tool after installing to avoid conflicts.
- Try playing in taverns or near NPCs to get the full roleplay experience.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Skyrim Mods
- Author
- Graceful Strings
- Version
- 1.1
- Downloads
- 72,461
- Endorsements
- 101
- Category
- Items and Objects - Player
- Created
- 5/4/2025
- Updated
- 5/9/2025
🔧 How to Install Skyrim Mods
Download from Nexus.
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Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
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