The Iron Hills are alive… with the sound of music! One of the most unique social systems in The Lord of the Rings Online^TM: Shadows of Angmar^TM (LOTRO) is our player-generated Music System, which allows players to train specific instruments and play their own music!

Getting Started

First, you’ll need to purchase a music skill from your Class Trainer for a specific musical instrument.

Next, you’ll need to obtain an instrument on which to play. You can purchase an instrument from a Bard NPC or an Auction Hall, or obtain one from a friend skilled in the Woodworking profession. Bards can be found in the following towns:The Shire

• Michel Delving: Gammer Took, Bard of the Shire

Bree-land

• Combe: Janie Sprigleaf, Bard of Combe
• Bree-town: Owen Oaks, Bard of Bree

Ered Luin

• Celondim: Faellindiel, Bard of Celondim
• Thorin’s Hall: Steinn Silvertongue, Bard of Thorin’s Hall

Trollshaws

• Rivendell: Fileglin, Bard of Rivendell

North Downs

• Esteldin: Garchadron, Bard of Esteldin

Ettenmoors

• Glân Vraig: Guleneth, Bard of the Ettenmoors

(click on images for larger versions)

Now, simply equip the instrument by right-clicking it, and type /music in the chat window to enter music mode.

Composition

You’ll be able to play an 8-note octave by pressing number keys 1-8, which correspond to do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do, respectively. For example:

Oh! Susanna

Stephen Foster, 1847

12355 6531 233212

12355 6531 233221

44 66 233212

12355 6531 233221

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Eliphalet Oram Lyte, 1881
(posted for LOTRO by Boli and Fernelf)

11123

32345

888 555 333 111

54321

Pressing shift and a number increases that note by an octave. Pressing control and a number makes that note a flat.

Greensleeves

Author unknown

(posted for LOTRO by stamen47)

5 ctrl7 8 shft2 shft3 shft2 shft1 6 4 5 6 ctrl7 5 5 ctrl5 5 6 ctrl5 2
5 ctrl7 8 shft2 shft3 shft2 shft1 6 4 5 6 ctrl7 6 5 ctrl5 3 ctrl5 5 5
shft4 shft4 shft3 shft2 shft1 6 4 5 6 ctrl7 5 5 ctrl5 5 6 ctrl5 2
shft4 shft4 shft3 shft2 shft1 6 4 5 6 ctrl7 6 5 ctrl5 3 ctrl5 5 5

Below is a chart that illustrates the current 2-octave range and the corresponding keystrokes:

Since the Music System was introduced, our player community has been busily translating songs into LOTRO-friendly format, so both novice and experienced music-lovers can take part in LOTRO’s music community!

Incidentally, if you’ve just returned from a rough day on the fields of battle and aren’t in the mood for a serenade, you can add a nearby musician to your /ignore list, and you will no longer hear any music played by that character.

In Development

The LOTRO team is already busily working on feature enhancements for the Music System in the months following launch. Stay tuned!