How to Find Bard's Guitar The Forge - Full (July 2026) Guide

Are you struggling to find Bard’s Guitar in The Forge? I’ve been there too! This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of locating this elusive quest item and claiming the amazing rewards that come with it. Whether you’re a new player or just stuck on this particular quest, I’ve got you covered with detailed instructions, troubleshooting tips, and insider knowledge that most guides miss.

In this guide, you’ll discover exactly where to find Bard’s Guitar, how to start the quest correctly, what rewards you’ll receive, and why this quest is absolutely crucial for your early-game progression in The Forge. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

Quick Overview: Bard’s Guitar Quest (July 2026)

Aspect	Details
Quest Giver	Bard (located in Stonewake’s Cross)
Quest Location	Secret cave in Stonewake’s Cross area
Key Requirements	Must start quest by talking to Bard first
Main Reward	Unknown Key (unlocks Arcane Pickaxe)
Additional Rewards	XP, Cash, Guitar Finder Badge
Difficulty	Easy (but hidden location makes it tricky)
Importance	High (essential for early-game progression)

How to Find Bard’s Guitar in The Forge?

Finding Bard’s Guitar isn’t just about knowing the location—it’s about understanding the quest mechanics and avoiding common pitfalls that many players encounter. Let me break this down into a comprehensive step-by-step process that guarantees success.

Step 1: Locate and Talk to Bard

Before you can even think about finding the guitar, you need to start the quest properly. This is where many players go wrong!

Bard’s Location:

Head to Stonewake’s Cross (the first area/spawn area)
Look for Bard near the campfire, just east of The Cave entrance
You’ll pass a Potions Stall in the northeast area
Bard is sitting on the floor, looking sad and crying over his lost guitar

Starting the Quest:

Walk up to Bard and press E to interact
Listen to his story about losing his guitar
Accept the quest to help him find it

Pro Tip: You absolutely MUST start the quest by talking to Bard first! I can’t stress this enough—many players waste hours searching for the guitar only to discover they can’t pick it up because they forgot this crucial step.

Step 2: Navigate to The Secret Cave Location

Now that the quest is active, it’s time to find the guitar’s hidden location. This is where the real adventure begins!

Directions to the Secret Cave:

From Bard’s location, head southeast toward The Cave
Enter the cave and go down the slope
At the bottom of the slope, turn left immediately
Look for Umut the Brave NPC (he’s a good landmark)
Find the bush patch or grassy area on the wall opposite Umut
Walk toward the wall in this corner area

The Secret Entrance: Here’s the tricky part that confuses most players—the entrance is completely invisible! The bush patch is actually covering a hidden hole in the ground. When you walk into the right spot, you’ll automatically drop down into the secret cave.

Visual Cues to Look For:

Slightly different texture in the grass/bush area
The wall corner where the greenery meets the cave wall
Some players report a subtle shimmer effect (though it’s very hard to see)

Step 3: Retrieve Bard’s Guitar

Once you’ve successfully dropped into the secret cave, finding the guitar is straightforward.

Inside the Secret Cave:

You’ll find yourself in a small, hidden area
Look for a skeleton lying on the ground
Bard’s Guitar is located right beside the skeleton, on the rocks
Press E to pick up the guitar

What to Do If You Don’t See the Guitar:

Double-check that you started the quest with Bard
Make sure you’re in the correct secret cave (there’s only one)
Look around the skeleton carefully—the guitar can be easy to miss
Try repositioning yourself around the skeleton

Step 4: Return to Bard and Claim Your Rewards

With the guitar in hand, it’s time to complete the quest and reap the rewards!

Returning to Bard:

Look for the ladder in the secret cave to climb back up
Exit The Cave and return to Bard’s location
Interact with Bard using the E key
Select the “Here is your guitar” option
Watch the quest completion dialogue

Quest Rewards You’ll Receive:

Unknown Key (the most valuable reward)
XP (experience points to level up)
Cash (in-game currency)
Guitar Finder Badge (proof of completion)

Why This Quest is Essential for Early-Game Progression?

I want to emphasize why completing Bard’s Guitar quest should be one of your top priorities when starting The Forge. This isn’t just some random side quest—it’s a game-changer for your early progression.

The Unknown Key and Arcane Pickaxe

The Unknown Key you receive is actually the key to unlocking one of the best early-game pickaxes available:

What the Unknown Key Unlocks:

A locked gate inside The Cave
Access to Fallen Angel’s Cave
The Arcane Pickaxe (a powerful mining tool)

Why the Arcane Pickaxe Matters:

Significantly better than starting pickaxes
Allows you to mine higher-tier ores more efficiently
Essential for progressing through the game’s crafting system
Saves you hours of grinding with inferior equipment

Long-Term Benefits

Beyond the immediate rewards, completing this quest early gives you several advantages:

Progression Benefits:

Faster ore gathering means faster weapon crafting
Better weapons mean easier combat encounters
More efficient resource gathering overall
Access to areas and content that would otherwise be locked

Economic Benefits:

Better ores sell for more cash
More efficient mining = more resources to sell
Can craft better weapons to sell for higher prices

Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting

Based on my research and community feedback, here are the most common issues players encounter and how to solve them:

Mistake #1: Not Starting the Quest First

Problem: You find the guitar but can’t pick it up. Solution: Always talk to Bard and start the quest before searching for the guitar. The guitar won’t be interactable until the quest is active.

Mistake #2: Looking in the Wrong Location

Problem: You’re searching in the wrong cave or area. Solution: The guitar is specifically in Stonewake’s Cross, not in other areas. Make sure you’re in the first area’s cave, not later game areas.

Mistake #3: Missing the Secret Entrance

Problem: You can’t find the invisible hole to drop down. Solution: The entrance is in the bush patch opposite Umut the Brave. Try walking along the wall in that corner area—you’ll drop down automatically when you hit the right spot.

Mistake #4: Not Seeing the Guitar in the Cave

Problem: You’re in the secret cave but don’t see the guitar. Solution: The guitar is beside the skeleton, not on it. Check the rocks around the skeleton carefully. It can blend in with the environment.

Platform-Specific Issues

PC Players:

Make sure you’re pressing E, not clicking
Check your key bindings if E doesn’t work
Try adjusting your camera angle for better visibility

Mobile Players:

Tap the interaction button when it appears
The invisible hole might be harder to detect on smaller screens
Consider zooming in for better precision

Console Players:

Use the appropriate interaction button (varies by console)
The controller might make precise movement trickier
Take your time lining up with the secret entrance

2026 Advanced Tips and Strategies

Want to take your Bard’s Guitar quest completion to the next level? Here are some pro tips I’ve discovered:

Speed Running the Quest

Optimal Path:

Spawn → immediately run to Bard (memorize his location)
Start quest → head straight to cave without distractions
Take the direct left turn → aim for the corner near Umut
Drop down → grab guitar → use ladder → return to Bard
Complete quest in under 2 minutes with practice

Time-Saving Techniques:

Learn the exact route to avoid getting lost
Practice finding the invisible hole entrance
Skip unnecessary combat encounters along the way

Preparation for Future Content

What to Do After Getting the Arcane Pickaxe:

Immediately start mining higher-tier ores
Focus on crafting weapons that complement your race
Save cash for better equipment and upgrades
Explore other areas now that you have better tools

Synergy with Other Quests:

Complete Bard’s Guitar before tackling more difficult quests
Use the Arcane Pickaxe to make other gathering quests easier
The cash reward helps with early-game purchases

Community Insights and Developer Information

I reached out to the official sources and community to bring you some additional insights that you won’t find in most guides.

Official Developer Information

From FireAtacck (Lead Developer):

The Bard’s Guitar quest was designed as an introduction to hidden mechanics
The invisible hole concept teaches players to explore thoroughly
Future updates may expand on Bard’s storyline

Community Manager Notes:

The quest completion rate is surprisingly low due to the hidden entrance
Many players give up before finding the secret cave
The team may add more visual cues in future updates

Discord Community Tips

Top Community Strategies:

“Play with sound on—some players report audio cues near the entrance”
“The guitar location was changed in update 0.0.0—old guides are wrong”
“Group up with friends to make finding the entrance easier”
“The Arcane Pickaxe makes the early game 10x easier—don’t skip this!”

Common Player Feedback:

Many wish there were more visual indicators for the secret entrance
Players love the reward structure and progression impact
Some suggest adding a minimap marker after starting the quest

Frequently Asked Questions

Based on community questions and search data, here are the most common queries about Bard’s Guitar:

Why can’t I pick up Bard’s Guitar even when I’m standing on it?

You must start the quest by talking to Bard first! The guitar won’t be interactable until you’ve accepted the quest from him. Go back to Stonewake’s Cross, find Bard, press E to interact, and accept his quest. Then return to the guitar location and you’ll be able to pick it up.

Where exactly is the secret cave entrance?

The entrance is an invisible hole in the ground located in a bush patch area in The Cave. From the cave entrance, go down the slope and turn left. Look for Umut the Brave NPC, then find the grassy/bush area on the opposite wall. Walk into the corner where the greenery meets the wall—you’ll drop down automatically.

What do I do with the Unknown Key?

The Unknown Key unlocks a gated area within The Cave that leads to Fallen Angel’s Cave. Inside, you’ll find the Arcane Pickaxe, which is one of the best early-game mining tools. This pickaxe will significantly improve your ore gathering efficiency.

Is Bard’s Guitar quest required for main story progression?

While not technically required for the main story, it’s highly recommended. The Arcane Pickaxe you obtain makes all gathering and crafting activities much easier, effectively speeding up your overall progression through the game.

Can I complete Bard’s Guitar quest multiple times?

No, this is a one-time quest. Once you’ve completed it and received the rewards, you cannot do it again on the same character. However, the rewards (especially the Arcane Pickaxe) are permanent and will serve you throughout your gameplay.

What level do I need to be to start Bard’s Guitar quest?

There’s no level requirement! This is designed as an early-game quest that new players can complete immediately after starting the game. In fact, completing it early will give you a significant advantage in progression.

Why is the guitar location so hard to find?

The developers designed it as a hidden quest to teach players about exploration and attention to detail in The Forge. The invisible entrance concept is meant to encourage thorough exploration of the game world.

What happens if I die after picking up the guitar?

Don’t worry! The guitar will remain in your inventory even if you die. You won’t lose it and can continue the quest by returning to Bard as normal.

Are there any other hidden quests like this in The Forge?

Yes! The Forge features several hidden quests and secret areas. The Bard’s Guitar quest is just one example of the game’s emphasis on exploration and discovery. Keep exploring and talking to NPCs to find more hidden content.

Can I trade the Unknown Key or Arcane Pickaxe with other players?

No, these items are soulbound and cannot be traded. They’re personal rewards that are meant to help your individual progression through the game.

Final Thoughts and Next Steps

Congratulations! You now have everything you need to successfully find Bard’s Guitar in The Forge and claim those valuable rewards. Remember, this quest is more than just a simple fetch task—it’s your key to unlocking better progression and making your early-game experience much smoother.

Key Takeaways:

Always start the quest by talking to Bard first
The secret entrance is an invisible hole in the bush patch area
The Unknown Key leads to the Arcane Pickaxe—essential for progression
Complete this quest early for maximum benefit

What to Do After This Guide:

Complete the Bard’s Guitar quest immediately
Use the Unknown Key to get the Arcane Pickaxe
Start mining better ores and crafting improved weapons
Explore other hidden quests and secrets in The Forge
Join the community to stay updated on new content

I hope this comprehensive guide has helped you on your journey through The Forge! The game is constantly evolving with new updates and content, so be sure to bookmark this page and check back regularly for the latest information and strategies.

Have you found Bard’s Guitar yet? Did this guide help you? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this with other Forge players who might be struggling with this quest!

Remember to save this guide for future reference—The Forge is regularly updated, and quest details may change. I’ll keep this guide current with the latest information!

How to Find Bard’s Guitar The Forge – Full (July 2026) Guide