Mastering the Lyre: A Guide to “The Gift of Song” in Hades

When most players think of Supergiant Games’ masterpiece Hades, their minds instantly race to the adrenaline-pumping chaos of escaping the Underworld. Dodging bullets in Asphodel, slicing through armored foes in Elysium, and perfecting weapon aspects dominate the experience. However, beneath the blood, sweat, and tears of Zagreus’s recurring escape attempts lies a surprisingly cozy, introspective side to the House of Hades.

Among the many secrets hidden within the Prince’s bedchambers is a musical instrument that turns out to be one of the game’s most charming and time-consuming hidden quests: The Gift of Song.

What is “The Gift of Song”?

“The Gift of Song” is a Minor Prophecy found on the Fated List of Minor Prophecies. The official prophecy reads:

“The son of the god of the dead shall someday learn to perform music halfway decently through the teachings of a solemn master of the art.”

Fulfilling this prophecy requires patience, dedication, and a whole lot of bad plucking. It transforms Zagreus from a tone-deaf novice into someone who can actually play a recognizable tune on his room’s lyre, earning the approval of Orpheus, the Court Musician.

Step-by-Step Guide to Fulfilling the Prophecy

If you want to clear this prophecy off your desk and claim your prize, you will need to follow a specific path through the House of Hades.

1. Acquire the Lyre

Before you can play, you need an instrument. Visit the House Contractor and purchase the Lyre for your bedchamber using Gemstones. Once placed in your room, you can interact with it at the start or end of any escape attempt.

2. The Long Road of Practice (The 210-Interaction Grind)

When Zagreus first picks up the lyre, he is exceptionally bad at it. Expect harsh, jarring chords that sound like a cat walking across a cheese grater. To progress the prophecy, you must interact with the lyre repeatedly between runs.

• The Rule: You cannot just spam the interact button 210 times in a row. Zagreus will typically only play it once per visit to his bedroom.
• The Progression: Over the course of dozens of runs, Zagreus’s dialogue and the sound of the lyre will slowly change. He will transition from complaining about how terrible he is to noticing subtle improvements in his rhythm and muscle memory. In total, you need roughly 210+ interactions with the lyre for Zagreus to master it.

3. Consult Orpheus

Orpheus is the “solemn master of the art” referenced in the prophecy. As you progress through your music-making journey and interact with Orpheus regularly—especially after restoring his relationship with Eurydice and getting him to sing again—he will acknowledge your musical efforts.

Keep an eye out for dialogue triggers where Orpheus comments on your progress, and make sure to check back in with the lyre after speaking with him to advance the state of the prophecy.

The Reward

Once you have practiced enough times and received the final dialogue cues from both Zagreus and Orpheus, the prophecy will automatically complete on your Fated List.

• Reward: 2x Ambrosia

Beyond the valuable Ambrosia—which is crucial for deepening your bonds with various gods and companions—completing “The Gift of Song” offers a deeply satisfying narrative payoff. It highlights one of the core themes of Hades: that growth comes not just from combat and power, but from patience, hobby, and the simple pursuit of art in a bleak place.