HCRoyallIn AD&D, no, they couldn't. Which was smart, because dwarves have shit for charisma. 3rd Ed., however... I call them bards because any fighter worth, well, anything, has armor and weapons. And Thorin was the only one who really was any use in a fight. Plus, the bastards all came to Bilbo's house with instruments. Masterwork instruments! Who carries around instruments when you're on a quest to kill a dragon and reclaim an ancient treasure? That's it, BARDS!
They never did anything remotely bard like. Bards can do stuff from any character class, right? Well, all they did is fight. (They all did fight with weapons and armor at the end.)
There's no reason other character classes can't play instruments. There are those extra skills or proficiencies or things that you get, right?
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peddling the funny around since 09/24/2002