Goddess's Harp

The Goddess's Harp is an important item central to the plot of Skyward Sword and plays a more minor role in Ocarina of Time. It originally belonged to the goddess Hylia and her mortal incarnation, Zelda, and is later used again by a future Princess Zelda under the guise of Sheik. While it was believed to merely be based upon the design of the harp used by Hylia in ancient times, Impa reveals that it is the same harp used by Hylia prior to teaching Link the Ballad of the Goddess.

Skyward Sword
In Skyward Sword, the Goddess's Harp originally belongs to Zelda, the mortal incarnation of the goddess Hylia. She is first seen holding and using it when she is practicing for the Wing Ceremony on Skyloft. After falling to the unnamed surface world, Zelda takes the harp with her to the various temples across the land and uses it to help her reawaken her memories of her life as Hylia. Her childhood friend from Skyloft, Link, eventually receives it from her at the Temple of Time in the Lanayru Desert. After getting through the Lanayru Mining Facility, Link and Zelda have a brief reunion that is interrupted by Ghirahim, forcing Zelda to escape through the Gate of Time with Impa. However, Zelda manages to transfer the Goddess's Harp to the young hero beforehand, telling him that he will need it in his quest.

Link goes on to use the harp throughout the story to help him learn various songs that will help him advance in his adventure. He learns his first song, the "Ballad of the Goddess", from the Old Woman in the Sealed Temple. Later, he travels to the Isle of Songs, where he must play three different songs of the Goddesses to open the Silent Realm trials, and lastly learn the "Song of the Hero" from Levias and the three dragons of the Surface. By the end of the game, Link and Zelda are seen standing together outside the Sealed Temple as he plays the "Ballad of the Goddess".

Gameplay and Uses
The harp makes use of the Wii MotionPlus in order to play it, and it is the main instrument of the game. When played, it activates vital objectives and can be used to cause Gossip Stones and Goddess Walls to appear in certain areas. The Goddess's Harp is equipped to the up-button on the D-Pad and it is played by directing the Wii Remote to the left for the lower notes and to the right for the higher notes. When playing the harp, pulsating circles of light on the ground indicate the tempo at which Link should strum the harp. If he's playing it at the right tempo, Fi will join Link by providing the vocals.

Link is given a visual clue indicating when to strum the harp when a song has to be played, like three congregating Blessed Butterflies near a Goddess Wall. It also plays a vital role in the Lumpy Pumpkin mini-game.

The tones produced by the Goddess's Harp will follow the harmonics of the background music in the location it's played. For example, if Link plays the harp in Skyloft, the melody will follow the relaxing and melodic tone of Skyloft. But if Link plays the Goddess's Harp in the Fire Sanctuary, the melody of the harp will follow the Fire Sanctuary theme with a dark and dissonant tone.

Songs
The various Harp melodies found in Skyward Sword are listed below as well as a brief description of their effects.


 * Ballad of the Goddess – reveals the Gate of Time in the Sealed Temple and opens an entrance to the Isle of Songs in the Thunderhead
 * Farore's Courage – opens a trial gate to the Silent Realm in Faron Woods
 * Nayru's Wisdom – opens a trial gate to the Silent Realm in Lanayru Desert
 * Din's Power – opens a trial gate to the Silent Realm in Eldin Volcano
 * Song of the Hero – opens a trial gate to the Silent Realm in Skyloft

Ocarina of Time
In Ocarina of Time, it seems that the Goddess's Harp has continued to be passed down within Hylia's bloodline, the Royal Family of Hyrule. It has come into the possession of a new incarnation of Princess Zelda, who uses it disguised as Sheik to teach the current incarnation of Link various warp songs. Each time Sheik takes the harp out, he plays the melody on it first before Link follows along using the Ocarina of Time. According to Hyrule Historia, this is probably true.

Trivia

 * Although referred to as a harp in-game, the instrument is in fact a lyre.