I was going to say a bugle is a one-handed instrument, but you figured that out too.
The Flagbearer archetype specifically calls out requiring a hand, so the samurai flag won't function for it. "You must hold the flag in one hand in order to grant this bonus."
b2: There are things that attach to a stirrup that allow the butt of the flagstaff to be supported so that you only need one hand to hold it.
With my DM hat on, no you can't throw a javelin with a hand that's encumbered by a weapon dangling from a cord, but there's no RAW for that.
Weapon cords are 2-foot-long leather straps that attach your weapon to your wrist. If you drop your weapon or are disarmed, you can recover it as a move action*, and it never moves any further away from you than an adjacent square. However, you cannot switch to a different weapon without first untying the cord (a full-round action) or cutting it (a move action or an attack, hardness 0, 0 hp). Unlike a locked gauntlet, you can still use a hand with a weapon cord, though a dangling weapon may interfere with finer actions.
The bold text precludes tossing javelins with a weapon dangling from the throwing hand.
As for performing during combat, that's when my bard breaks into song (or whistles, or dances, or taunts with scathing insults) if he needs his hands free. Most bard abilities don't actually require a Perform check, so there's nothing stopping one from using a different performance method for those abilities.
See if you can convince your DM to let you put the flute on a leather cord and clench it between your teeth. Mundane necklaces don't take up a magic slot.
You could just sing (unless you want to toot your own horn).
Most Bardic Performances do not require a specific perform skill and thus do not require an instrument. Only Countersong and Distraction require a specific skill and only Countersong may require an instrument (Distraction has no instrument based perform skills).
Thus, you should have an instrument for when you need to use Countersong but do not need to use it otherwise. Frankly, I suggest instrument-less perform skill such as Sing (Countersong) so you won't need an instrument for combat purposes.
Most Bardic Performances do not require a specific perform skill and thus do not require an instrument. Only Countersong and Distraction require a specific skill and only Countersong may require an instrument (Distraction has no instrument based perform skills).
Thus, you should have an instrument for when you need to use Countersong but do not need to use it otherwise. Frankly, I suggest instrument-less perform skill such as Sing (Countersong) so you won't need an instrument for combat purposes.
This. A bard can function perfectly well (Distraction and Countersong ain't much) with zero ranks in perform.
Just as an addendum, this feels a lot like the 3.5 version of Bardic Performance where, to use a Bard's main class feature, he could do nothing else and was basically useless.
Example of a Bard doing nothing: The Gamers: Dorkness Rising Cue the time up to 32:10 (start of battle). 32:50 is where the 3.5 Bard is useless. Do you really want to be this useless? :)
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a2) Can anyone else think of a one-handed wind instrument?
The voovoozela? You know, the super annoying soccer horn? Get an Adamantine one and club people with it. 2-hand that bad boy for 1.5x STR and 3:1 Power Attack damage when one of those hooligan fans cheering for the other team gets in your grill.
Wind instruments I guess can be played onehanded:
- Panpipes
- horn
Besides: Gauss and Zhayne are right you do not have to play all the time. But I understand if you want to.
How about armor spikes for attacking? Leaves both hands free for playing and casting.
You could just sing (unless you want to toot your own horn).
Singing or oratory is almost always the best choice for how to do a performance in battle, since it leaves hands free. Other than flavor (which can be important, of course) or having a magic instrument that buffs your performances, there's not much reason to ever pick an instrument-based performance for a combat bard.
My bard often has an unseen servant with standing orders to pick up any weapon dropped and bring it to the bard.
I have a collection of folk flutes from around the world, and there are two different styles: transverse flutes that you hold out to the side (like the modern concert flutes) and end blown flutes that you hold down in front of you (more like a modern clarinet). You can play any end-blown flute with one hand, but you'll have only about 6-8 notes available because you can only work the upper holes and the thumb. (I have two different end-blown flutes that have fewer then 5 holes naturally: a pentatonic scale and a Chinese meditation flute.) This same trick also works with recorders, penny whistles, and some end-blown reed instruments like the zurna, duduk, and clarinet.
Pan pipes are easily played one-handed, as are certain styles of ocarinas and "bird whistles" (a tiny high-pitched ocarina with about 3 notes).
The best source of information I've found for folk and historical instruments of all kinds is Lark in the Morning.
You could do the symbols between your knees, but I'm sure there would be a stealth penalty...
If you're willing to sink a feat into Exotic Weapon Proficiency, you could solve your wind instrument and banner problems with a Totem Spear.
You can make Performance (Wind Instrument) checks with it, you get a +2 competence bonus to Acrobatics checks, it deals Piercing or Slashing damage, and I'm pretty sure you can attach a banner to it.
Attach two banners to a really long rain stick?
One more suggestion: If you carry either a banner or a flute in to battle make it a sturdy one and take the improvised defence trait. That way you get a shield bonus for doing so.