List of keytars

A keytar is a keyboard or synthesizer hung around the neck and shoulders, similar to a guitar.

List of keytars

[no grip] — keyboard model without control grip. [opt grip] — keyboard model with optional control grip.

Dates Model Type I/F Notes 1795 Orphica acoustic piano – a portable miniature piano in horizontal harp form. 1963 Weltmeister Basset electric bass piano using struck reed – an electric piano bass, similar to Hohner Bass or Rhodes PianoBass, used by dance bands in East Germany probably late 1960s. 1966 (in the UK: Livingston) See also: photographs of Paul playing Tubon 1, 2 (at the Schloss Hotel in Hamburg, during The Beatles' last world tour), Tubon part score of "Strawberry Fields Forever". electronic bass organ – tube-shaped monophonic electronic keyboard instrument with guitar strap. Used by Paul McCartney of The Beatles on the original demo of "Strawberry Fields Forever" (1966),

Ralf Hütter of Kraftwerk on the album Kraftwerk (1970), Swedish and Finnish bands during the 1970s, including Lådan. 1977 Hillwood Rockeyboard RB-1 synth piano with VCF & volume pedals – influenced by Edgar Winter's style of hanging a keyboard from a neck.Used by Haruo Chikada (The Vibratones). 1977 Powell Probe controller CV/Gate Roger Powell's keytar by Royalex 1979 PMS Syntar synthesizer CV/Gate an earliest synthesizer keytar product, prior to the Moog Liberation in 1980 1980 Davis Clavitar controller CV/Gate used by George Duke, Herbie Hancock in 1980. 1980 Moog Liberation synthesizer CV/Gate 1980 Royalex Probe controllerCV/Gate Jan Hammer's keytar by Royalex, ca. 1980. 19821982 Dynacord Rhythm Stick (Jamma) percussion controllerMIDI & CV/Gateused by Michael Jackson (1996-7), Billy Ocean, Sabrina Salerno (1988), Manu Katche, and Curt Cress. 1982 Roland SH-101 synthesizer CV/Gatecontrol grip was optional. 1982 Sequential Circuits controller SCB controller for Prophet-5 synthesizer using proprietary serial interface. Used by Geoffrey Downes of ASIA and Dave Stewart. 1982 Yamaha CS01 synthesizer with optional breath controller BC1 or BC2CV/Gate used by Chick Corea in the early 1980s. 1983 Yamaha KX1 controller MIDI used by Herbie Hancock in 1983, George Duke in 1983. 1983 Korg Poly-800 synthesizer MIDI 1983 Yamaha CS01II synthesizer with optional breath controller BC1 or BC3 CV/Gate 1984 Korg Poly-800 MkII synthesizer MIDI 1984 Casio CZ-101 synthesizer MIDIa medium size keyboard with strap pins 1984 Korg RK-100 controller MIDI 1984 Yamaha KX5 controller MIDIa medium depth keyboard 1985 Lync LN1 (The Lync) controller MIDI 1985 Roland AXIS controller MIDI 1985 Yamaha DX100 synthesizer MIDIa mini keyboard with strap pins 1986 Casio AZ-1 controller MIDI 1986 Siel DK70 synthesizer MIDIcontrol grip was optional 1987 Korg 707 synthesizer MIDIa synthesizer with strap pins 1987 Yamaha SHS-10 electronic keyboard MIDI 1987 Tyco HotKeyz toy keyboard – a toy keyboard 1988 Lync LN4 controller MIDI also Jan Hammer signature model existed. 1988 Yamaha SHS-200 electronic keyboard MIDI 1989 Tsumura JD21 percussion controller MIDI 1990 Lync LN1000 controller MIDI 1990 Formanta Mini synthesizer MIDI 1991 Junost 21 synthesizer MIDI 1992 Baldoni MIDI Accord accordion controller ? MIDIStrap-on keyboard controller in the keytar style, with the chromatic buttons on the left-hand, and piano keyboard on the right-hand.See also a photo. 1993 Roland AX-1 controller MIDI 1994 Zendrum percussion controller MIDI 1995 The Drumstick percussion controller MIDI used by E. Dr. Smith 2000 Suzuki MK-3600YAMAHA YMK-80 electronic keyboard MIDIa keyboard for marching band 2000 Lag LeKey controller MIDI 2001 Roland AX-7 controller MIDI 2002 Casio SA-75 electronic keyboard MIDIa mini electronic keyboard with handsfree microphone and strap pins 2007 Zen Riffer Solo Axe controller MIDI 2008 Behringer UMA25S controllerUSB & MIDI 2009 Roland AX-Synth synthesizer USB & MIDI 2009 Stoneboard controller MIDI 2010 Politrep controller MIDI 2010 Roland Lucina AX-09 synthesizer USB & MIDI 2010 Mad Catz Rock Band 3 Wireless Pro Keyboard controller & video game controller MIDI & console specific 2012 Alesis Vortex controller USB & MIDI 2014 Alesis Vortex Wireless controller USB & MIDI first keytar with wireless USB connection to a PC or laptop 2014 Korg RK-100S synthesizer USB & MIDI used by Rick Astley in 2016 2017 Yamaha Vocaloid Keyboard synthesizer USB, Bluetooth LE To be released in "Winter 2017". First wearable prototype in 2014; limited rental available in 2015 2018 Alesis Vortex Wireless 2 controller USB & MIDI 2018 Roland AX-Edge synthesizer USB, MIDI, Bluetooth LE 2019 Behringer MS-1 synthesizer USB & MIDI Clone of the original 1982 Roland SH-101 2019 Yamaha Sonogenic SHS-500 electronic keyboard USB MIDI, Bluetooth LE Built-in speaker 2019 Yamaha Sonogenic SHS-300 electronic keyboard USB MIDI, Bluetooth LE (Select countries) Built-in speaker 2018 Yamaha Vocaloid VKB-100 electronic keyboard USB MIDI, Bluetooth LE Built-in speaker 2020 Korg RK-100S 2 synthesizer USB & MIDI Wooden body and new programs

Custom/rare keytars

Rare keytar products Delmar Brown "Illuminator" (illuminating display attached to keytar) Guess Musical Instruments "Schizotron", a product which combined keyboard and guitar/bass "Nissin C-16", a custom keytar version of Casio SK-1, distributed as lottery goods for promoting Nissin Cup Noodles Suzuki "Omnichord" and "QChord", electronic chord instruments inspired by Oscar Schmidt Autoharp "Zen Riffer", used most notably by Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater.

Drum/Percussion keytars Dynacord Rhythm Stick (also known as "Jamma" since 1982) — including the stories, photographs, videos, technical stuffs and manuals (see below). Formanta UDS drum controller Tsumura JD21 Drumitar / Zendrum (2008) "Riday T91"

Custom made keytars In alphabetical order: "Alien Guitar Simulator", a selfmade keytar by Le Orme keyboard player Michele Bon. "Arcadetar", a keytar-like keyboard controller combined a pitch sensor in 20 inch. (50 cm) long, developed by Italian musician Andrea Lomuscio of Teapot Industries in 2012. Jeri Ellsworth's FPGA-based C64 keytar Lady Gaga's custom made keytar during The Monster Ball Tour in 2010. "Lag Circulaire" made for Jean Michel Jarre "Lag Insecte" made for Jean Michel Jarre "Lag Mad Max" made for Jean Michel Jarre Matthew Bellamy's "Keytarcaster" Manson, made for playing Undisclosed Desires from Muse's 5th studio album, The Resistance Prince's "PurpleAxxe", also played by Tommy Barbarella "Politrep", a copy of the Zen Riffer keytar made by order at the website space4keys.com "Remote" for Jean Michel Jarre's studio by Lag "Syblade", a keytar designed to be unique and to inspire.

Customized keytars

Based on minimoog keyboards Custom minimoog keyboard used by Gary Wright and Steve Porcaro around 1976. Cruder, Jan Hammer's early custom keyboard with block shaped controller. Plexi minimoog keyboard used by George Duke

Based on Yamaha KX series Jean Michel Jarre's custom KX5, two versions: Houston and Docklands Concerts. Lights Poxleitner plays a rare Yamaha KX5 keytar.

Based on Roland AX series Vadim Pruzhanov of DragonForce and Henrik Klingenberg of Sonata Arctica both use a custom Roland AX-7 (although nowadays Henrik Klingenberg uses custom Roland AX-1) Christopher Bowes of Alestorm owns a Roland AX-7 which he has customised over the years with various stickers of animals. Jeff Abbott, long-time keytar player and product demonstrator for MusicLab plays a custom wooden keytar based around a Roland AX-1. Lady Gaga's keytar seen during The Fame Ball Tour in 2009 based on a modified Roland AX-Synth.

Gallery

See also

Keytar List of keytarists

References