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
\|Orphica^[1]	acoustic piano	–	a portable miniature piano in horizontal harp form.
1963	Weltmeister Basset^[2]	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	Joh Mustad Tubon [de]^[3] (in the UK: Livingston)^[4]	electronic bass organ	–	tube-shaped monophonic electronic keyboard instrument with guitar strap. Used by Ralf Hütter of Kraftwerk on the album Kraftwerk (1970),^[4]^[5] Swedish and Finnish bands during the 1970s, including Lådan.^[6]
1977	Hillwood Rockeyboard RB-1^[7]	synth piano with VCF & volume pedals^[7]	–	influenced by Edgar Winter's style of hanging a keyboard from a neck. Used by Haruo Chikada (The Vibratones).
1977^[8]	Powell Probe	controller	(CV/Gate)	Roger Powell's keytar by Royalex
1979	PMS Syntar^[9]	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	controller	(CV/Gate)	Jan Hammer's keytar by Royalex, ca. 1980.
19821982	Dynacord Rhythm Stick (Jamma)^[10]	percussion controller	MIDI & CV/Gate	used by Michael Jackson (1996-7), Billy Ocean, Sabrina Salerno (1988), Manu Katche, and Curt Cress.^[11]
1982	Roland SH-101^{[opt grip]}	synthesizer	CV/Gate	control grip was optional.
1982	Sequential Circuits Remote Prophet	controller	SCB	controller for Prophet-5 synthesizer using proprietary serial interface.^[12] Used by Geoffrey Downes of ASIA and Dave Stewart.
1982	Yamaha CS01^{[no grip]}	synthesizer with optional breath controller BC1 or BC2	CV/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^{[no grip]}	synthesizer	MIDI
1983c. 1983	Yamaha CS01II	synthesizer with optional breath controller BC1 or BC3	CV/Gate
1984c. 1984	Korg Poly-800 MkII^{[no grip]}	synthesizer	MIDI
1984	Casio CZ-101^{[no grip]}	synthesizer	MIDI	a medium size keyboard with strap pins
1984	Korg RK-100	controller	MIDI
1984	Yamaha KX5	controller	MIDI	a medium depth keyboard
1985	Lync LN1 (The Lync)	controller	MIDI
1985	Roland AXIS	controller	MIDI
1985	Yamaha DX100^{[no grip]}	synthesizer	MIDI	a mini keyboard with strap pins
1986	Casio AZ-1	controller	MIDI
1986	Siel DK70^{[opt grip]}	synthesizer	MIDI	control grip was optional
1987	Korg 707^{[no grip]}	synthesizer	MIDI	a synthesizer with strap pins
1987	Yamaha SHS-10	electronic keyboard	MIDI
1987c. 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^[13]	percussion controller	MIDI
1990	Lync LN1000	controller	MIDI
1990c. 1990	Formanta Mini	synthesizer	(MIDI)
1991	Junost 21	synthesizer	(MIDI)
1992c. 1992^[14]	Baldoni MIDI Accord^[15]	accordion controller ?	MIDI	Strap-on keyboard controller in the keytar style, with the chromatic buttons on the left-hand, and piano keyboard on the right-hand.^[16]^[17]
1993	Roland AX-1	controller	MIDI
1994	Zendrum	percussion controller	(MIDI)
1995	The Drumstick	percussion controller	(MIDI)	used by E. Dr. Smith^[18]
2000c. 2000	Suzuki MK-3600 YAMAHA YMK-80	electronic keyboard	MIDI	a keyboard for marching band
2000	Lag LeKey	controller	(MIDI)
2001	Roland AX-7	controller	MIDI
2002c. 2002	Casio SA-75	electronic keyboard	MIDI	a mini electronic keyboard with handsfree microphone and strap pins
2007c. 2007	Zen Riffer Solo Axe	controller	(MIDI)
2008	Behringer UMA25S^{[no grip]}	controller	USB & MIDI
2009	Roland AX-Synth	synthesizer	USB & MIDI
2009	Stoneboard	controller	MIDI
2010	Politrep^{[no grip]}	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,^[19] Bluetooth LE^[20]	To be released in "Winter 2017".^[21] First wearable prototype in 2014;^[21] limited rental available in 2015 ^[22]
2018	Alesis Vortex Wireless 2	controller	USB & MIDI
2018	Roland AX-Edge	synthesizer	USB, MIDI, Bluetooth LE
2019	Behringer MS-101	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) ^[10]
Tsumura JD21 ^[13]
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^[23]
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 ^{[citation needed]}
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,^{[citation needed]} Jan Hammer's early custom keyboard with block shaped controller.^[24]
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.

Gallery

Orphica (18th–19th century)
Royalex Probe (1977/1980) played by Lucy Hosking
PMS Syntar (1979) by George Mattson
Moog Liberation (1980)
Davis Clavitar (1980) played by George Duke
SynthAxe (1985) by Bill Aitken, et al.
Yamaha KX-5 (1984)
Korg RK-100 (1984)
Yamaha SHS-10 (1987)
Lync LN-1000 (1990)
Zendrum series (1994)
Roland AX-7 (2001)
Zen Riffer Solo Axe (2007) by Roy Wooten
Mad Catz Rock Band 3 Wireless Pro Keyboard
Korg RK-100s (2014)
Alesis Vortex Wireless (2014) played by Jean Pageau (Mystery) in 2019

References

^ "Orphica (?Vienna, c. 1805)". Centre for Performance History, Royal College of Music. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
^ "Weltmeister Basset". blackroses.de. Archived from the original on 2002-03-22.
^ "Joh Mustad AB Tubon (1966, Sweden)". Stockholm Music and Theatre Museum. Archived from the original on 2012-04-22.
^ ^a ^b "The 'Tubon' Joh Mustad AB, Sweden, 1966". 120 Years of Electronic Music (120years.net). 9 February 2014. The instrument was manufactured by in 1966 by the Swedish manufacturer of electronic tube organs, Joh Mustad AB, in Gothenburg, Sweden and also sold under license in the UK as the 'Livingstone'. Very few of the instruments were sold outside of Sweden but one was purchased by Paul McCartney ( the original score for 'Strawberry Fields Forever' includes a Tubon intro which was replaced by a Chamberlin on the final recording) and by Ralf Hutter of Kraftwerk in the early 1970s.
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".
^ Sean Albiez; David Pattie, eds. (January 2011). "Kraftwerk (1970)". Kraftwerk: Music Non-Stop. A&C Black (published 2011). pp. 100–101. ISBN 978-1-4411-9136-6. It is also worth mentioning the use of phasing and the application of ring modulator effects to the keyboard's Tubon sound, which gives the music an industrial quality.
^ "Lådan: Va i helvete har dom för sig inne i banken efter tre?". YouTube.
^ ^a ^b "Rockeyboard RB-1". Hillwood Keyboard / Synthesizer Catalog 1977. Hillwood Musical Instrument/Zen-On. Archived from the original on 2012-06-08. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
^ "Blog: The Keytar - A Brief History". Sonicstate. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
^ James D. Maier. "The Performance Music Systems Syntar".
^ ^a ^b
"The Jamma & Dynacord Rhythm Stick official site". — including the stories, photographs, videos, technical stuffs and manuals (see below).
- Dynacord Rhythm Stick MIDI - operating manual. Dynacord.
- UK application 8,423,427, Jones Peter Stephab (Dynacord Electronic-Und Geratebau GmbH & Co.), "A Music Synthesizer, Especially Portable Drum Synthesizer", published 1984-09-17 (EP 0195038 A1 (published on 1986-09-24), WO 8601927 A1)
- US patent 4,867,028, Peter S. Jones (Dynacord Electronic-Und Geratebau GmbH & Co.), "Music Synthesizer Especially Portable Drum Synthesizer", issued 1989-09-19 (a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 871,442, filed as PCT EP85/01927 on Mar. 22, 1986, now abandoned.)
^ Graham, Alex (2019). Electronic Drumfax. self-published. pp. 121, 122. ISBN 978-1701024229.
^ Reid, Gordon (March 1999). "Sequential Circuits – Prophet Synthesizers 5 & 10 (Retro)". Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
^ ^a ^b "JD21 official manual" (in Japanese). Tsumura Inc.
^ Kozak, Donald P. (1992). A Guide to Computer Music: An Electronic Music Resource. Sound Management. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-9621514-2-2. Manufactured by Baldoni MIDI Accord
^ "n/a". Electronic Musician. Vol. 11, no. 1. 1995. p. 8. ... I know of at least one other company : Baldoni Accordions . They make a whole line of acoustic and MIDI accordions , including the MIDI - Accord (a strap-on keyboard controller with ...)
^ Accordion Videos And Links (2014-07-07). "BALDONI Midi Accord". Facebook. BALDONI Midi Accord. Styled as a portable keyboard controller, the Midi Accord gives the feel and performance of an accordion. Features include a 41 note velocity keyboard, 9 channel midi transmission w/ programmable midi program & volume per channel, 256 patch memory, and +/- 12 note transposition. The keyboard can transmit on 3 poly midi channels + a 4th mono (high note priority) channel, chords on 2 midi channels, and bass on 1 midi channel. A separate midi channel can be assigned for rhythm machine as well. A master volume pedal is included with up/down type switch controls for patch changes.
See also a photo.
^ Liberty Bellows (2017). 2336 - Blue Baldoni Midi Accord Keytar Accordion 41 120 $1195 [Demo] (demo video). Baldoni Midi Accord / Digital Piano Accordion 19" 41/120 7lbs / Reedless, Electronic Presets / Requires amp and midi module (sold separately) / Includes Strap and Soft Case
^ Smith, E. "The Drumstick". Archived from the original on 2008-06-09. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
^ Yamaha Corporation. "VKB-100 - 仕様". jp.yamaha.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 January 2018.
^ Yamaha Corporation. "VKB-100 - Apps". jp.yamaha.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 January 2018.
^ ^a ^b Yamaha Corporation (31 August 2017). "VOCALOID Keyboard" (in Japanese). Retrieved 19 October 2017.
^ Yamaha Corporation. "JOYSOUNDでVOCALOID KEYBOARDと歌おう！" (in Japanese). Retrieved 19 October 2017.
^ "Jeri Ellsworth Rocks a Commodore 64 Keytar". Make:zine. 19 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-04-18.
^ Jan Hammer playing Cruder in 1970s. ShowBiz.cz (photo).

[orphica-1] "Orphica (?Vienna, c. 1805)". Centre for Performance History, Royal College of Music. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2011-10-10.

[basset-2] "Weltmeister Basset". blackroses.de. Archived from the original on 2002-03-22.

[tubon-3] "Joh Mustad AB Tubon (1966, Sweden)". Stockholm Music and Theatre Museum. Archived from the original on 2012-04-22.

[120yearsTubon-4] "The 'Tubon' Joh Mustad AB, Sweden, 1966". 120 Years of Electronic Music (120years.net). 9 February 2014. The instrument was manufactured by in 1966 by the Swedish manufacturer of electronic tube organs, Joh Mustad AB, in Gothenburg, Sweden and also sold under license in the UK as the 'Livingstone'. Very few of the instruments were sold outside of Sweden but one was purchased by Paul McCartney ( the original score for 'Strawberry Fields Forever' includes a Tubon intro which was replaced by a Chamberlin on the final recording) and by Ralf Hutter of Kraftwerk in the early 1970s.
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".

[kraftwerk-5] Sean Albiez; David Pattie, eds. (January 2011). "Kraftwerk (1970)". Kraftwerk: Music Non-Stop. A&C Black (published 2011). pp. 100–101. ISBN 978-1-4411-9136-6. It is also worth mentioning the use of phasing and the application of ring modulator effects to the keyboard's Tubon sound, which gives the music an industrial quality.

[ladan-6] "Lådan: Va i helvete har dom för sig inne i banken efter tre?". YouTube.

[rb-1-7] "Rockeyboard RB-1". Hillwood Keyboard / Synthesizer Catalog 1977. Hillwood Musical Instrument/Zen-On. Archived from the original on 2012-06-08. Retrieved 2011-10-10.

[8] "Blog: The Keytar - A Brief History". Sonicstate. Retrieved 15 February 2022.

[syntar-9] James D. Maier. "The Performance Music Systems Syntar".

[dynacord-10] "The Jamma & Dynacord Rhythm Stick official site". — including the stories, photographs, videos, technical stuffs and manuals (see below).
Dynacord Rhythm Stick MIDI - operating manual. Dynacord.
UK application 8,423,427, Jones Peter Stephab (Dynacord Electronic-Und Geratebau GmbH & Co.), "A Music Synthesizer, Especially Portable Drum Synthesizer", published 1984-09-17 (EP 0195038 A1 (published on 1986-09-24), WO 8601927 A1)
US patent 4,867,028, Peter S. Jones (Dynacord Electronic-Und Geratebau GmbH & Co.), "Music Synthesizer Especially Portable Drum Synthesizer", issued 1989-09-19 (a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 871,442, filed as PCT EP85/01927 on Mar. 22, 1986, now abandoned.)

[11] Dynacord Rhythm Stick MIDI - operating manual. Dynacord.

[12] UK application 8,423,427, Jones Peter Stephab (Dynacord Electronic-Und Geratebau GmbH & Co.), "A Music Synthesizer, Especially Portable Drum Synthesizer", published 1984-09-17 (EP 0195038 A1 (published on 1986-09-24), WO 8601927 A1)

[13] US patent 4,867,028, Peter S. Jones (Dynacord Electronic-Und Geratebau GmbH & Co.), "Music Synthesizer Especially Portable Drum Synthesizer", issued 1989-09-19 (a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 871,442, filed as PCT EP85/01927 on Mar. 22, 1986, now abandoned.)

[11] Graham, Alex (2019). Electronic Drumfax. self-published. pp. 121, 122. ISBN 978-1701024229.

[12] Reid, Gordon (March 1999). "Sequential Circuits – Prophet Synthesizers 5 & 10 (Retro)". Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2015.

[jd21-13] "JD21 official manual" (in Japanese). Tsumura Inc.

[KozakC1992-14] Kozak, Donald P. (1992). A Guide to Computer Music: An Electronic Music Resource. Sound Management. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-9621514-2-2. Manufactured by Baldoni MIDI Accord

[ElectronicMusician1995No1P8-15] "n/a". Electronic Musician. Vol. 11, no. 1. 1995. p. 8. ... I know of at least one other company : Baldoni Accordions . They make a whole line of acoustic and MIDI accordions , including the MIDI - Accord (a strap-on keyboard controller with ...)

[AccordionVideosAndLinks2014-16] Accordion Videos And Links (2014-07-07). "BALDONI Midi Accord". Facebook. BALDONI Midi Accord. Styled as a portable keyboard controller, the Midi Accord gives the feel and performance of an accordion. Features include a 41 note velocity keyboard, 9 channel midi transmission w/ programmable midi program & volume per channel, 256 patch memory, and +/- 12 note transposition. The keyboard can transmit on 3 poly midi channels + a 4th mono (high note priority) channel, chords on 2 midi channels, and bass on 1 midi channel. A separate midi channel can be assigned for rhythm machine as well. A master volume pedal is included with up/down type switch controls for patch changes.
See also a photo.

[LivertyBellows2017video-17] Liberty Bellows (2017). 2336 - Blue Baldoni Midi Accord Keytar Accordion 41 120 $1195 [Demo] (demo video). Baldoni Midi Accord / Digital Piano Accordion 19" 41/120 7lbs / Reedless, Electronic Presets / Requires amp and midi module (sold separately) / Includes Strap and Soft Case

[18] Smith, E. "The Drumstick". Archived from the original on 2008-06-09. Retrieved May 19, 2020.

[19] Yamaha Corporation. "VKB-100 - 仕様". jp.yamaha.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 January 2018.

[20] Yamaha Corporation. "VKB-100 - Apps". jp.yamaha.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 January 2018.

[vocaloidkeyboard-21] Yamaha Corporation (31 August 2017). "VOCALOID Keyboard" (in Japanese). Retrieved 19 October 2017.

[22] Yamaha Corporation. "JOYSOUNDでVOCALOID KEYBOARDと歌おう！" (in Japanese). Retrieved 19 October 2017.

[23] "Jeri Ellsworth Rocks a Commodore 64 Keytar". Make:zine. 19 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-04-18.

[24] Jan Hammer playing Cruder in 1970s. ShowBiz.cz (photo).

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List of keytars

List of keytars

Custom/rare keytars

Rare keytar products

Drum/Percussion keytars

Custom made keytars

Customized keytars

Gallery

See also

References

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