List of keytars

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater playing a Zen Riffer keytar alongside guitarist John Petrucci

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

  • [no grip] ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ — keyboard model without control grip.
  • [opt grip] ^ ^ — keyboard model with optional control grip.
DatesModelTypeI/FNotes
1795Orphica[1]acoustic piano–a portable miniature piano in horizontal harp form.
1963Weltmeister 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.
1966Joh Mustad Tubon [de][3]
(in the UK: Livingston)[4]		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),[5] Ralf Hütter of Kraftwerk on the album Kraftwerk (1970),[4][6] Swedish and Finnish bands during the 1970s, including Lådan.[7]

1977Hillwood Rockeyboard RB-1[8]synth piano with VCF & volume pedals[8]–influenced by Edgar Winter's style of hanging a keyboard from a neck.
Used by Haruo Chikada (The Vibratones).
1977[9]Powell Probecontroller(CV/Gate)Roger Powell's keytar by Royalex
1979PMS Syntar[10]synthesizer(CV/Gate)an earliest synthesizer keytar product, prior to the Moog Liberation in 1980
1980Davis Clavitarcontroller(CV/Gate)used by George Duke, Herbie Hancock in 1980.
1980Moog LiberationsynthesizerCV/Gate
1980Royalex Probecontroller(CV/Gate)Jan Hammer's keytar by Royalex, ca. 1980.
1982Dynacord Rhythm Stick (Jamma)[11]percussion controllerMIDI & CV/Gateused by Michael Jackson (1996-7), Billy Ocean, Sabrina Salerno (1988), Manu Katche, and Curt Cress.[12]
1982Roland SH-101[opt grip]synthesizerCV/Gatecontrol grip was optional.
1982Sequential Circuits Remote ProphetcontrollerSCBcontroller for Prophet-5 synthesizer using proprietary serial interface.[13] Used by Geoffrey Downes of ASIA and Dave Stewart.
1982Yamaha CS01[no grip]synthesizer with optional breath controller BC1 or BC2CV/Gateused by Chick Corea in the early 1980s.
1983Yamaha KX1controllerMIDIused by Herbie Hancock in 1983, George Duke in 1983.
1983Korg Poly-800[no grip]synthesizerMIDI
c. 1983Yamaha CS01IIsynthesizer with optional breath controller BC1 or BC3CV/Gate
c. 1984Korg Poly-800 MkII[no grip]synthesizerMIDI
1984Casio CZ-101[no grip]synthesizerMIDIa medium size keyboard with strap pins
1984Korg RK-100controllerMIDI
1984Yamaha KX5controllerMIDIa medium depth keyboard
1985Lync LN1 (The Lync)controllerMIDI
1985Roland AXIScontrollerMIDI
1985Yamaha DX100[no grip]synthesizerMIDIa mini keyboard with strap pins
1986Casio AZ-1controllerMIDI
1986Siel DK70[opt grip]synthesizerMIDIcontrol grip was optional
1987Korg 707[no grip]synthesizerMIDIa synthesizer with strap pins
1987Yamaha SHS-10electronic keyboardMIDI
c. 1987Tyco HotKeyztoy keyboard–a toy keyboard
1988Lync LN4controllerMIDIalso Jan Hammer signature model existed.
1988Yamaha SHS-200electronic keyboardMIDI
1989Tsumura JD21[14]percussion controllerMIDI
1990Lync LN1000controllerMIDI
c. 1990Formanta Minisynthesizer(MIDI)
1991Junost 21synthesizer(MIDI)
c. 1992[15] Baldoni MIDI Accord[16]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.[17][18]
1993Roland AX-1controllerMIDI
1994Zendrumpercussion controller(MIDI)
1995 The Drumstick percussion controller (MIDI) used by E. Dr. Smith[19]
c. 2000Suzuki MK-3600
YAMAHA YMK-80		electronic keyboardMIDIa keyboard for marching band
2000Lag LeKeycontroller(MIDI)
2001Roland AX-7controllerMIDI
c. 2002Casio SA-75electronic keyboardMIDIa mini electronic keyboard with handsfree microphone and strap pins
c. 2007Zen Riffer Solo Axecontroller(MIDI)
2008Behringer UMA25S[no grip]controllerUSB & MIDI
2009Roland AX-SynthsynthesizerUSB & MIDI
2009StoneboardcontrollerMIDI
2010Politrep[no grip]controllerMIDI
2010Roland Lucina AX-09synthesizerUSB & MIDI
2010Mad Catz Rock Band 3 Wireless Pro Keyboardcontroller & video game controllerMIDI & console specific
2012Alesis VortexcontrollerUSB & MIDI
2014Alesis Vortex WirelesscontrollerUSB & MIDIfirst keytar with wireless USB connection to a PC or laptop
2014Korg RK-100SsynthesizerUSB & MIDIused by Rick Astley in 2016
2017Yamaha Vocaloid KeyboardsynthesizerUSB,[20] Bluetooth LE[21]To be released in "Winter 2017".[22] First wearable prototype in 2014;[22] limited rental available in 2015 [23]
2018Alesis Vortex Wireless 2controllerUSB & MIDI
2018Roland AX-EdgesynthesizerUSB, MIDI, Bluetooth LE
2019Behringer MS-1synthesizerUSB & MIDIClone of the original 1982 Roland SH-101
2019Yamaha Sonogenic SHS-500electronic keyboardUSB MIDI, Bluetooth LEBuilt-in speaker
2019Yamaha Sonogenic SHS-300electronic keyboardUSB MIDI, Bluetooth LE (Select countries)Built-in speaker
2018Yamaha Vocaloid VKB-100electronic keyboardUSB MIDI, Bluetooth LEBuilt-in speaker
2020Korg RK-100S 2synthesizerUSB & MIDIWooden body and new programs

Custom/rare keytars

Rare keytar products

Drum/Percussion keytars

Custom made keytars

In alphabetical order:

Customized keytars

Based on minimoog keyboards
Based on Yamaha KX series
Based on Roland AX series

Gallery

See also

References

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