List of keytars explained

See main article: Keytar.

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^[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	^[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),^[5] Swedish and Finnish bands during the 1970s, including Lådan.^[6]
1977	Hillwood Rockeyboard RB-1^[7]	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^[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		synthesizer	CV/Gate
1980	Royalex Probe	controller	(CV/Gate)	Jan Hammer's keytar by Royalex, ca. 1980.
19821982	Dynacord Rhythm Stick (Jamma)	percussion controller	MIDI & CV/Gate	used by Michael Jackson (1996-7), Billy Ocean, Sabrina Salerno (1988), Manu Katche, and Curt Cress.^[10]
1982		synthesizer	CV/Gate	control grip was optional.
1982		controller	SCB	controller for Prophet-5 synthesizer using proprietary serial interface.^[11] Used by Geoffrey Downes of ASIA and Dave Stewart.
1982	Yamaha CS01	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		synthesizer	MIDI
1983	Yamaha CS01II	synthesizer with optional breath controller BC1 or BC3	CV/Gate
1984	Korg Poly-800 MkII	synthesizer	MIDI
1984		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	synthesizer	MIDI	a mini keyboard with strap pins
1986		controller	MIDI
1986		synthesizer	MIDI	control grip was optional
1987	Korg 707	synthesizer	MIDI	a synthesizer with strap pins
1987		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^[12]	Baldoni MIDI Accord^[13]	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.^[14] ^[15]
1993		controller	MIDI
1994		percussion controller	(MIDI)
1995	The Drumstick	percussion controller	(MIDI)	used by E. Dr. Smith^[16]
2000	Suzuki MK-3600 YAMAHA YMK-80	electronic keyboard	MIDI	a keyboard for marching band
2000	Lag LeKey	controller	(MIDI)
2001		controller	MIDI
2002	Casio SA-75	electronic keyboard	MIDI	a mini electronic keyboard with handsfree microphone and strap pins
2007	Zen Riffer Solo Axe	controller	(MIDI)
2008	Behringer UMA25S	controller	USB & MIDI
2009		synthesizer	USB & MIDI
2009	Stoneboard	controller	MIDI
2010	Politrep	controller	MIDI
2010	Roland Lucina AX-09	synthesizer	USB & MIDI
2010		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		synthesizer	USB,^[17] Bluetooth LE^[18]	To be released in "Winter 2017".^[19] First wearable prototype in 2014; limited rental available in 2015 ^[20]
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	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) ^[21]

• Tsumura JD21 ^[22]

• 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

• 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.^[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.

See also

• Keytar
• List of keytarists

Notes and References

1. Web site: Orphica (?Vienna,) . . 2011-10-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110928045235/http://www.cph.rcm.ac.uk/Catalogues/keyboard%20catalogue/Pianos/RCM%20133%20Orphica.htm . 2011-09-28 . dead .
2. Web site: Weltmeister Basset . blackroses.de . https://web.archive.org/web/20020322141930/http://blackroses.de/site38.htm . 2002-03-22 .
3. Web site: Joh Mustad AB Tubon (1966, Sweden) . https://web.archive.org/web/20120422162237/http://www.musikmuseet.se/samlingar/detalj.php?l=en&iid=1021&v=2008-01-02%2016%3A37%3A16&str= . 2012-04-22 . Stockholm Music and Theatre Museum . dead .
4. Web site: The 'Tubon' Joh Mustad AB, Sweden, 1966 . 120 Years of Electronic Music (120years.net) . 9 February 2014 . .
   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".
5. Book: Sean Albiez . David Pattie . Kraftwerk (1970) . https://books.google.com/books?id=ZVDVrWyAk2YC&q=Kraftwerk%20Tubon&pg=PA101 . Kraftwerk: Music Non-Stop . January 2011 . A&C Black . 2011 . 978-1-4411-9136-6 . 100 - 101 . .
6. Web site: Lådan: Va i helvete har dom för sig inne i banken efter tre? . YouTube .
7. Web site: Rockeyboard RB-1 . Hillwood Keyboard / Synthesizer Catalog 1977 . Hillwood Musical Instrument/Zen-On . 2011-10-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120608171954/http://brochures.yokochou.com/keyboard-and-effector/hillwood/1977/en_p6.html . 2012-06-08 . dead .
8. News: Blog: The Keytar - A Brief History . 15 February 2022 . Sonicstate . en.
9. Web site: James D. Maier . The Performance Music Systems Syntar .
10. Book: Graham, Alex. Electronic Drumfax. self-published. 2019. 978-1701024229. 121, 122.
11. Web site: Sequential Circuits – Prophet Synthesizers 5 & 10 (Retro). Reid. Gordon. March 1999. Sound on Sound. https://web.archive.org/web/20160203065241/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar99/articles/retroprophet.htm. 3 February 2016. January 23, 2015.
12. Book: Kozak, Donald P. . 1992 . A Guide to Computer Music: An Electronic Music Resource . Sound Management . 978-0-9621514-2-2 . 69 . .
13. 1995 . n/a . Electronic Musician . 11 . 1 . 8 . .
14. Web site: Accordion Videos And Links . 2014-07-07 . BALDONI Midi Accord . Facebook . .
    See also a photo.
15. Liberty Bellows . 2017 . 2336 - Blue Baldoni Midi Accord Keytar Accordion 41 120 $1195 [Demo] ]. demo video . .
16. Web site: The Drumstick. Smith. E. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20080609213911/http://www.drummstick.com/Background.html. 2008-06-09. May 19, 2020.
17. Web site: Yamaha Corporation. Yamaha Corporation. VKB-100 - 仕様. jp.yamaha.com. 2 January 2018. ja-JP.
18. Web site: Yamaha Corporation. Yamaha Corporation. VKB-100 - Apps. jp.yamaha.com. 2 January 2018. ja-JP.
19. Web site: Yamaha Corporation. Yamaha Corporation. VOCALOID Keyboard. 19 October 2017. ja. 31 August 2017.
20. Web site: Yamaha Corporation. Yamaha Corporation. JOYSOUNDでVOCALOID KEYBOARDと歌おう！. 19 October 2017. ja.
21. Web site: The Jamma & Dynacord Rhythm Stick official site . - including the stories, photographs, videos, technical stuffs and manuals (see below).
22. Web site: JD21 official manual . Tsumura Inc. . ja.
23. Web site: Jeri Ellsworth Rocks a Commodore 64 Keytar . Make:zine . 19 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160418191656/http://makezine.com/2012/05/19/jeri-ellsworth-rocks-a-commodore-64-keytar/ . 2016-04-18.
24. Jan Hammer playing Cruder in 1970s. . photo . ShowBiz.cz .