The best known Keytars

[Blazer]

For those who didn't experience the Eighties: the Keytar was a keyboard that was meant to be strapped on like a guitar enabling keyboard players to run around on stage too. Let's talk about Keytars.


I guess that the Moog Liberation was the first commercially available Keytar. It was a complete working analogue synth meant to be strapped on, making it a BIG bulking piece of equipment slung around your back. Later Keytars were MIDI controllers, bacially just a set of keys which was connected to a module. Which made them lighter and smaller. But the Moog liberation has since become a cult instrument, mostly because of its sound.
Ladies and Gents: Jean Michel Jarre playing a solo on a Moog Liberation.


By far the biggest number of keytars in the eighties were turned out by Yamaha, with their SHS 10 providing a Budget Keytar that everybody could afford. The instrument had a built in speaker and a (for those days) impressive array of sounds.



At the other end of the spectrum was perhaps the most recognisable keytar, the Yamaha KX5 which was a keytar version of their popular DX7 unit, the KX5 is like the Steinberger bass, the Yamaha CP70 piano and the Simmons Drumkit in the sense that seemingly EVERYBODY was using them. And has since retained a loyal following and players like George Duke and Chick Corea STILL use them. And allow me to ask the latter of those two "Got a match?"


Last but not least I'll name the Synthaxe which is one of the most bizarre looking instruments ever.

The Synthaxe was meant to be played like a guitar but the strings on the neck and on the body were (Obviously) not connected. What makes the Synthaxe a Keytar is the fact that it has a small set of keys making it possible to hit a note like hitting a note on a piano, six keys from each string and two keys with which one could hit either the lower three or the higher three "strings" at the same time. The 24 frets were spaced at the same distance at every position on the fingerboard. The best known Synthaxe player was Allan Holdsworth who did some bizarre sounding jazz things with his.

Currently the Synthaxe has an advocate in Roy "Futureman" Wooten of Bela Fleck and the Flectones and he uses his to play DRUMS on, employing the six keys to signal either a kickdrum, snare, toms and cymbals.

[goldtopper]

The dark days of the Allman Brothers featured Mike Lawler on keytar. No one has forgiven them fo that!

[tuuur]

You GOT to mention Belinda Bedekovic:

[Blazer]

Originally Posted by tuuur

You GOT to mention Belinda Bedekovic:

And her Keytar was a Yamaha KX5, proving once again that that was the most popular Keytar.

[Flat357]

Wasn't Edgar Winter another big user of standup keys , if not the original pioneer ?
I seem to remember him using one at a gig not so long back .
I'd much rather keyboard players sat down and behaved themselves

[casterway]

Edgar Winter, 1973



And, how could we forget this guy? Jan Hammer.



Before, you dis him, he also played with Jeff.



But, yeah, he's pretty dorky.

[bowlfreshener]

I was trying to find a picture of Devo with a Keytar, but instead found a picture of Devo with what looks to be a Telecaster!?!?!


Here's one with a Keytar:

[Dan German]

Originally Posted by tuuur

You GOT to mention Belinda Bedekovic:

Who uses a keytar but mounts it on a stand.....

Originally Posted by Flat357

Wasn't Edgar Winter another big user of standup keys , if not the original pioneer ?
I seem to remember him using one at a gig not so long back .
I'd much rather keyboard players sat down and behaved themselves.

While Edgar hangs a regular keyboard from his neck.

It's a crazy world.....

[po-boy]

i saw jeff beck with jan hammer around '77 - remember being very close to the stage and seeing jeff beck glare in jan hammers direction several times when hammer cranked up his volume - the audience was there for jeff beck not some obnoxious guy with a keytar -



- i'm not a complete idiot ... some parts are missing -

[po-boy]

also saw bela fleck and the flecktones last year - great concert except for the parts where futureman wooten played his synthaxe/drum - he sounded much better when he just played drums - playing drum samples just didn't work for me - would go again though just to see bela fleck and victor wooten -



- i'm not a complete idiot ... some parts are missing -

[marshman]

Thanks, Blazer. I kid you not, I was driving around yesterday and heard something that made me think "I wonder if that guy has one of those hangin-on-a-strap-keyboardy-thingies..." Thanks for the brief history lesson.

[Blazer]

Originally Posted by bowlfreshener

Here's one with a Keytar:

A Moog Liberation to be precise.

[Dan German]

I don't know why, but IMHO Devo is the only band that looks completely normal with a keytar.

[Teleblooz]

Back in the 80s I played in a band with a guy who played a Moog Liberation. If you thought a Les Paul weighed a ton...

[Slow Reflexes]

Originally Posted by casterway

Edgar Winter, 1973

...

Holy crapalappadingdong....

I'd never actually seen the guy perform before. He's a bleedin' animal!

[D.K. Buchanon]

The keys player in my band has/brings more gear to a gig that Rick Wakeman , the other night he shows up with a Yamaha KX5. ( lending more credence to blazers' assertion) The bass players looks @ him and quietly says "no". Dejectedly , the KX5 went back into it's carry all.

Keyboardist...sheesh...