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List of keytars

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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	title=Orphica (?Vienna, )	url=http://www.cph.rcm.ac.uk/Catalogues/keyboard%20catalogue/Pianos/RCM%20133%20Orphica.htm	publisher=Centre for Performance History, Royal College of Music	access-date=2011-10-10	archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928045235/http://www.cph.rcm.ac.uk/Catalogues/keyboard%20catalogue/Pianos/RCM%20133%20Orphica.htm	archive-date=2011-09-28	url-status=dead }}	acoustic piano	–	a portable miniature piano in horizontal harp form.
1963	title=Weltmeister Basset	url=http://blackroses.de/site38.htm	publisher=blackroses.de	archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020322141930/http://blackroses.de/site38.htm	archive-date=2002-03-22 }}	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		title=Joh Mustad AB Tubon (1966, Sweden)	url=http://www.musikmuseet.se/samlingar/detalj.php?l=en&iid=1021&v=2008-01-02%2016:37:16&str=	archive-url=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=
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	author=James D. Maier	title=The Performance Music Systems Syntar	url=http://www.carbon111.com/syntar.html }}	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)	percussion controller	MIDI & CV/Gate	used by Michael Jackson (1996-7), Billy Ocean, Sabrina Salerno (1988), Manu Katche, and Curt Cress.
1982	Roland SH-101	synthesizer	CV/Gate	control grip was optional.
1982	Sequential Circuits Remote Prophet	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 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	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	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	Casio AZ-1	controller	MIDI
1986	Siel DK70	synthesizer	MIDI	control grip was optional
1987	Korg 707	synthesizer	MIDI	a 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 ?	MIDI	Strap-on keyboard controller in the keytar style, with the chromatic buttons on the left-hand, and piano keyboard on the right-hand.
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-3600
YAMAHA YMK-80	electronic keyboard	MIDI	a keyboard for marching band
2000	Lag LeKey	controller	(MIDI)
2001	Roland AX-7	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	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	author1=Yamaha Corporation	author-link=Yamaha Corporation	title=VOCALOID Keyboard	url=https://www.vocaloid.com/vocaloidkeyboard/	access-date=19 October 2017	language=ja	date=31 August 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) :* 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.

Gallery

File:Orphica, Museum für Musikinstrumente der Universität Leipzig.jpg|Orphica (18th–19th century)

File:Royalex Probe (keytar) operated by Lucy Hosking (Lucyfer) to play the Satan's Calliope, the flaming pipe organ car by him (Burning Man 2006).jpg| Royalex Probe (1977/1980) played by Lucy Hosking File:Syntar inventor George Mattson.jpg| PMS Syntar (1979) by George Mattson File:Moog Liberation.jpg| Moog Liberation (1980) File:Stanley Clarke & George Duke.jpg| Davis Clavitar (1980) played by George Duke File:SynthAxe.jpg| SynthAxe (1985) by Bill Aitken, et al.

File:Yamaha KX5 black.png| Yamaha KX-5 (1984) File:Korg RK-100.jpg| Korg RK-100 (1984) File:Yamaha shs-10.jpg| Yamaha SHS-10 (1987)

File:Lync LN1000.jpg| Lync LN-1000 (1990) File:Zendrum Laptop in concert (1246x768).jpg| Zendrum series (1994)

File:Roland AX-7.jpg| Roland AX-7 (2001) File:Dream Theater Live in Argentina 03-03-08.jpg| Zen Riffer Solo Axe (2007) by Roy Wooten File:Rock Band 3 Wireless Pro Keyboard PS3.jpg| Mad Catz Rock Band 3 Wireless Pro Keyboard File:KORG RK-100S keytar - angled left - 2014 NAMM Show (by Matt Vanacoro).jpg|Korg RK-100s (2014) File:Mystery live at Epic Studios, Norwich, UK, 17th October 2019 - 48949262442.jpg|Alesis Vortex Wireless (2014) played by Jean Pageau (Mystery) in 2019

References

"Orphica (?Vienna, {{circa". Centre for Performance History, [[Royal College of Music]].
"Weltmeister Basset". blackroses.de.
"Rockeyboard RB-1". Hillwood Musical Instrument/Zen-On.
"Blog: The Keytar - A Brief History". Sonicstate.
James D. Maier. "The Performance Music Systems Syntar".
Graham, Alex. (2019). "Electronic Drumfax". self-published.
Reid, Gordon. (March 1999). "Sequential Circuits – Prophet Synthesizers 5 & 10 (Retro)". [[Sound on Sound]].
Kozak, Donald P.. (1992). "A Guide to Computer Music: An Electronic Music Resource". Sound Management.
(1995). "n/a".
Accordion Videos And Links. (2014-07-07). "BALDONI Midi Accord".
Liberty Bellows. (2017). "2336 - Blue Baldoni Midi Accord Keytar Accordion 41 120 $1195 [Demo]".
Smith, E. "The Drumstick".
"VKB-100 - 仕様".
"VKB-100 - Apps".
(31 August 2017). "VOCALOID Keyboard".
"JOYSOUNDでVOCALOID KEYBOARDと歌おう！".
["The Jamma & Dynacord Rhythm Stick official site"](http://www.thejamma.com/ }} — including the [http://www.thejamma.com/#/introduction/4549106099 stories], [http://www.thejamma.com/#/photos/4549347422 photographs], [http://www.thejamma.com/#/video/4549311331 videos], [http://www.thejamma.com/#/technical-stuff/4548145143 technical stuffs] and manuals (see below).{{Unordered list). Dynacord }}.
"JD21 official manual". Tsumura Inc..
(19 May 2012). "Jeri Ellsworth Rocks a Commodore 64 Keytar".

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