The Return of the Keytar

Jump around!

It’s hard to avoid the influence of the 1980’s in pop at the moment – synthesizers have replaced jangly guitars as the instrument of choice, and one synth in particular has also been propelled back into the limelight – the keytar.

Essentially a small keyboard with a strap attached to it, the keytar rose to fame in the 80’s when an increasing number of artists began to introduce synths to their sound. In many cases, the synths even overtook guitars to became the flagship instrument. The ability to stand/move around and play what would have traditionally been a guitar solo on a keyboard led to many bands donning the instrument – see New Wave architects Devo, jazz experimentalists Spyro Gyra and a host of glam metal bands as examples of the wide-ranging influence of the keytar.

The first commercially produced keytar, the Moog Liberation, was launched in 1980, featuring a 3-octave keyboard combining two polyphonic and one monophonic keyboard section. The Yamaha SHS-10 – technically a small monophonic analogue synthesizer, but intended to be transformed into a keytar by attaching a strap – proved exceptionally popular with fans due to its 32 mini-keys, choice of red, black and grey colours and MIDI controller capability.

The keytar dipped in popularity in the 1990s, but in recent years Little Boots, Neon Neon and Lady GaGa have sported a keytar during live shows. Yes keyboardist and rock legend Rick Wakeman continues to be a big fan, performing a keytar duel onstage with son Adam at a recent gig. Muse frontman Matt Bellamy is said to have had a custom “Keytarcaster” made for playing the track Undisclosed Desires from new album The Resistance. Of course, revitalised 1980’s bands such as The Human League have the advantage of being able to dust off the real article from their own collection.

Today, the only keytar still in mass production is the Roland Ax-Synth. While its hard to deny there’s something just a little silly about the keytar, I reckon the fun factor means they will be here to stay again for a while longer. Guitar Hero is actually closer to Keytar Hero given the small, plastic buttons on the controller. If you search eBay it might just be possible to get your hands on the real thing.