Shoulder keyboard
A shoulder keyboard , also known colloquially as "keytar" ( suitcase word from English key board and gui tar ), is a keyboard or synthesizer with a shoulder strap. In contrast to the guitar synthesizer, it is operated using buttons. In contrast to the stationary stage set-up, the keyboard player can move freely on the stage. The shoulder keyboard is usually played with only one hand. Some models have special controllers on the neck of the instrument to change parameters for pitch bender , modulation or effects.
history
Early forerunner of the neck keyboards were the 1795 by Carl Leopold Rölling developed fortepiano Orphica and 1963, the Basset company world champion . In the 1970s , mini Moog synthesizers with straps similar to an accordion were occasionally worn. Out of this tradition, the Moog Liberation, the first full-fledged hanging keyboard, came onto the market in 1980.
In the 1980s , other models came onto the market, which were mainly used in Synthiepop , New Wave and in the Neue Deutsche Welle . The shoulder keyboard was also very popular in progressive rock and hairspray metal . The "AX-1" model and its successor "AX-7" from Roland - both pure master keyboards - were or are still widely used. Since the 1990s, the demand for keyboards has dropped significantly. As the only established manufacturer, only Roland Corporation is consistently continuing its AX series.
Models (selection)
- 1963 - World Champion "Basset"
- 1966 - Joh Mustad "Tubon"
- 1977 - Hillwood Rockeyboard RB-1
- 1979 - PMS Syntar
- 1980 - Davis Clavitar
- 1980 - Powell Rehearsal
- 1980 - Royalex by Probe
- 1980/81 - Moog Liberation
- 1982 - Roland SH-101 b
- 1982 - Sequential Circuits Remote Prophet
- 1982 - Yamaha CS01 a
- 1983 - Korg Poly 800 a
- 1983 - Yamaha KX1
- 1984 - Korg RK-100
- 1984 - Yamaha KX5
- 1984 - Casio CZ-101 a
- 1985 - Casio CZ-1000 a
- 1985 - Yamaha DX100 a
- 1985 - Roland Axis
- 1985 - The Lync
- 1986 - Casio AZ-1
- 1986 - Siel DK70 b
- 1987 - Yamaha SHS-10
- 1987 - Korg 707
- 1988 - European Technology Lync LN-4
- 1988 - Yamaha SHS-200
- 1989 - Formanta Mini (Форманта Мини)
- 1990 - European Technology Lync LN-1000
- 1991 - Murom Junost-21
- 1992 - Roland AX-1
- 1992 - Roland AX-1B
- 1993 - Novation BassStation a
- 2000 - LAG Le Key (only 172 copies built)
- 2001 - Roland AX-7
- 2007 - Zen Riffer Solo Ax
- 2008 - Behringer UMA25S a
- 2009 - stoneboard
- 2009 - Politrep
- 2009 - Roland AX-Synth
- 2010 - Roland AX-09
- 2012 - Alesis Vortex
- 2014 - Korg RK-100S
- 2014 - Alesis Vortex Wireless
- 2018 - Alesis Vortex Wireless 2
- 2018 - Roland AX-Edge
- unknown - Boldni Midi Accord
