Keytars are back and big time :))

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Soo, I have this obsession with vintage synths/keyboards, I just keep accumulating them, have a few boards now, 2 of them are Keytars. There is something with vintage stuff that just fascinated me - Whether it's the build quality (not like nowdays made in china cheapo) or the idea to be unique... I just like it.

Here is a video of mine playing my YAMAHA KX5, in my bedroom. TBH I just recorded it before I went to sleep so didn't have time for major cloth styling... for those of you who like 80s, electronic music and such, and anyone really who likes music:



This Keytar from the mid 80s was my first MIDI DAW controller. It has both material and sentimental value to me. What's your most prized possession (choose one piece of music gear, whether a rare guitar, your first drum set.... and dont forget to post piccssssss)

Wow!! So Damn Cooool!!

I don't have a piece of equipment that has sentimental value, everything I do is soft synth based on the computer. That being said my University of Indiana music theory textbook circa 1995 would be the object I have affection for-- taught me like 50% of the things I know today about music creation. Years after high school and I've still got it and kept it in pristine condition-- which is easy to do since all the knowledge is just second nature now, lol.

I've never seen a keytar in real life, where is the mod wheel and pitch bend at? I have to be honest, you look geeky cool playing it.

Yeah it is cool!!

Aristo, you should keep that book, since it's out of print probably, its value will only increase, to you and to others and I am not only speaking 'money' wise here... You can also have it scanned - so it can be viewed by a computer..

The pitch bend is that Ribbon thing, where I slide my hand. It has a center point, and right/left changes the pitch up to 2 semitones for each direction (pretty standard). The Mod Wheel is right next to it, It's really cool since I can use both simultaneously like a regular keyboard, great ergonomic thinking that machine is .. hmm...

And yeah lol Keytars are for geeks haha but I don't care I aim for it actually, Besides let me ask you something. If you play slide guitar while sitting and it's 'okay' why not play the keyboard while standing? lolz

Lol, the geek cool comment was meant as a compliment. I'm not worried about the book, it's been collecting dust for 20 years. I haven't played an instrument in about that amount of time too. Music is almost entirely mental for me, I like the math of composition, so I write in my head and transcribe to a sequencer or staff paper. I only use a keyboard when I need to program in pitch bends and filter changes-- it never sounds right drawing those in a sequencer, live action playing of a mod wheel or pitch bend always sounds better, that's why I was curious. Keep on rockin'!

yeah, I understood that, thanks and have an awesome day as well

I recently thought the Keytar Guitar (Ghee-tar) would be a great idea. A friend of mine was in a project a few years back that required him to play guitar, keys and vocals all at the same time.

Back in the 80's the dual neck guitar was big. Why not two necks, one with keys one with strings?

Well that hasn't been tried yet.

There's the kazookeylele which combines ukulele keys and kazoo. See link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAg5KjnAhuU

Double necked guitars are there for the show mostly (a cosmetic thing like a keytar) although one advantage is you can put different pickup styles on each guitar, or use one as bass guitar.

Yes, but he keytar guitar would clearly have a use. If even only to trigger samples

In my experience it won't be possible to use both simultaneously because a guitar takes 2 hands to play and for sample or effect triggering for that matter I'd say touch sensitive pads are better and less weight consuming. If you want a keyboard you need a built in sound module for obvious reasons and for that you need more buttons and dare I say MIDI. Thing is, as much as I'd like to see this coming to life I doubt big names like Fender or Roland would make one of these, not to speak of mass production.

So, it has to be boutique custom made hmm, btw maybe your friend can just have a keyboard infront of him while strapping a guitar. Then he chooses which one to play when needs. That... what happens at some gigs where you don't need much keyboard and mostly the guy is on guitar.

Well that's what he did, but it was cumbersome.

Never downplay the novelty factor either. Bands today love flaunting gear even if they suck at using it.

But your probably right.