An Omnichord is an electronic musical instrument, introduced in 1981 and manufactured by the Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation. It typically features a touch plate, and buttons for major, minor, and diminished chords. The most basic method of playing the instrument is to press the chord buttons and swipe the touch plate with a finger or guitar pick in imitation of strumming a stringed instrument.
The Omnichord is the technological successor to an earlier toy, known as the Tronichord, with which it shares many technical and functional similarities. Omnichords often feature preset rhythms with a tempo control which the player may use as accompaniment. Several models of the Omnichord were produced, which added MIDI compatibility, a selection of voices for the touch plate, effects such as vibrato and sustain, and chord memory. Some Omnichord musicians will play the instrument as a keytar, by strapping the instrument on both ends and playing it as if it were an electric guitar.
Originally designed as an electronic substitute for an autoharp, the Omnichord has become popular as a unique instrument in its own right, due to its unique, chiming timbre and its value as a kitsch object.
The Omnnichord is still produced by Suzuki, but rebadged as the QChord. It features more modern versions of the original Omnichord's features.
[edit] Omnichord players
- Matt Mahaffey of Self plays an Omnichord on various songs.
- Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo used an Omnichord on the 1982 album Oh, No! It's Devo, on the song "Patterns".
- Simon Jeffes of the Penguin Cafè Orchestra played an Omnichord on various songs.
- Jay Bennett of Wilco used an Omnichord on their acclaimed 2002 album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
- The Eurythmics song "Love is a Stranger" prominently features slow Omnichord strokes.
- Dean Wareham of Galaxie 500, Luna, and Dean and Britta plays an Omnichord from time to time especially on the song Moon Palace.
- Harmony Andrukaitis (of Color Deluxe) plays an Omnichord.
- Daniel Lanois plays an omnichord on Bob Dylan's album Oh Mercy, as well as on his solo material, and on some of his productions for U2.
- John Mayer uses an Omnichord in "No Such Thing", "Neon", "Back to You", and "Not Myself" on his 2001 album "Room for Squares".
- Dido plays an Omnichord in her song "Never Want To Say It's Love" from her third album Safe Trip Home.
- David Bowie played an Omnichord live at The Concert for New York City on "America".
- Jim James of My Morning Jacket uses the Omnichord on the track "Touch Me I'm Going To Scream (Part 2)" from the MMJ's 2008 album "Evil Urges".
- Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs plays an omnichord on their album Show Your Bones.
- Jemaine Clement of the band Flight of the Conchords uses an Omnichord during live performances and reportedly has "the largest collection of Omnichords in the world".[1]
- Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear uses an Omnichord in live performances.
- The Capitol Years used an Omnichord on their album Dance Away The Terror.
- Serai Zaffiro of De Novo Dahl is an Omnichord player.
- Jenny Mitchell of The Barmitzvah Brothers plays the Omnichord.
- Chest Rockwell uses an omnichord on their song Body Prop 3.
- Simen Eriksrud - Norwegian producer
- Techno Cowboy - Recorded an album featuring the Omnichord called "The Ziggy Stardust Omnichord Album", a 2009 remake of David Bowie's classic record.
- Tormod Eikill - Norwegian guitarist has played the omnichord on several recordings
- The Bird and the Bee - Play the omnichord on several recordings
- Daniel Ribiat of Cinema Strange
- Todd Manion of 13 Bats
- Ali McGregor uses the Omnichord to perform a cover of an AC/DC song
- The Mae Shi have used the Omnichord on nearly every one of their releases and during live shows.
- Dave Knudson of Minus The Bear can be seen playing an Omnichord in photographs taken during the recording of their currently untitled fourth album.
- Mike Campbell plays the Omnichord in the Bomb The Music Industry! song "Cold Chillin' Cold Chillin'" on the album "Scrambles"
- Meaghan Smith covers the Pixies song Here Comes Your Man for the soundtrack to the film [500] Days of Summer. The song was produced by T-Bone Burnett
- Yellow from Cinema Strange Plays one on the song The Red and Silver Fantastique and the Libretto of the Insipid Minstrel on the album The Astonished Eyes of Evening
- Win Butler of Arcade Fire uses an Omnichord on the song "Ocean Of Noise" from their album Neon Bible.
- Jo Mango plays an omnichord live and on a number of recordings.
- Sergio Pizzorno and Chris Karloff of Kasabian used an Omnichord on most songs on their debut album entitled Kasabian.
- Dave Knudsen of Minus the Bear uses the instrument during shows playing a song that will most likely make it onto their upcoming untitled album.
- Stefan Olsdal of the band Placebo plays the Omnichord on the song "Blackeyed" at their 2009 Angkor Wat gig.
- Dani O'Brien of the band World's Greatest Dad plays the Omnichord. [2]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/may/09/flight-of-the-conchords
- ^ [1]
[edit] External links
