Keytar

A Yamaha SHS-10 keytar

The Keytar or Gui-Board is the name given to the musical keyboard synthesizer that is fashioned into the shape of a guitar (Keyboard + Guitar/Guitar+keyboard) which often includes a strap so that it can be played on stage and will not limit the musician to being stationary as is the case with conventional keyboards and synths. It is also known as a Pitar (Piano + Guitar).

Originally the creation of guitarist Steve Masakowski the keytar was commercially introduced in 1978 as the Moog Liberation. Keytars were made popular in the 1980s by hair bands, synthpop and New Wave groups. The changing trends in music brought the keytar out of popularity shortly thereafter. However, the keytar has recently made a bit of a comeback in the Indie culture, notably including some Canadian bands such as Fun 100 and The All-Purpose Voltage Heroes.

Keytars for the most part can only be found used. It is important to properly differentiate between a genuine keytar and a toy, as some children's toys are manufactured in the same shape as a keytar. An important difference between the two is that children's toys in the shape of keyboards and keytars generally feature one- or two-note polyphony, whereas more professional models allow one to play many notes at once.

Features on the instrument include but are not limited to pitch bends, vibrato, portamento, and sustain.

Yamaha was well-known as a keytar manufacturer.

List of Keytars

• Casio AZ-1
• Roland AX-1
• Roland AX-7
• Roland AXIS
• Roland SH-101
• Moog Liberation
• Yamaha SHS-10
• Yamaha SHS-200
• Yamaha KX5

Alternate Names for the Keytar

• Keytar, Keyboard Guitar
• Guiboard or Gui-board
• Rock Keyboard
• Remote Keyboard
• Portable Keyboard
• Belly-Synth
• Synth Guitar (not to be confused with MIDI Guitar)
• Master Keyboard (as most were used as MIDI controllers)
• Strap-On (often followed by 'MIDI Controller' or 'Keyboard' to avoid confusion with the sex toy of the same name)

Notable musicians that implemented Keytars:

• Chick Corea
• Wang Chung
• Jacky Yau
• Jean Michel Jarre
• Thomas Dolby
• Jan Hammer
• Prince
• Devo
• Wayne Famous of the Producers
• Ben Folds

New musicians using the Keytar:

• Showbread
• Mr. Pacman
• Infinity Minus One
• fun 100
• Mutemath
• Don Philippo
• Jondi Mac
• The Anix
• IQU
• The Doodlebops
• Eyes to Space
• The Epoxies
• Disco Biscuits
• Surferosa