Omnichord

Suzuki Omnichord
Omnichord OM-150 front panel
ManufacturerSuzuki Musical Instrument Corporation
Dates1981–1996, 1999, 2024
Technical specifications
PolyphonyFull polyphony
Synthesis typeOM-27/36/84 – Analog, OM-100/150/300 – Sample-based
FilterNone
Aftertouch expressionNo
Input/output
KeyboardStrum plate, chord buttons
External controlOM-200M/250M/300 – MIDI out Qchord – MIDI in & out

The Omnichord is an electronic musical instrument introduced in 1981 by the Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation.[1] It allows users to play harp-like arpeggios produced through an electronic strum plate, simulating the experience of playing a stringed instrument. Conceived as an electronic autoharp, the Omnichord found popularity due to its portability, unique timbre, and kitsch value.

The various Omnichord models feature a touch plate that the user strums, organ-like chords, preset drum rhythms and auto-bass line functionality. A grid of buttons allow the user to select major, minor, and 7th chords to be triggered by the strum plate, chord buttons and bassline accompaniment.

Production ceased with the OM-300 model in 1996. In later years, it underwent a resurgence in popularity due to renewed interest in vintage electronic instruments.[2] A new model, the OM-108, was released in 2024.

Production

Omnichord OM-27

The Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation released the first Omnichord, the OM-27, in 1981, alongside another instrument, the Tronichord (also known as the Portachord).[2] It was aimed at people without musical experience who might be intimidated by traditional keyboard instruments.[3]

The OM-27 featured 27 chord buttons, a strum plate, preset drum machine rhythms, controls for volume, tempo and sustain.[2] It featured only one sound, "harp".[2] In 1984, Suzuki released the OM-36, with 36 chord shapes, and the OM-84, with 84 chord shapes, both with an improved strum plate.[2]

The next model, OM-100, repositioned the strum plate to make it more comfortable to play, and added guitar, piano, banjo, jazz organ, flute, organ, chime, brass, vibraphone and synthesizer sounds.[2] The OM-250, introduced in 1989, added a MIDI out port to enable connectivity with other electronic instruments.[2] The OM-300, released in the early 1990s, added a MIDI in port, a chord sequencer, and different sounds. In 1999, the Suzuki rereleased the Omnichord as the Q-Chord, with a redesigned body, additional sounds, an improved speaker, and an expansion slot for song storage.[2]

Around the 2020s, interest in the Omnichord grew with the rise in experimental music genres and interest in older electronic instruments.[4] In 2024, Suzuki announced a new model, the OM-108, with analogue circuitry, emulations of previous models, new sounds and drum presets, and the ability to play the chord buttons like a keyboard or drum pad.[5]

Sound and features

Strum plate arpeggios
The 'Sonic Strings' on the Omnichord OM36, played by holding down a chord button and strumming the touchplate
Chord button chords
The chords from the Omnichord OM84
Rhythm and auto-bass
The Rock 1 rhythm and auto bass patterns from the OM36 Omnichord
Problems playing these files? See media help.

Omnichords feature preset rhythm patterns with tempo and volume control, as well as an auto-bass line feature, which the player can combine to use as a musical accompaniment. The Omnichord's most unique feature is the Sonic Strings strum plate, that allows the player to 'strum' arpeggios like a guitar.[6] Several later models of the Omnichord added MIDI compatibility, a greater selection of sounds for the Sonic Strings, vibrato, and chord memory, called Chord Computer.

The Omnichord was primarily designed as an accompaniment instrument instead of a melody instrument,[6] an ideal way to accompany a singer with basic rhythms and the ability to easily play chords[7] with little music theory knowledge.

The Omnichord has three main sound generators:[3]

  • A percussion section that plays rock, waltz, slow rock, Latin, foxtrot and swing rhythms, with adjustable tempo and volume.
  • A chord generator providing different triad and seventh chords, either as organ-like chords or walking bass. The original OM-27 was only capable of playing 27 different chords, but later models allow 84 different chords.
  • A Sonic Strings section producing an arpeggio or isolated notes from a chosen chord over a 4-octave span, played using the touch strip. The notes played on the touch strip are always in tune with the chord button currently selected.[8] Later models featured a selection of different voices for the Sonic Strings, including vibes, brass, organ, guitar and banjo.[6]

Later models feature a chord sequencer in a Chord Memory section that would allow the user to record up to 51 chords in sequence and play them back automatically or via a footswitch.[6] In 2023, Pitchfork wrote that the Omnichord "feels like a toy", with "cheap" sounds.[9]

Users

The Omnichord's ease of use regardless of musical ability or music theory knowledge of made it popular with a range of users.[2] It was particularly popular in Japan, where it was used in pop and electronic music, advertisements for products such as Coca-Cola and the Walkman, and in music education to create backing tracks for students to play to.[2]

The Omnichord was used by 1980s and 1990s pop acts including the Human League, Talking Heads and Devo.[2] Eurythmics used the Omnichord harp sound on their 1982 single "Love Is a Stranger".[4] Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois used a slowed-down recording of an Omnichord on "Deep Blue Day" from the 1983 album Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks to create a "beautiful, deep, jukebox sound".[10] Lanois also used an Omnichord on the U2 song "Trip Through Your Wires" from the 1987 album The Joshua Tree, processed with delay effects and guitar amplifiers.[11]

David Bowie used an Omnichord in his performance of the 1968 Simon & Garfunkel song "America" at the 2001 Concert for New York City.[2] Damon Albarn used the Omnichord OM-300's "Rock 1" preset for the 2001 Gorillaz single "Clint Eastwood".[12] Meshell Ndegeocello used an Omnichord to compose her 2023 album The Omnichord Real Book.[9] At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, it became the first winner of the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Jazz Album.[13] Other users include Jim James, Nick Rhodes and Joni Mitchell.[4]

At the 1 January 2026 inauguration of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, keyboardist Sarah Goldstone played the Omnichord to accompany singer Lucy Dacus's performance of the labor song "Bread and Roses."

[14][15]

References

  1. ^ Hills, Bruce (2 June 1982). "Device converts the musically illiterate into instant maestros". The Deseret News.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Maymind, Leo (11 April 2023). "Blast from the past: Suzuki Omnichord". MusicRadar. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b Ellis, David (May 1982). "Suzuki Omnichord (EMM May 1982)". Electronics & Music Maker (May 1982): 18.
  4. ^ a b c Gale, Dave (20 February 2020). "Vintage rewind: Suzuki Omnichord". MusicTech. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  5. ^ Rogerson, Ben (29 January 2024). "NAMM 2024: The new Omnichord has finally broken cover with retro and modern sounds, keyboard/drum pad modes and MIDI Out". MusicRadar. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d Renwick, Chris Jenkins writing as John (December 1989). "Omnichord (MIC Dec 1989)". Micro Music (Dec 1989): 48–49.
  7. ^ "What is an Omnichord?". ABC Radio Hobart. 23 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Toy Gear that We Love: the Suzuki Omnichord and Casio SK-1". reverb.com. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  9. ^ a b Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (22 June 2023). "Meshell Ndegeocello: The Omnichord Real Book". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  10. ^ "Interview: Daniel Lanois". Red Bull Music Academy. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  11. ^ Prendergast, Mark (September 1987). "The magic of Daniel Lanois". Sound on Sound. United Kingdom: SOS Publications Ltd. p. 42. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  12. ^ Gerber, Brady (20 October 2020). "The best, worst, and weirdest of Gorillaz, according to Damon Albarn". Vulture. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  13. ^ Minsker, Evan (4 February 2024). "Meshell Ndegeocello wins inaugural best alternative jazz album award at 2024 Grammys". Pitchfork. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Lucy Dacus Performs 'Bread and Roses' at NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Inauguration". rollingstone.com. 1 January 2026. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  15. ^ "Watch Lucy Dacus Perform "Bread And Roses" At Zohran Mamdani's Mayoral Inauguration". stereogum.com. 1 January 2026. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q-chord