Engineering:Omnichord

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

The various Omnichord models feature 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, the Omnichord underwent a resurgence in popularity due to renewed interest in vintage electronic instruments. 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).[1] It was aimed at people without musical experience who might be intimidated by traditional keyboard instruments.[2]

The OM-27 featured 27 chord buttons, a strum plate, preset drum machine rhythms, controls for volume, tempo and sustain.[1] It featured only one sound, "harp".[1] 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.[1]

The next model, OM-100, repositioned the strum plate to make it more comfortable to play, and added guitar, piano, banjo, jazz organ, flute, chime, brass, vibraphone and synthesizer sounds.[1] The OM-250, introduced in 1989, added a MIDI out port to enable connectivity with other electronic instruments.[1] 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.[1]

Around the 2020s, interest in the Omnichord grew with the rise in experimental music genres and interest in older electronic instruments.[3] 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.[4]

Sound and features

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.[5] 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,[5] an ideal way to accompany a singer with basic rhythms and the ability to easily play chords[6] with little music theory knowledge.

The Omnichord has three main sound generators:[2]

  • 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.[7] Later models featured a selection of different voices for the Sonic Strings, including vibes, brass, organ, guitar and banjo.[5]

Later models feature a chord sequencer that allows the user to record up to 51 chords in sequence and play them back automatically or via a footswitch.[5] In 2023, Pitchfork wrote that the Omnichord "feels like a toy", with "cheap" sounds.[8]

Users

The Omnichord's ease of use regardless of musical ability or music theory knowledge of made it popular with a range of users.[1] 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.[1]

The Omnichord was used by 1980s and 1990s pop acts including the Human League, Talking Heads and Devo.[1] Eurythmics used the Omnichord harp sound on their 1982 single "Love Is a Stranger".[3] 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".[9] 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.[10] Tiny Tim used the Omnichord on his 1985 single "She Left Me With the Herpes" and its B-side, "Santa Claus Has Got the AIDS This Year". The record sleeve claimed it was "the first recording ever played entirely on the Suzuki Omnichord".[11]

David Bowie used an Omnichord in his performance of the 1968 Simon & Garfunkel song "America" at the 2001 Concert for New York City.[1] 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.[8] 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.[3] At the 1 January 2026 inauguration of the New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, the singer Lucy Dacus performed the political song "Bread and Roses" accompanied by Omnichord.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Maymind, Leo (2023-04-11). "Blast from the past: Suzuki Omnichord" (in en). https://www.musicradar.com/news/blast-from-past-suzuki-omnichord. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ellis, David (May 1982). "Suzuki Omnichord". Electronics & Music Maker (May 1982): 18. http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/suzuki-omnichord/4271. Retrieved 14 October 2022. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Gale, Dave (20 February 2020). "Vintage rewind: Suzuki Omnichord" (in en-GB). https://musictech.com/features/opinion-analysis/vintage-rewind-suzuki-omnichord/. 
  4. ↑ Rogerson, Ben (2024-01-29). "NAMM 2024: The new Omnichord has finally broken cover with retro and modern sounds, keyboard/drum pad modes and MIDI Out" (in en). https://www.musicradar.com/news/suzuki-omnichord-om108. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Renwick, Chris Jenkins writing as John (December 1989). "Omnichord". Micro Music (December 1989): 48–49. http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/omnichord/5275. Retrieved 4 October 2022. 
  6. ↑ "What is an Omnichord?" (in en-AU). 2021-10-23. https://www.abc.net.au/hobart/programs/sundays/omnichord/13600986. 
  7. ↑ "Toy Gear that We Love: the Suzuki Omnichord and Casio SK-1" (in en). 2014-12-16. https://reverb.com/uk/news/a-little-something-on-the-side-the-suzuki-omnichord-and-casio-sk-1. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (22 June 2023). "Meshell Ndegeocello: The Omnichord Real Book" (in en-US). https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/meshell-ndegeocello-the-omnichord-real-book/. 
  9. ↑ "Interview: Daniel Lanois" (in en). 14 October 2015. https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2015/10/daniel-lanois-interview. 
  10. ↑ Prendergast, Mark (September 1987). "The magic of Daniel Lanois". Sound on Sound (United Kingdom: SOS Publications Ltd.): 42. https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/the-magic-of-daniel-lanois/2506. Retrieved 2024-02-19. 
  11. ↑ Martell, Justin; McDonald, Alanna Wray (2016). Eternal Troubadour: The Improbable Life Of Tiny Tim. Jawbone Press. pp. 363-365. ISBN 978-1-908279-87-3. 
  12. ↑ Gerber, Brady (20 October 2020). "The best, worst, and weirdest of Gorillaz, according to Damon Albarn". https://www.vulture.com/article/gorillaz-best-worst-damon-albarn-interview.html. 
  13. ↑ Minsker, Evan (2024-02-04). "Meshell Ndegeocello wins inaugural best alternative jazz album award at 2024 Grammys" (in en-US). https://pitchfork.com/news/meshell-ndegeocello-wins-inaugural-best-alternative-jazz-album-award-at-2024-grammys/. 
  14. ↑ Roundtree, Cheyenne (2026-01-01). "Lucy Dacus Performs 'Bread and Roses' at NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani's inauguration" (in en). https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lucy-dacus-bread-and-roses-zohran-mamdani-inauguration-1235493211/. 



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