| Suzuki Omnichord | |
|---|---|
| Omnichord OM-150 front panel | |
| Manufacturer | Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation |
| Dates | 1981–1996, 1999, 2024 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Polyphony | Full polyphony |
| Synthesis type | OM-27/36/84 – Analog, OM-100/150/300 – Sample-based |
| Filter | None |
| Aftertouch expression | No |
| Input/output | |
| Keyboard | Strum plate, chord buttons |
| External control | OM-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. 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
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 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.[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]
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".[11] 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.[12] 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.[13]
References
- Maymind, Leo (11 April 2023). "Blast from the past: Suzuki Omnichord". MusicRadar.
- Ellis, David (May 1982). "Suzuki Omnichord (EMM May 1982)". Electronics & Music Maker (May 1982): 18.
- Gale, Dave (20 February 2020). "Vintage rewind: Suzuki Omnichord". MusicTech.
- 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.
- Renwick, Chris Jenkins writing as John (December 1989). "Omnichord (MIC Dec 1989)". Micro Music (Dec 1989): 48–49.
- "What is an Omnichord?". ABC Radio Hobart. 23 October 2021.
- "Toy Gear that We Love: the Suzuki Omnichord and Casio SK-1". reverb.com. 16 December 2014.
- Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (22 June 2023). "Meshell Ndegeocello: The Omnichord Real Book". Pitchfork.
- "Interview: Daniel Lanois". Red Bull Music Academy. 14 October 2015.
- Prendergast, Mark (September 1987). "The magic of Daniel Lanois". Sound on Sound. United Kingdom: SOS Publications Ltd. p. 42.
- Gerber, Brady (20 October 2020). "The best, worst, and weirdest of Gorillaz, according to Damon Albarn". Vulture.
- Minsker, Evan (4 February 2024). "Meshell Ndegeocello wins inaugural best alternative jazz album award at 2024 Grammys". Pitchfork.
- Roundtree, Cheyenne (1 January 2026). "Lucy Dacus Performs 'Bread and Roses' at NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani's inauguration". Rolling Stone.