And enoyed by David Bowie …
This electronic instrument was first released in 1981 by Suzuki, including a touch plate called SonicStrings, preset rhythms, auto-bass line function, and sets of single buttons for playing major, minor, and 7th chords in different keys. There’s also preset rhythms with a tempo and volume control. An electronic version of the Autoharp, with a niche 80s-era electro-pop charm, it is generally played by strumming or swiping the SonicStrings plate and pressing the various buttons.
It also had prototype models, the Tronichord and Portachord, but those that reached production, with various improvements, include the OM27, OM36, OM84, OM100, OM300 QCHORD, and two MIDI-enabled models OM200M and OM250M, all varieties of colours. It has often been used as composition instrument as an alternative to the guitar or piano because of the basic building blocks of chords, rhythm, bass lines and melody made possible.
An OM27 brochure inside spread from 1982. See also the Omnichord Heaven Facebook page
Folktek Omnichord OM36
It’s as much a novelty instrument as anything else, but that hasn’t stopped many famous musicians enjoying, on recorded music, or informally, its simple joys. In this clip Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh, joined by Jerry Casale, perform Patterns on an Omnichord backstage before a show in 2009:
And while the instrument is largely hidden, here’s David Bowie using one as accompaniment to his cover of Simon and Garkunkel’s America at the post-9/11 Concert for New York City in 2001.
A more detailed demonstration comes now via Julian Ducatenzeiler from the Los Angeles psychedelic band Blackfeet Braves, who became Mystic Braves, doing a rendition of the song Strange Lovers:
And finally, here’s a whole Spotify playlist of over 200 songs featuring or written on the Omnichord, featuring a huge range across genres from Arcade Fire to The Black Keys, Gorillaz to Katy Perry to My Morning Jacket, St Vincent to Sharon Van Etten to The The and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, all put together by collector Micah E Wood:
So then, any more songs that were inspired by or featured the Omnichord? Feel free to share any further ones from any form of music, or even film, art or other contexts in comments below.
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