UBERMENSCHIST Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 I would like to know if anybody has developed a technique in which they could strap a keyboard onto themselves like a guitar (without the strap getting in the way of the hands). I've been using a guitar strap, but when I wear it like a "guitar hero", it gets in the way of my left hand and I have to awkwardly position my hand underneath the strap. Are any products that can eliminate this problem for me? I hate having to sit down *to play my music, and I hate keyboard stands. I've been wearing my synthesizer like a utility belt and so far, it's worked but I have to be careful because it can fall (like a loose belt) and I don't want to break my keyboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magronbass Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 something like this?http://www.umop.com/rk100.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Yes, they have. They are called keytars. Many jokes are made about them, because lots of keyboard players look like dorks behind one. http://www.gruposmadrid.com/articulos/keytar.jpg http://jimburgessdesign.com/comics/images/news_pics/keytar.jpg http://laorangefactory.blogspirit.com/images/medium_Belinda_VTVa.jpg Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanker. Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 TH3 B3ST THNG ABOT KEYTARS IZ THAT U IN$TANTLY RAWK LIKE 608734598723690837560987435 TIMEZ H4RDER THN U DID B4 LOL!!!!!!!!!!!! A ROMpler is just a polyphonic turntable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Golly Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Does anyone understand what I'm going through? I understand the words you're saying, but I fail to comprehend what you're going through... sorry. Oh, and I can't help but feel that this image is somehow pertinent: http://www.svengolly.com/img/trollxing.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidLifeCrisis Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 http://www.timetunnelmusic.com/Emoticons/laughing1.gif Steve A Lifetime of Peace, Love and Protest Music www.rock-xtreme.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Schmieder Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 They can be quite exp;ressive, but I rarely have the luxury of being able to focus on only one part at a time, and combining that with the general unreliability of every model ever made from every manufacturer, alongside the premium on eBay due to their uniqueness, I have steered clear... thus far. At the right price, adequate features and sensitivity (velocity, aftertouch, etc.), I would buy one in a flash. Not to look cool on stage, but because I know it would make me play differently, phrase differently, and maybe produce a better performance for certain types of patches (in the studio, if not at a gig). I mentioned several times, by now long ago, how blown away I was when some kid came buy to buy an old Casio rack-mount synth from me that I had posted on Craigslist, and had such mastery of his Roland AX-7 that everything sounded so organic and fluid and expressive compared to what I was doing with that same module from the keyboard or even from my wind controller (Casio, like Yamaha, tended to set up separate voice banks for keyboard, guitar, and wind controller inputs). Here is a wonderful site that discusses every keytar ever made -- though not in detail. Its main attribute is being a good single-sourcec lookup of what has been and/or is available: http://www.vintagesynth.com/ That website does not support updating the URL once clicking on internal links, so the easiest way to find the page is to look at the list of recently added models and select the Roland AX-7. As I also mentioned in a recent posting, the keyboardist in another local 80's band that I occasionally sub for (on bass, my main instrument), recently bought a used Yamaha keytar along with a CME WIDI breakout box. The Yammie comes in many colours but the one he found on eBay was painted to look like the DX7 (though it has no internal sounds, FM-based or otherwise). The Yammie controller has one stuck key, a few chipped keys, and dodgy jacks, but other than for the CME WIDI box recycling a couple of times during the gig (quickly corrected but embarassing if during a lead solo), this setup worked great and the girls loved it :-). Probably the first time he ever got noticed at a gig :-). Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35, D'angelico SS Bari, EXL1, Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, LP 57, Eastman T486, T64, Ibanez PM2, Hammond XK4, Moog Voyager Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBERMENSCHIST Posted December 6, 2007 Author Share Posted December 6, 2007 Does anyone understand what I'm going through? I understand the words you're saying... That's Wonderful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBERMENSCHIST Posted December 6, 2007 Author Share Posted December 6, 2007 They can be quite exp;ressive, but I rarely have the luxury of being able to focus on only one part at a time, and combining that with the general unreliability of every model ever made from every manufacturer, alongside the premium on eBay due to their uniqueness, I have steered clear... thus far. At the right price, adequate features and sensitivity (velocity, aftertouch, etc.), I would buy one in a flash. Not to look cool on stage, but because I know it would make me play differently, phrase differently, and maybe produce a better performance for certain types of patches (in the studio, if not at a gig). I mentioned several times, by now long ago, how blown away I was when some kid came buy to buy an old Casio rack-mount synth from me that I had posted on Craigslist, and had such mastery of his Roland AX-7 that everything sounded so organic and fluid and expressive compared to what I was doing with that same module from the keyboard or even from my wind controller (Casio, like Yamaha, tended to set up separate voice banks for keyboard, guitar, and wind controller inputs). Here is a wonderful site that discusses every keytar ever made -- though not in detail. Its main attribute is being a good single-sourcec lookup of what has been and/or is available: http://www.vintagesynth.com/ That website does not support updating the URL once clicking on internal links, so the easiest way to find the page is to look at the list of recently added models and select the Roland AX-7. As I also mentioned in a recent posting, the keyboardist in another local 80's band that I occasionally sub for (on bass, my main instrument), recently bought a used Yamaha keytar along with a CME WIDI breakout box. The Yammie comes in many colours but the one he found on eBay was painted to look like the DX7 (though it has no internal sounds, FM-based or otherwise). The Yammie controller has one stuck key, a few chipped keys, and dodgy jacks, but other than for the CME WIDI box recycling a couple of times during the gig (quickly corrected but embarassing if during a lead solo), this setup worked great and the girls loved it :-). Probably the first time he ever got noticed at a gig :-). Thank You for the useful response! It seems as though keytars are only capable of being played with one hand (I would like to use two); besides what would be the difference between a keytar (strapped to your back) and a normal synth? I'm thinking about modifying an alesis micron by adding on "strap buttons" but then my dilemna resurfaces because it's difficult to play with the strap in the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tusker Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Generally, around here ... remote keyboards (I prefer that to the guitaristic term keytar) are somewhat less than popular ... mostly because they make you look like a guitarist wannabee, I guess. However some good players have used them upon occasion ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0hKMdFaU-A Hammer uses a Lync. Jordan Rudess (playing second fiddle to Jan in the above videos) has been seen carrying a Zen Riffer around recently ... Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magronbass Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 didn't george duke use the Moog liberator a lot back in the days? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Schmieder Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Yeah, that link isn't complete after all, as I had forgotten about the Liberator myself. Until seeing that page though, I didn't know that Jan Hammer had used the Lync, so that was news to me when I found that keytar listing a few days ago. I guess I simply didn't know what he used as I'd never seen him live. Maybe in the 70's he used the Liberator? But there was no MIDI yet, so was it even possible (or safe) to do a remote keyboard using C/V cabling? Or was there a keytar that had sounds? Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35, D'angelico SS Bari, EXL1, Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, LP 57, Eastman T486, T64, Ibanez PM2, Hammond XK4, Moog Voyager Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 AFAIK, Jan Hammer was intimately involved in the Lync, it may have even been built to his specifications. The first keytar I can remember is Gary Wright's Minimoog, simply cut into 2 cabinets and the wiring from keyboard to synth just run down a long snake. Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Coury Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 http://www.albinoaid.com/edgar_winter.jpg "Oh yeah, I've got two hands here." (Viv Savage) "Mr. Blu... Mr. Blutarsky: Zero POINT zero." (Dean Vernon Wormer) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tusker Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 didn't george duke use the Moog liberator a lot back in the days? Yup. Not sure what this controller is ... doesn't look like a Liberation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM9dY6hs9Gw He has a great solo synth voice ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 didn't george duke use the Moog liberator a lot back in the days? Yup. Not sure what this controller is ... doesn't look like a Liberation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM9dY6hs9Gw He has a great solo synth voice ... It's a Dukey Stick! Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Stanley Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 I hope this isn't considered off topic but I was hoping someone could advise me how to proceed with an idea I had for taking a two tiered keyboard stand and afixing a guitar perpendicular to the floor on each tier so I can sit down and play both. I'm sure no one has ever done that. What do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieP_MechE Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Looks like Edgar Winter did something similar with his ARP 2600: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahZark Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Looks like Edgar Winter did something similar with his ARP 2600: I've seen that video before, and I always find it incredibly self-indulgent. It's like Edgar Winter is saying, "Look how many instruments I can play! Synth! Sax! Drums! Impressive, huh!" Admittedly, it is impressive, but still . . . Also, Uber: What you're describing (having to tuck your left arm under the strap to play your keyboard standing up) is really no different than the way, say, a lap steel guitar player has to play his guitar if standing. For a recent pop culture example, check out the lap steel player in The Clark Brothers on "The Next Great American Band" on Fox. There's no other "solution" to your problem. Of course, it would be irresponsible of me not to encourage you (as others have done in their own way) to abandon this idea of playing your synth like a guitar. It demeans our instrument and "elevates" the guitar (and guitarists don't need any help feeling better about themselves). If you think it's cooler to stand in front of a crowd with an instrument slung over your shoulder, then learn how to play guitar or bass. In the meantime, play your keyboard the way it's meant to be played (on a stand). My two cents, Noah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tusker Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Looks like Edgar Winter did something similar with his ARP 2600: I've seen that video before, and I always find it incredibly self-indulgent. I do too. It's why I never bothered with remote keyboards. Some people think it's an age thing. i.e. when you are certain age, you associate coming to the front of the stage with importance. But several keyboard anchored bands have keyboardists who sit and play and lead. It's the music that matters. Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave E Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Anybody here remember Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis strutting around behind Janet with Keytars? THEY could pull it off.... I'll certainly never try anything like that in public (again). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iLaw Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 I always wondered why nobody made a left-handed (or reversible) keytar so you wouldn't have to relearn synth bass lines in your right hand. Larry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richwhite9 Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Seriously. Who wants to see a keyboard player wearing a strap on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iLaw Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Seriously. Who wants to see a keyboard player wearing a strap on? How quickly we forget Larry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richwhite9 Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 On that video she has her keytar mounted and she approaches it with respect and plays it like a form of worship. I find that a desirable trait in a woman . But what's her problem? Doesn't she know what a major scale is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfD Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 But several keyboard anchored bands have keyboardists who sit and play and lead. It's the music that matters. Jerry +1 Maybe I'm way too partial to our instrument. I've always thought a cat sitting down and/or standing behind a rig and playing some killer stuff was cool. Having to step out front with a strap-on just seems lame and ghey. PD "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarkus Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 http://www.charkbait.com/cs/images/braid9.jpg That's the best thing I can come up with... No strap to get in the way. I don't know how you'd mount it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue JC Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Actually, you could get something like this: http://msni.pricegrabber.com/pi/0/84/35/8435354_640.jpg remove the drums and mount your keyboards. Voila! No straps to deal with. I wouldn't - but you could. Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer. W. C. Fields Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABECK Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 I've always thought it would be possible to construct some kind of rig with two small keyboards (micron size), mounted at a "V" angle (kind of like those ergonomic computer keboards). Of course, this would require some kind of shoulder and torso mounting sceme. Probably more work than it's worth. Other random keytar musings:The bass player for Oingo Boingo used to play a Lyncs(sp?) keytar for the bass line on "Dead Man's Party." He held it sidways against his body, an his left hand reached around and played they lower notes backwards.Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis had trenchcoats, which helped the cool factor.If anyone watched "Flight of the Conchords" on HBO, there was a hillarious episode with a keytar. One of the band members brought a keyboard player to meet the manager, suggesting that he join the band. The manager was so confused about the keytar he was carrying - is it a guitar? Is it a keyboard? It's just going to be confusing to the audience. No, I don't like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahZark Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 If anyone watched "Flight of the Conchords" on HBO, there was a hillarious episode with a keytar. One of the band members brought a keyboard player to meet the manager, suggesting that he join the band. The manager was so confused about the keytar he was carrying - is it a guitar? Is it a keyboard? It's just going to be confusing to the audience. No, I don't like it. Love that show (and that episode). Noah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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