Why You Need a Keytar – Daniel Fisher

Though they’ve been around for decades, keytars are typically associated with the maximalist glam, technological innovation, and resulting artistic explosion of the 1980s. Now, cutting-edge developments in sound circuitry have led to a renaissance in performance-minded design that allows you to take your keys to any axis without sacrificing sonic quality. No longer is a keytar just an arcane relic of a bygone era or a novelty MIDI controller. In fact, the keytar is really just about to hit its stride. Wanna know why? Tune in with Daniel Fisher to learn more about how you can liberate your sound with the power of the keytar. Check it out!

0:00 – Intro
0:18 – Brief Keytar History
0:56 – Why a Keytar?
3:51 – Left-hand Controls
4:18 – Korg RK-100S2
4:53 – Yamaha Sonogenic SHS-500
6:19 – Roland AX-Edge
7:54 – Yamaha Reface CP, DX, YC, and CS
9:53 – Casiotone CT-S1000V & CT-S500
10:39 – Alesis Vortex Wireless
11:10 – Keytar as MIDI Controllers
11:25 – Thanks for Watching!

#Sweetwater #Korg #RK100S2 #Keytar #DanielFisherSweetwater #DanielFisher

[PLAZALOT]

2:00 this has always been one of my pet peeves. When the guitars are playing, the camera is all up in it. But when it gets to the killer keyboard solo, it’s hey….look at the audience….look at the pretty lights….look at the lead singer making faces….here’s a couple of pics of my grandkids…here’s a pic of my toe fungus. ANYTHING but showing the keyboard player. Guess I’m not the only one to notice this!

[kiskadar]

"We are the keytarist. We have one job, and that is to run around the stage and make the guitarist regret ever letting us get rid of our keyboard stands. That
is our job. We are there to upset guitarists who are too full of themselves. Everything else is secondary." (Pink and the Keytar
Cat, 2018)

[stickyfingers]

I love that the reason basically just boils down to “it looks dope”

[tab]

The reason cameras don’t focus on keyboard players is because they stopped wearing badass capes

[BillVincent]

I spent the past year deciding on exactly which keytar was best for me. I even took the journey to Sweetwater just to try them out in person. I ended up with a Roland Ax Edge. I wanted a really good quality, full-size keybed with built-in sounds. My old keytar was the Roland AX-7, which was great but due to it's age was getting stuck notes, which is the nightmare scenario for a keytarist. I love the Ax Edge, although I will say it's fricking HUGE. It's considered oversized on airplanes, so you'll pay extra just to travel with it in a decent case. The Yamaha SHS-500 was okay, and the sounds were good, but the "sustain" button was not a real sustain button, nor did it send a sustain MIDI CC message to control other synths, nor could you change the midi CC of the buttons. The Vortex actually came in a close second to the Roland for me - I almost got it, but it doesn't have on-board sounds, and given my hatred of stuck notes and my fear of BT MIDI, I opted for the Roland instead. The Korg's look/feel just wasn't for me.

All in all, the Roland is the most professional of the bunch, but also the most expensive. If you're just wanting to have a little fun with a keytar, the SHS-500 or the Vortex are both really good options for just playing around. If you are wanting a full-bodied instrument that would stand up in a pro environment, probably the Roland or Korg is your best bet IMO.

I will warn people tho - guitarists actually get jealous of the keyboard player getting out on the front of the stage. No, I'm not kidding. It's happened to me in two bands that I introduced the keytar to. You're fine behind your keyboard in the back of the stage, but stay in your lane, or they will get upset! Now I do a solo gig. :) Thank you Daniel for your great demos, and for keeping the keytar torch alive!

[sofiaschain]

I spent hours watching keytar videos and it breaks my heart because I can't afford to buy one. One day I will... I promise.

[obquixote]

That organ part you played on the Roland was _real_ nice, man.

[rozzgrey]

I came to sneer, but stayed to cheer! Dan can sell anything!

[stephencoakley]

Well I will say, I absolutely love my Roland AX-Edge. Not something I use all the time, but its a really fun instrument to play.

[gautrstafr]

I have the Yamaha SHS-500, what got me is the portable size and excellent keybed. Yamaha's reface keybed is the best smaller sized keys and this one has the same exact keybed, plus BLE MIDI. Don't expect to use anything but the keys and the pitchbend to control other synths. Best for portability. Faceplate is easily unmounted for painting it in an original pattern.

[margaretpatel]

I’ve been using my Reface CS as a keytar for 5 years now, and I freaking love it! It’s the perfect instrument for live gigs, jam sessions, or just pacing around my apartment making music.
Also, I like the CS in particular because the controls provide a lot of room for creativity and because the lack of presets keeps my sound synthesis skills sharp. I have my favorite sounds memorized, and I know how to quickly create a new one if a song calls for it or add expressive effects to a solo.
If you own any of the Reface models, I HIGHLY recommend you get yourself a strap attachment and rock out with it! You won’t regret it :)

[thesolutionband]

We have the Lync LN1000 from the early 90s or so. It’s pretty rad. Still works great!

[jamesdefrancesco]

Patrick Moraz 1985 with the Moody Blues. CS80 on stage and then straps on the keytar for "I'm just a Singer". Geeky and cool.

[geovariusofficial]

J'en possède 15 de toutes les générations, et je confirme, le keytar c'est la vie !

[MartinHenry]

I have a Roland AX-7 Keytar from way back and a newer Yamaha sonogenic SHS 500 Keytar like in Daniel video but in red. One thing I will say is they sure do hold there value especially the older ones. So a good investment as well. Thanks for the video Daniel

[darrylday]

DX100. I moved the strap lugs so I could switch fast between one hand and two hand playing. I wired in a sustain button beside the mod wheel and ran it through whatever guitar amp was available at whatever open blues jam I could get into. I played slide guitar licks with the bender and harp solos using the breath controller. It was my first keyboard and it was cheap and I literally wore it out. Eventually, I got a job and bought a real keyboard.

[granturismo]

Korg one looks the most mobile and user-friendly, without being clunky like some others

[kornandfoofighters]

HAHA this guy is full of gems, "a keytar says, "I'm here to make a sound...what sound?" ahahah thats the funniest thing ever, also "one hand is plenty" ahaha both i will use moving forward

[danieldougan]

I have a weird fascination with this instrument. I play keyboard only at home (88 weighted keys), and I have no reason to get one of these, but they're a fun oddity.

I think the main reason to have one is so you can act like a guitarist and move around the stage during a performance.

My favorite musician to use a keytar has to be Stevie Wonder.

[camfactor]

took a pilgrimage down to sweetwater and picked up an ax edge. 10/10. Looks like a weapon a b-movie bad guy would use. Love sweetwater.