Omnichord

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

The various Omnichord models feature a touch plate that the user strums, 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 bass-line accompaniment.

Production ceased with the OM-300 model in 1996. In later years, it underwent a resurgence in popularity due to renewed interest in vintage electronic instruments. A new model, the OM-108, was released in 2024.

History

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Suzuki Omnichord OM-27

The development of the Omnichord started with a request from an overseas sales company to make an electronic musical instrument like an auto-harp. Suzuki started with the Tronichord 'PC-27', renamed the Portachord on some units, followed by the first Omnichord 'OM-27', which featured improvements to the interface, such as the chord buttons. The OM-27 and PC-27 and were both released in 1981, but the latter never reached full production.

The OM-27 was capable of playing 27 chords, and early models required a rubber plectrum to play, though later models featured an updated strum plate. The OM-27 was a commercial failure, so Suzuki released the OM-36 and OM-84 in 1984, also called the System One and System Two, respectively. The naming convention was originally meant to convey the number of chord types the model can produce, with OM-36 prototypes only able to play 36 chords; however, the OM-36 and OM-84 production models can both play 84 chord types. The OM-84 was the first model to feature an onboard Chord Computer, a feature that allowed the user to record a sequence of chords which could then be played back as accompaniment.

In 1989, Suzuki released the OM-100 and OM-200M, which replaced the OM-36 and OM-84, adding updated sounds, an angled strum plate for more comfortable playing, and an optional strap for standing performances. The OM-200M additionally introduced a MIDI output port, allowing the user to control other MIDI-equipped devices using the Omnichord. The OM-150 and OM-250M offered refreshed sounds, and the OM-300 released in 1995 offered the features of the OM-250M but with further updated sounds.

Suzuki released the Qchord QC1 in 1999; it features more modern versions of the original Omnichord's features such as PCM sampled sounds, and more rhythms. The Qchord additionally features both MIDI input and MIDI output ports. In February 2023, Suzuki announced a new Omnichord model to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the company, called the OM-108, available for pre-order and shipping sometime in mid-2024.

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

The most basic method of playing the instrument is to press the chord buttons and swipe the strum plate with a finger in imitation of strumming a stringed instrument. The strum plate may also be touched in one place to create a single note, or touched rhythmically to produce rhythmic patterns.

The Omnichord has three main sound generators:

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

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.

Notable uses

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Suzuki Omnichord OM-200M

The British duo Eurythmics used chords and Sonic Strings from an Omnichord OM-27 on their 1982 single "Love Is a Stranger". The Canadian producer Daniel Lanois has used Omnichords throughout his career; he used one on "Deep Blue Day", from the 1983 album Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks by Lanois, Brian Eno and Roger Eno, saying: "It mimics strings and has a little built-in bass element: almost one-stop instrument that provides a whole sound of an entire band. We found that by recording this thing and slowing it down, we were able to get this very beautiful, deep, jukebox sound."

Lanois later used an Omnichord on U2's "Trip Through Your Wires" from their 1987 album The Joshua Tree, co-produced with Eno. It was plugged it into the Edge's echo effects amplifiers to create the organ chords and "jangling" sound in the background. Lanois referred to the Omnichord as a "toy instrument" with a "beautiful bell-like sound". He has also used Omnichord in his solo work, such as his 1989 debut album, Acadie. Eno played an Omnichord in a live performance of "Miss Sarajevo" with U2 and Luciano Pavarotti in 1995.

Joni Mitchell played an Omnichord on "The Only Joy in Town" from the 1991 album Night Ride Home, and David Bowie played an Omnichord in his live cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "America" for the Concert for New York City in 2001. Damon Albarn of Gorillaz used the Omnichord OM-300's "Rock 1" preset for the drum beat of "Clint Eastwood", which was included on the 2001 album Gorillaz.

Meshell Ndegeocello's 2023 album The Omnichord Real Book became the first recipient of the newly created Grammy Award for Best Alternative Jazz Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. Ndegeocello explains: "The Omnichord gave me a way to work out melodies and ideas without having to look at a screen."

Models

Model	Released	Notes
OM-27	1981	Original model with 27 chord types.
OM-36	1984	also called System One. Can play 84 different chord types.
OM-84	1984	also called System Two. Can play 84 chord types and first to feature onboard Chord Computer.
OM-100	1989	Entry model replacing OM-36.
OM-200M	1989	Premium model replacing OM-84. Adds MIDI Out (denoted by the 'M').
OM-150	1993	Replaces OM-100 with an updated sound engine.
OM-250M	1993	Replaces OM-200M with an updated sound engine.
OM-300	1996	Replaces OM-250M with updated sounds.
Qchord QC1	1999	Contained new digital sounds and featured MIDI In and MIDI Out.
OM-108	2024	Rerelease commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of Suzuki.

External links

• Official Suzuki site
• Omnichord and Qchord users
• Qchord website