Who are the world’s top keytar players and bands? What about the greatest keytarists in the world?
While you might assume that its only the guitar players and pianists (basically those who play popular musical instruments) who hog the limelight, the fact is that there are many who play the Keytar exceptionally well and quite renowned.
Most Keytar players usually start on the piano or the keyboards and then move over to the Keytar (because it offers them mobility on stage).
Here we take a look at the top keytarists in the world who perform in different genres of music, including rock, blues, jazz, swing, J-pop, and new age.
Some of the greatest keytarists also happen to be famous musicians, and most of them are virtuoso keyboardist and spent years playing synthesizers (and composing with them).
Some leading musicians who play the Keytar include Lady Gaga, Jordan Rudess, Rick Wakeman, Tetsuya Komuro, Keith Emerson, Shania Twain, Henrik Klingenberg, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Jan Hammer, Stephen Devassy.
Watch Migos Perform “Get Right Witcha” With Zaytoven Live On Keytar.
Earlier Days
The Keytar was a huge hit in the 1980s; here are some famous bands and songs that used the Keytar.
- The Keytar was made popular by the band Devo (in the 1980s).
- The song “Relax” by the band ‘Frankie Goes to Hollywood’ used the keytar heavily, and was responsible for catapulting the Keytar into the spotlight.
- Well-known artist Herbie Hancock (a virtuoso on the keytar) had a number of hits in the 1980s. His song “Chameleon” is a good example of keytar playing.
- Edgar Winter’s hit song “Frankenstein” used the keytar heavily.
However, the momentum slowed down in the next decade and by the early 2000s, the Keytar was lost in oblivion.
Thankfully, the keytar is making a comeback. Artists like Lady Gaga, the band Mutemath, No Doubt, and the Black Eyed Peas have been seen using one in recent years.
Lesley Symons actually patented the keytar name, prior to unsuccessfully pitching the concept to Roland. Although the Roland, Yamaha and Casio designs were better than Lesley’s own Keynote Musical Instruments products, they were unable to use the description “keytar” until the copyright protection expired in the 1990s.
Famous Keytar Players
Here are some famous keytar players; most of these keytarists can play the keyboard and piano as well.
Most keytars have a fixed pseudo-guitar neck, whereas some synths such as the Roland SH101 and the Siel DK70 had optional keytar grips. However, some keyboardists pretend to have a keytar simply by adding a guitar strap to their regular keyboard, but that doesn’t make it a keytar. If the keyboard instrument doesn’t have the full pseudo-guitar neck then it’s not actually a Keytar. Best Keytars: Reviews
Watch: Jordan Rudess plays Keytar Solo in Recife, Brazil
Watch: Lady Gaga performing On the Keytar
Laura Mvula, British soul singer-songwriter (classically trained composer) from Birmingham, using a giant white keytar.
Watch Jan Hammer on the Keytar
Watch: Croatian keytar player Belinda Borat Bedekovic, has one of the fastest fingers
Hod Moshonov aka Bemet shows off his keytar skills
Israeli electronic artiste Hod Moshonov, under his world-famous stage name Bemet, is among the select few musicians responsible for reviving the 80’s instrument Keytar.
The first time Bemet saw the Keytar…
Bemet recalls the first time he saw the instrument, now his most recognised asset – the keytar. “That’s the first time I saw a crazy keyboardist play and act like he’s a rockstar. From the moment I touched it, I knew this was my instrument.”
“I’ve been making music since I was five and I started with the piano. I even went to the Berklee College of Music. Till the age of 21, I was really into jazz. Then I went to serve in the Israeli Army, as is mandatory in the country. This is funny because I had luck on my side and I was a music producer in the army! That was the place I became familiar with electronic music.
My music is a mix. I came from a jazz background and I do everything in between rock and trance. I want people to love the idea of the two particular genres I’m really into – Indian music for its rhythms and Arabic music for its melodies. The beautiful blend between these two vibes is what I showcase in my sets,” says Bemet.
It was his stint as a ghost producer for Israeli artiste Borgore that cemented his career.
“I had my foundation in music with the musical knowledge I gained from my passion for American jazz. However, it was Borgore, who helped me take off into who I am today. He went to school with me. While I continued with jazz, he became a dubstep superstar in the US. He called me over one day and asked me to work with him as a ghost producer. I got familiar with the electronic world. That’s when he told me to take off with the keytar and gave me the name Bemet.”
BEMET – Sababa [official video]
Q&A with Keytar player V.J. Manzo
V.J. Manzo is an accomplished musician who does several musical things – compose, perform, lecture, and more. Although his primary musical instrument is the guitar, he loves playing the Keytar as well.
The Keytar is a cool, retro electronic instrument that musicians love to play on stage. V.J. Manzo talks about his fascination for the Keytar.
“I began studying guitar at 13 years old! I’ve been writing music since that time. As an undergraduate music education major, I studied classical guitar and began composing art music and music for theatre. Around the same time, I transitioned from going to studios for recording time, to recording and making music using computers,” V.J. Manzo.
V.J. Manzo has authored the book Max/MSP/Jitter for Music: A Practical Guide to Developing Interactive Music Systems for Education and More.
When and why did you decide to start playing Keytar?
I’ve been playing keytar for a little over 5 years now. I play in a group where it is necessary to use multiple keyboards at once. I wanted to play an instrument that allowed me to move around freely on the stage, instead of always being tethered to the keyboard on a stand that is stuck in one location. The keytar, in particular the vintage Roland AX-7, looked retro and quirky, so I decided to use it because it made the parts I perform on it a little bit more fun and noticeable for the audience.
Do you remember your first Keytar performance? What was running through your head?
Yes! I remember thinking, “WOW! This instrument looks cool and twill take a little bit of getting used to after playing keyboard. How do I hold this thing and play with good technique?!”
Watch: V.J. Manzo playing keytar
What Keytar do you own?
V.J. Manzo owns the Roland AX synth.
Reviews of the best Keytars.
Boston Keytar Bear
The hottest new entertainer in Boston is a diminutive man in a battered bear costume, hammering out uptempo ’80s pop hits on a shoulder-slung keyboard (key tar). This Keytar Bear does corporate events as well.
Bear Plays Keytar
Here’s a list of the world’s best keytar players rated on Ranker.com
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
Sonya Bowles says
Really, James Liegh isn’t on this list? Bogus. Anyone happen to know who Cameos keytar player was in the 80s?