Omnichord
Overview
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
, introduced in 1981 and manufactured by the Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation
Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation
is a Japanese company that produces a range of musical instruments.-History:Suzuki was founded in 1953, as a harmonica manufacturer.Suzuki's western U.S...
. It typically features a touch plate, and buttons for major
Major chord
In music theory, a major chord is a chord having a root, a major third, and a perfect fifth. When a chord has these three notes alone, it is called a major triad...
, minor
Minor chord
In music theory, a minor chord is a chord having a root, a minor third, and a perfect fifth.When a chord has these three notes alone, it is called a minor triad....
, and diminished chord
Diminished chord
A diminished triad chord or diminished chord is a triad consisting of two minor thirds above the root — if built on C, a diminished chord would have a C, an E and a G. It resembles a minor triad with a lowered fifth....
s. The most basic method of playing the instrument is to press the chord buttons and swipe the touch plate with a finger or guitar pick
Guitar pick
A guitar pick is a plectrum used for guitars. A pick is generally made of one uniform material; examples include plastic, nylon, rubber, felt, tortoiseshell, wood, metal, glass, and stone...
in imitation of strumming a stringed instrument.
The Omnichord is the technological successor to an earlier instrument, known as the Tronichord
Tronichord
The Tronichord also known as the portachord is a rare electronic musical instrument manufactured by Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation of Japan in the early and mid-1980s. A precursor to the larger and more complex Omnichord and QChord series of instruments by the same maker, the Tronichord was...
, with which it shares many technical and functional similarities.
