The "Keytar" on trial

Okay, there's a raging debate in my house right now over the "keytar."




My 14 and 16 year old sons contend that the keytar is "TOTAL METAL AWESOMENESS."

First time they made me watch a video...I thought it was "neat" and all, but felt like it was a cheap trick to emulate guitar work. And subsequently, a metal abomination.

But I don't know. That's my initial, knee-jerk response. However, have real metal bands been using these all along and I'm just naive and didn't know? They pointed out a solo in Sinbreeds first album that they say HAD to be one. I think it was just a keyboard and searched online for any shred of evidence for them using one and found nothing. I have no problem if the "keyboard" guy in a metal act uses one for the purpose of keyboard effects, etc. I think that's cool and certainly adds to a stage performance. But not doing the rhythm or lead guitars.

I'll let Dave Mustaine do the talking on this one:

"It was attempt to dress up the keyboardist like a freemoving member of the band, but the end result was making a musician look like a retard, the keytar was the worst musical invention ever"

I chose "abomination".....with a small exception for Alestorm!   

The keytar is an ABOMINATION. 'nuff said

I don't quite know which side of the argument this supports, but I'll post it anyway.



Personally, I don't have a problem with a keytar although I wouldn't go so far as to describe it as "total metal awesomeness".

It falls into the "so bad, it's good" category for me. I'd gladly strap one on for a stage show just to say I did it. It's the rock/metal equivalent of the hurdy gurdy - just some strange mutant that should have died ages ago but refused to shuffle off.

...My god... The keytar is the Coelocanth.   

Undecided. I really have no opinion on the thing.

Voted undecided - I think they look stupid and are an excuse for the keyboard player to move from his spot on the stage... what's next, a Drumtar?

That said, I couldn't vote for Abomination, since the I didn't like the description of that vote.

There are two albums by The Allman Brothers Band that I cannot find a single redeeming quality about and that is saying something.   This is due to the "Keytar"

Those albums are "Reach For The Sky" and "Brother Of The Road" 

Undecided. They are kind of dumb looking but the guy from Alestorm plays one so it can't be all bad.

I have to go undecided.  I'd have voted for it's okay.  Since keyboards where the only instrument I even had the slightest amount of ability in playing I can't hate on it.  And if I'd pursued it to being in an actual band I would've wanted to use a keytar to move around on stage.  Then it would have probably been awesome in my eyes.

Keytarded.

Incredible. I want everybody to move on stage if they can. If I'm a keyboard player I don't want to just be sitting on a riser in a shadow the entire time. The change of angle requires skill too.

The mere mention of the Keytar reminds me of Keel's video for "Tears of Fire," which reminds me of my college girlfriend (who inexplicably decided that it should be "our" song)... and she turned out to be a psycho hose beast, soooo... yeah, abomination.

Fat Freddy wrote:

...Keel's video for "Tears of Fire," which reminds me of my college girlfriend (who inexplicably decided that it should be "our" song)...

And I feel like this is probably the only time this has ever happened.

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

...Keel's video for "Tears of Fire," which reminds me of my college girlfriend (who inexplicably decided that it should be "our" song)...

And I feel like this is probably the only time this has ever happened.

"Dude, that's more messed up than this guys sexuality"

  

I *did* say it was inexplicable. Haha.

I have no idea why my then-girlfriend liked that song so much. She was from Germany, so maybe there was a language barrier thing going on...

Not to mention, by the time this chick and I got together Keel's brief time in the spotlight had already come and gone, so yea, it was a totally odd pick.

But she heard the song one day when we were just randomly listening to tapes and she just fell in love it, made me play it about a zillion times. She made me sick of it within a couple of days (and I never liked it very much to begin with!)

Hey Joker, there is such a thing as a Drumitar! Roy Wooten plays one in Bela Fleck & the Flecktones. Saw them live a few years back, one of the best shows I've ever seen.

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

Incredible. I want everybody to move on stage if they can. If I'm a keyboard player I don't want to just be sitting on a riser in a shadow the entire time. The change of angle requires skill too.

Keytar bro-fist!   

Fat Freddy wrote:

The mere mention of the Keytar reminds me of Keel's video for "Tears of Fire,"

Just in case some of you haven't seen this classic clip, check out Ron Keel's bad-ass onstage keytar hero moves:

Hamer12 wrote:

Hey Joker, there is such a thing as a Drumitar! Roy Wooten plays one in Bela Fleck & the Flecktones. Saw them live a few years back, one of the best shows I've ever seen.

The beat me to my get rich quick scam!

Why bother with a keytar when you can pick up a full keyboard instead?

keytar is NOT something I look for in music, but from the original post's videos,
I am reminded of one of my favorite LP's - the Death Wish II soundtrack by Jimmy Page.
I wonder if Jimmy used one ?
Him and Ace Frehley were never afraid of checking out new musical technology.

It's ok if you're Journey

Prince's PurpleAxe is the only keytar in existence to EVER be cool. Tommy Barbarella could WAIL on that thing.