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The Omnichord is an electronic musical instrument introduced in 1981 by the Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation. Conceived as an electronic autoharp, it allows users to play harp-like Arpeggio produced through an electronic strum plate, simulating the experience of playing a stringed instrument. The Omnichord found popularity due to its portability, unique timbre, and kitsch value.
The various Omnichord models feature organ-like chords, preset drum rhythms and auto-bass line functionality. A grid of buttons allow the user to select Major chord, Minor chord, and Seventh chord to be triggered by the strum plate, chord buttons and bassline accompaniment.
Production ceased with the OM-300 model in 1996. In later years, the Omnichord underwent a resurgence in popularity due to renewed interest in vintage electronic instruments. A new model, the OM-108, was released in 2024.
The OM-27 featured 27 chord buttons, a strum plate, preset drum machine rhythms, controls for volume, tempo and sustain. It featured only one sound, "harp". In 1984, Suzuki released the OM-36, with 36 chord shapes, and the OM-84, with 84 chord shapes, both with an improved strum plate.
The next model, OM-100, repositioned the strum plate to make it more comfortable to play, and added guitar, piano, banjo, jazz organ, flute, chime, brass, vibraphone and synthesizer sounds. The OM-250, introduced in 1989, added a MIDI out port to enable connectivity with other electronic instruments. The OM-300, released in the early 1990s, added a MIDI in port, a Music sequencer, and different sounds. In 1999, the Suzuki rereleased the Omnichord as the Q-Chord, with a redesigned body, additional sounds, an improved speaker, and an expansion slot for song storage.
Around the 2020s, interest in the Omnichord grew with the rise in experimental music genres and interest in older electronic instruments. In 2024, Suzuki announced a new model, the OM-108, with analogue circuitry, emulations of previous models, new sounds and drum presets, and the ability to play the chord buttons like a keyboard or drum pad.
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 Omnichord has three main sound generators:
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. In 2023, Pitchfork wrote that the Omnichord "feels like a toy", with "cheap" sounds.
The Omnichord was used by 1980s and 1990s pop acts including the Human League, Talking Heads and Devo. Eurythmics used the Omnichord harp sound on their 1982 single "Love Is a Stranger". Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois used a slowed-down recording of an Omnichord on "Deep Blue Day" from the 1983 album to create a "beautiful, deep, jukebox sound". Lanois also used an Omnichord on the U2 song "Trip Through Your Wires" from the 1987 album The Joshua Tree, processed with and guitar amplifiers.
David Bowie used an Omnichord in his performance of the 1968 Simon & Garfunkel song "America" at the 2001 Concert for New York City. Damon Albarn used the Omnichord OM-300's "Rock 1" preset for the 2001 Gorillaz single "Clint Eastwood". Meshell Ndegeocello used an Omnichord to compose her 2023 album The Omnichord Real Book. At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, it became the first winner of the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Jazz Album. Other users include Jim James, Nick Rhodes and Joni Mitchell. At the inauguration of the New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, the singer Lucy Dacus performed the political song "Bread and Roses" accompanied by Omnichord.
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