Pricing and availability
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Average Price: $430
Budget/Beginner
$500
$1501+
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Description
Meet the Suzuki Omnichord OM-27, a distinct blend of tradition and innovation from the early 80s. This pocket-sized powerhouse, often likened to an autoharp, revolutionized electronic music with its portability and unique features. Its appealing aesthetics, available in brown, ivory, and red, are complemented by a layout of 27 chords categorized into major, minor, and seventh. The Omnichord's signature feature, the Strumplate, offers the ability to modulate synthesized tones, giving musicians a wide range of expressive capabilities. Despite its toy-like appearance, this instrument houses a highly simplistic, yet captivating drum machine, setting it apart as a synth with a character of its own.
Key Features:
- Compact and portable design for on-the-go music creation
- 27 chords divided into three categories: major, minor, and seventh
- Strumplate for modulating synthesized tones
- Simple drum machine presets for rhythmic accompaniment
- Available in three eye-catching colors: brown, ivory, and red
Product specs
| Brand | Suzuki |
| Model | OM-27 Omnichord |
| Finish | Brown, Ivory, Red |
| Year | 1981 |
| Made In | Japan |
| Categories | Analog Synths, Desktop Synths |
| Analog / Digital | Analog |
FAQs
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What type of sound can I expect from the Suzuki Omnichord OM-27?
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The Suzuki Omnichord OM-27 produces unique, electronic tones with its analog sound engine, characterized by its auto-bass/chord accompaniment and harp-like strumming capabilities.
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Is the Suzuki Omnichord OM-27 easy for beginners to play?
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Yes, the Omnichord OM-27 is beginner-friendly, featuring simple chord buttons and a touch-sensitive strum plate that make it accessible for musicians of all levels.
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Does the Suzuki Omnichord OM-27 have MIDI capabilities?
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No, the Suzuki Omnichord OM-27 does not have MIDI capabilities, as it was designed in 1981, prior to the widespread adoption of MIDI technology.
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What is the primary function of the Suzuki Omnichord OM-27?
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The primary function of the Suzuki Omnichord OM-27 is to serve as an electronic instrument that combines chord accompaniment with a strum plate, allowing for easy chord progression and melody creation.
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Is the Suzuki Omnichord OM-27 suitable for live performances?
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While it can be used for live performances, the Omnichord OM-27 is best suited for intimate settings due to its unique sound and limited volume output.
Videos
Patrick Hunter
Suzuki Omnichord OM-27 [Demo]
![Video thumbnail for Suzuki Omnichord OM-27 [Demo] by Patrick Hunter](https://img.youtube.com/vi/aEKJaHv_57Y/mqdefault.jpg)
Suzuki Omnichord OM-27 [Demo]
Patrick Hunter
Suzuki Omnichord OM-27 with Boss RV-6
Speak Seldom Sounds
Omnichord OM-27 Review (1981)
OmniCave
Omnichord Session - 01 (OM-27)
Kali Ker
Most Dreamy Instrument I Own | Suzuki Omnichord OM-27 - Demo & Review
Tiger Arcade
Suzuki Omnichord OM-27
Ronnie Flyvbjerg Olesen
Reviews
PROS
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Easy to create or learn songs with auto chord function
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Can be connected to an amp for enhanced sound
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Balances organic and non-organic sounds beautifully
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Unique strumplate function mimics an auto-harp with smooth tone
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Offers a range of tonal capabilities with reverb and EQ
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Features a drum machine with analog drum sounds
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Auto-bass follows rhythm for cohesive sound production
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Notably shimmery and pleasant lo-fi strumplate sounds
CONS
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Limited to 27 chords, less than later models
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Early models require a rubber plectrum for optimal strumplate use
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Some may find it challenging to find uses for its unique sound
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Suzuki Omnichord OM-27.
Features and functionality
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The OM-27 is limited in versatility, feeling archaic compared to newer models. It cannot play more than one chord simultaneously, unlike some later models.
Source
Value and pricing
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$400 is considered too high for an OM-27 unless it's a rare red model. In the US, prices can drop to $300 or less with negotiation.
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Software and compatibility
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Virtual Omnichord apps exist for Android and Windows, offering a cost-effective way to explore the instrument's features before purchase.
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GarageBand on Mac is a recommended DAW for recording Omnichord sessions; ensure your audio interface is Apple-compatible.
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Focusrite interfaces like the Solo model are praised for compatibility, but ensure two combo inputs for flexibility.
Source
User experience
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Owners enjoy integrating the OM-27 with pedalboards, enhancing its sound despite its basic functionality.
Source
Setup and maintenance
Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 0 Reviews and 15 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
In this live clip from 1995, Eno joins U2 to play "Miss Sarajevo" with Luciano Pavarotti. Eno's Omnichord is on the music stand directly in front of him, and we our first good look at the 1:10 mark.
In this video Charlie Puth uses his omnichord and compares it with space sound I think the video title is quiet self explanatory "Space is cool but so is my Omnichord".
At around 5 seconds in of this video of Melody's home studio, an Omnichord OM-27 can be seen.
In this performance of "The Maker", Lanois accompanies his lead vocal on the OM-27.
In this video Mark Mothersbaugh is playing the DEVO song Patterns on an Omnichord OM-27
Seen @ 1:14 and throughout this performance video.
In this Matt Fishbeck interview, he talks about meeting Ariel Pink and playing his Omnichord
MF: I’ve played Omnichord since the morning after the night I met Ariel in October of 2001. I met Ariel, and he handed me this [Omnichord] when we went back to the ashram where he was living. This isn’t the same Omnichord. I played Ariel’s and then I bought my own, which disappeared on an Ariel Pink tour. I bought another one that died, and then I panicked.
Dave uses this for the song My Time. He says, at 26:55, "This is a Japanese synthesizer...I got it on Ebay."
Throughout this video a Suzuki Omnichord can be seen sitting next to Tom Fec, which version is still unknown because of the low quality of the video but it seems like it could be a OM-27 (Likely the same one featured on Tobacco's 'The Allegheny White Fish Tapes' album cover).
Used in the song "Before The Water Gets Too High" from the album Wide Awake. A. Savage speaking to NPR: The first instance of dub influence on this record. That strange sounding instrument you hear is called an Omnichord and it was made by Suzuki as a user-friendly musical accompaniment instrument. Sean helped me record the original demo for this one in his barn, with me on Omnichord, late one night in Pennsylvania where he lives (yes that’s right). A few days later [guitarist and singer] Austin [Brown] laid down the bass line. It’s a pretty gloomy song, warning about a potential apocalypse scenario that we are all constantly distracting ourselves from. — A. Savage
You can see it at 20:17 in this live at Rough Trade video.
Here, Orla posts a photo of her omnichord. The photo for the OM-27 model has a few charecteristic colour and branding changes but this image also of an OM-27 is the same. http://medias.audiofanzine.com/images/normal/suzuki-omnichord-om27-409116.jpg
Album Usage
The Suzuki Omnichord OM-27 has been featured on the following albums:
Gleichgewicht
Von Wegen Lisbeth (2025)
Foolish Loving Spaces (Deluxe Edition)
Blossoms (2020)
Lieferandomann
Von Wegen Lisbeth (2019)
Wide Awake!
Parquet Courts & Parquet Courts (2018)
Der Untergang des Abendlandes
Von Wegen Lisbeth (2016)
69 Love Songs
The Magnetic Fields (1999)
Original Soundtracks 1
U2 & Brian Eno (1995)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Suzuki Omnichord OM-27, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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