The singing tadpole synth you play by sliding a finger up its tail
Is this the right fit?
- Best for
- people who want to make music without lessons, gift lists for teens, and anyone building a video setup around a recognizable sound
- Skip if
- The stem is continuous with no frets, so playing in tune takes genuine practice
- Check before ordering
- Confirm the dimensions, exact model, included parts and return terms on the Amazon listing before ordering.
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The Otamatone is an electronic synthesizer built into a tadpole-shaped body about 10.6 inches long. You slide a finger along the stem to change pitch, exactly like a fretless string, and squeeze the cheeks on the head to open the mouth, which adds vibrato and a vocal wah effect. There is no keyboard and nothing to read, so the learning curve is a few minutes rather than months, though playing in tune takes real practice because the stem is continuous rather than stepped. It runs on three AAA batteries and has a low, medium and high pitch switch. Best fit: people who want to make music without lessons, gift lists for teens, and anyone building a video setup around a recognizable sound.
Pros
- No notation or keyboard knowledge needed to start making sound
- Squeeze-the-cheeks vibrato gives it an expressive range most toy instruments lack
- Runs on AAA batteries with no cable or amp required
- Compact enough at about 10.6 inches to travel in a bag
Cons
- The stem is continuous with no frets, so playing in tune takes genuine practice
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know music to play it?
No. You slide a finger up and down the stem to change pitch. Getting notes exactly in tune takes practice, but making sound takes seconds.
Does it come with batteries?
No. It takes three AAA batteries, which are not included.
Can I plug it into an amp or speaker?
The standard model has a built-in speaker and a headphone output. For amp and line-out use, look at the Deluxe or Techno versions.
How loud does it get?
Loud enough to be heard across a room but not amplified performance loud. There is a volume control on the body.
What size is it?
The standard Otamatone is about 10.6 inches, or 27 cm, tall.
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