What keyboard did Stevie Wonder use on Superstition?

Stevie Wonder used a Hohner Clavinet D6 on "Superstition." The D6 was the flagship model of Hohner's Clavinet line and became synonymous with 70s funk music. Its distinctive percussive, guitar-like tone made it perfect for the song's rhythmic foundation.

How to get Stevie Wonder Superstition clavinet tone?

Start with a Clavinet D6 sound (hardware or plugin), blend direct signal with a lightly overdriven amp, and emphasize the high-mid frequencies. The key is the percussive attack and slight grit without losing the instrument's natural clarity and punch.

What makes the Superstition keyboard sound so funky?

The funkiness comes from the Clavinet's unique string-and-pickup design that creates a percussive, almost guitar-like attack. Combined with its bright, cutting tone and the slight amplifier overdrive, it creates that signature rhythmic punch that defines 70s funk.

Can you play Superstition on a regular electric piano?

A regular electric piano won't capture the authentic sound since Clavinets use strings and pickups rather than tines or reeds. You need either a real Clavinet, a good Clavinet plugin, or a keyboard with quality Clavinet modeling to get close to the original tone.

What amp settings for Stevie Wonder Superstition clavinet?

Use a clean amp setting with just a touch of overdrive or natural tube saturation. Keep the gain low but add some presence and high-mid emphasis to maintain the Clavinet's cutting character while adding subtle warmth and grit.

keyboard from "superstition" by stevie wonder

superstition

stevie wonder

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Tone Profile

The iconic clavinet sound is funky, percussive, and bright, with a slightly overdriven edge that cuts through the mix. It's the quintessential 70s funk keyboard tone.

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Hohner Clavinet D6(instrument)
Custom Amp(amp)
Neumann U87(microphone)

The Story

Stevie Wonder used a Hohner Clavinet D6 on "Superstition," which became the gold standard for funk clavinet tone. The session was recorded with producers Bob Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil, who were known for blending the Clavinet's direct signal with amplified sound to create that signature percussive, cutting tone. The Clavinet's built-in pickup system was combined with amplification to add slight overdrive and presence that made it slice through the dense funk arrangement.