7/28/2019 History of Synths

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History of Synthesisers (1920 1988)

1920 Theremin

An Instrument controlled by moving

your hand near the two aerials, which

manipulate pitch and portamento.

Example: Beach Boys Good Vibrations

Midsomer Murders Theme

1928 Ondes Martenot

Keyboard instrument that produces theremin tones

by manipulating a ribbon underneath the keyboard.

Example: RadioheadHow to Disappear

Completely

1954

Hammond B-3 organA Tone wheel drawbar organ that is played

through a rotating speaker which was used

mainly from the 1960s onwards.

Example: Deep Purple

1965 Rhodes Piano

Classic electric piano that sounds like a bell

crossed with a vibraphone. Similar to the

Wurlitzer electric piano.

Example: Herbie HandcockBitch Brew (1970)

1968 Hohner Clavinet

Classic funk sounding piano.

Example: Stevie Wonder

Superstition(1972)

1969 - Minimoog

Portable version of the moog modular synth; known for

its monophonic lead synth sound.Example: Living for the CityStevie Wonder (1973)

1977 Sequential Circuits Prophet-5

Polyphonic analogue synth that can play 5 notes

simultaneously.

Example: Paul McCartneyWonderful Christmas Time

(1979)

1981 Roland Jupiter-8 (JP-8)

Polyphonic synth capable of playing 8 notes

simultaneously one of its main features includes

a built in arpeggiator.

Example: Queen Radio Gaga

1982 Roland TB-303

Used in dance music during the 1980s Acid

House. Created bass lines and has a

distinctive squelch sound.

Example: Phuture Acid Trax

1983 Yamaha DX-7

First commercially successful digital synth which used FM

(Frequency Modulation). Capable of creating a range of timbres

and its potential is shown when creating real sounds.

Example: Brian Eno (Created Unique and Interesting Timbres)

1988 Korg M1

Sampling Synth used extensively in pop music during the

1980s and 1990s. It creates accurate realistic sounding

instruments as well as more unusual timbres.

Example: Mike Oldfield