Skip to content
Curated category

Electronic musical instruments

  • Keyboard instrumentA row of levers pressed by fingers defines the keyboard instrument. This mechanical action separates the category from how sound is actually produced.
  • Drum machineIn 1930, Léon Theremin built the Rhythmicon at Henry Cowell's request. This instrument could play sixteen different rhythms based on the overtone series.
  • Music sequencerIn the 9th century, a Persian engineer named Banū Mūsā created an automatic flute-playing machine powered by steam. This device used exchangeable cylinders…
  • Sampler (musical instrument)In 1969, Peter Zinovieff and his team at the Putney Studio in London began experimenting with two mini-computers known as Digital Equipment PDP-8.