This retrospective piece traces the evolution of the synthesiser from a curious studio novelty into a defining force in popular music, arguing that the instrument reshaped songwriting and production far beyond what its early pioneers, including Dr Robert Moog, could have anticipated. It profiles ten landmark synthesisers, examining how each moved electronic music from research labs and niche experimentation into mainstream pop, and highlights the specific songs and artists that showcased their capabilities.

The list begins with the 1939 Hammond Novachord, the first commercial synthesiser, used on Vera Lynn's original 1939 recording of "We'll Meet Again". It then moves through devices such as the EMS VCS 3, notably wielded by Brian Eno on Roxy Music's "Virginia Plain" and their August 1972 Top of the Pops performance, and the Minimoog, credited as the instrument's most influential and widely recognised archetype for making synths portable and accessible beyond studio settings.