If the Mellotron gave prog its ghostly orchestra, the Moog and its synthesizer cousins gave the genre its rocket fuel. Suddenly a keyboard could roar, purr, bend and swoop like nothing heard before, opening up whole new galaxies of sound. The best Moog and synthesizer moments in prog rock are where those fat analogue leads and pulsing electronics take a track into orbit. Here are five essential examples, plus more to explore.

“Lucky Man” — Emerson, Lake & Palmer

The solo that put the Moog on the map. At the close of “Lucky Man,” Keith Emerson unleashes a swooping, portamento-drenched Moog lead that seems to soar right off the record — one of the first times a synthesizer took a starring solo in rock. Bold, vocal and thrillingly new, it announced the Moog as a lead instrument every bit as expressive as a guitar, and inspired a generation of keyboardists to reach for the pitch wheel.

“On the Run” — Pink Floyd

Pure electronic tension. Built almost entirely from a hyperactive sequencer pattern tapped into an early synthesizer, “On the Run” turns Pink Floyd’s studio into a machine of pulsing paranoia, its restless arpeggio racing beneath swirling effects. It showed that synthesizers could generate rhythm and atmosphere as well as melody, conjuring an entire mood from circuitry alone. Few pieces capture the sheer futuristic thrill of early synth experimentation quite so vividly.

“Tom Sawyer” — Rush

The synth hook heard round the world. The growling, unmistakable synthesizer motif that punctuates “Tom Sawyer” is one of prog’s most iconic electronic moments, Geddy Lee weaving fat analogue stabs through the song’s muscular groove. It marked the point where Rush fully embraced synthesizers as a core part of their sound, proving the instruments could be aggressive and heavy as well as spacey. Instantly recognisable, it remains a landmark of synth-driven rock.

“Close to the Edge” — Yes

Analogue fireworks in a symphonic epic. Across the four movements of “Close to the Edge,” Rick Wakeman layers cascading Minimoog leads and shimmering synth textures, his solos bursting from the arrangement like sunlight through clouds. He treats the synthesizer with a classical player’s sense of line and drama, using it to soar, sing and dazzle. It is a masterclass in weaving virtuoso synth playing into the grand architecture of a prog masterpiece.

“Phaedra” — Tangerine Dream

The birth of the synthesizer dreamscape. On “Phaedra,” Tangerine Dream let a hypnotic, self-generating sequencer pattern ripple and mutate for seventeen glorious minutes, floating vast synth pads and eerie melodies above it. This is the sound of the Berlin School: immersive, cosmic and entirely electronic, a world away from guitar-and-drums rock. Its influence on ambient, electronic and progressive music alike is impossible to overstate, and it still sounds like the future.

More essential synth moments

The electronics run deep. Jean-Michel Jarre built shimmering, melodic synth symphonies on the landmark Oxygène, while Vangelis — whose roots reached back to the symphonic rock of Aphrodite’s Child — became a master of lush, emotive synthesizer soundscapes. Tony Banks threaded biting ARP synth leads through classic Genesis, Gentle Giant’s Kerry Minnear brought playful invention to his keyboards, and in the modern era Jordan Rudess fires off dazzling synth solos with Dream Theater. Wherever prog reaches for the future, the synthesizer leads the way.

Go deeper

Follow the electronics further in our guide to the greatest synth solos, then explore the other machines that shaped the genre through the finest Mellotron moments and Hammond organ moments. Meet the players behind them in our countdown of the best prog keyboardists of all time and the essential keyboard albums. Meet the other masters at the prog musicians hub — from the greatest guitarists to the finest drummers — or settle a few rivalries at our prog rock band comparisons hub.

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