Six synths that define Radiohead’s soundRadiohead fans study their favourite band as if they were seeking a doctorate.
Last year, the Abingdon-formed five-piece embarked on their first tour in nearly a decade, and the fans analysed and digitised every song they played at every stop. There’s a YouTube page filled with old interviews, and entire fan-made websites dedicated to the gear they’ve used both in the studio and on stage.

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Members Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Jonny Greenwood (guitar, keyboards, other instruments), Colin Greenwood (bass), Ed O’Brien (guitar, backing vocals), and Philip Selway (drums) have built their legendary reputation on exploring new sonic territory every time they make music. Still, there are a few pieces of gear that have been with them for the bulk of their 41 years together.
From the subtle electronics of OK Computer, to the lead synth lines of Kid A, and to the ambient textures of King of Limbs, here are six instruments vital to Radiohead’s sound:

Ondes Martenot / Analogue Systems French Connection
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Jonny Greenwood became obsessed with the Ondes Martenot instrument as a teenager after listening to Olivier Messiaen’s Turangalila Symphony (1948), an 80-minute, 10-movement piece that features the 98-year-old instrument.
Greenwood got his hands on a version while Radiohead was recording Kid A in Paris in 1999. His model was made in 1983 by Mr Martenot’s son. It has four octaves instead of the original six, and it uses additive synthesis.
Eventually, Greenwood commissioned Analogue Systems to build a controller in the same style out of concern that his antique would be damaged in transit (even though he has taken the original on recent tours). That commission is known as the French Connection, which can be bought secondhand for around $3,000.
The eerie yet warm electronic tones of Jonny’s Martenot are ubiquitous on Kid A (2000) and Amnesiac (2001). The opening pad and lead electronic sweep on How to Disappear Completely as well as the spectral layers beneath the crunchy bass and drums on The National Anthem.
Speaking to the documentary filmmaker Caroline Martel on his rare synth, Greenwood said: “It was distrusted by all the early electronic composers because it was too passionate, it was too lyrical and expressive. They were looking for electronic sounds that were quite brutal and raw, so it was a bit overlooked.”

Mellotron M400
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This is another niche instrument Greenwood used in early Radiohead recordings. It was in their studio for OK Computer (1997) and ended up on several tracks on the primary release (Exit Music (For A Film), Airbag, Paranoid Android) and a couple of B-Sides (I Promise and Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2)), that made it to the extended release, OKNOTOK 1997-2017 (2017).
Many of the sounds seem organic on a first listen. One is the grand choir sound that closes Exit Music (For A Film). Another is the similar choral section during the bridge of Paranoid Android. These moments sound convincingly human because the Mellotron M400 transmits audio from individual pieces of tape for each key. After the key is released, the tape is automatically rewound. As such, the sound is completely analogue, but also brings a certain phase and metallic edge that can fold well into a larger synthetic feel.

Novation Bass Station
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Colin Greenwood is the band’s revered bass guitarist, but the group also look to synths like the Novation Bass Station for their low-end sound. The Novation Bass Station — which is available as a plugin for $129 and has a hardware version for $579 — was the low-end for the OK Computer song Climbing Up the Walls.
The electronic quality is immediately apparent as the band uses the instrument’s analogue filters to widen the bass from pure low-end to a jittery, sludgy sound. It’s an ideal foundation for the combination of acoustic guitar and other atmospheric electronic noises.
The Novation Bass Station was in their live setup, on duty for bass-heavy songs such as Myxomatosis.

Moog Minimoog
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Radiohead got their hands on an original 1974 Minimoog Model D to create the full-bodied bass and some ancillary sounds for Lotus Flower. Known for its incomparable Ladder filters and trio of VCOs adept for low frequencies, it was the perfect choice to create a bassline that engulfs the bottom range without impacting Yorke’s iconic falsetto.
Radiohead have also used the Minimoog as a live synth bass for well over a decade. They played it in their From The Basement set for King of Limbs in 2011, and it was on stage for their 2025 tour. They were even spotted using it in a photo of their sessions for their latest album, A Moon Shaped Pool (2016).

Sequential Circuits Prophet 5
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Radiohead did not put out any singles leading up to the release of Kid A. So, Everything In Its Right Place was the world’s introduction to the new, totally electronic version of Radiohead — specifically the descending synth line pulsing with beautiful, rumbling harmonic tones that Radiohead made with the Sequential Circuits Prophet 5. In the subsequent quarter-century, the song has been remixed many times and synced into numerous movies.
The ubiquity of the Prophet 5 goes beyond Radiohead, though. It was in huge demand before they picked it up, finding its place on iconic songs such as Thriller, Take On Me, and Like A Virgin. Radiohead might be revered for their innovation, but they don’t shy away from synths because they’re popular, and they have used the Juno throughout their entire career.
The Prophet 5 was on Thriller, Take On Me, Like A Virgin, and endless other songs from the 80s and 90s. Its value is tried and true, and Radiohead have kept around their original at least through the A Moon Shaped Pool sessions.

Dave Smith Instruments Prophet 8
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Dave Smith did it again with the Prophet 8 (manufactured by his new company, Dave Smith Instruments, after he left Sequential Circuits), and since Radiohead were hip to his mastery, they quickly snatched one up.
Staircase, the B-side to The Daily Mail, features buzzy layers from the Prophet 8. Identikit, which was a live favourite before Radiohead released it on A Moon Shaped Pool, features the Prophet 8 during the post-chorus, playing the misty ascending synth line.
To that end, it makes sense that Identikit was a live favourite as Yorke uses the Prophet 8 frequently during performances. A software version is available from Soundtower as well for $49.95-69.95
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