Stylophone
Play vintage synth melodies with a pen-like stylus on a miniature keyboard
The Stylophone is a small electronic synthesizer played by touching a metal keyboard with a stylus pen instead of pressing keys. Created in the 1960s, it became famous when Rolf Harris used it on his novelty hits. The instrument produces retro, lo-fi electronic tones and is perfect for creating catchy, quirky melodies. Modern Stylophones have been revived with improved sound quality and are beloved by lo-fi musicians, chiptune artists, and anyone who appreciates vintage electronic sound design.
How to start
- 1Purchase a modern Stylophone or vintage unit in working condition
- 2Familiarize yourself with the note layout and stylus control pressure
- 3Practice simple melodies and scales using steady, precise stylus movements
- 4Experiment with vibrato by wiggling the stylus on the metal keyboard
- 5Explore different built-in drum patterns and sound presets
What you'll need
- StylophoneEssential~$80
- Stylus penEssential~$10
- Audio amplifier/headphonesNice to have~$60
- Batteries or power adapterEssential~$20
Where to learn more
Plot twists
Ways to spice this up when the basics get boring.
- Create lo-fi hip-hop beats with Stylophone melodies
- Layer multiple Stylophone recordings with loopers
- Compose chiptune soundtracks using only the Stylophone
- Incorporate into experimental electronic performances
Portable, quick to produce interesting sounds, and encourages rapid melodic experimentation. Perfect for short bursts of creative play.
The Stylophone was featured in the 1971 Rolf Harris hit 'Bohemian Rhapsody'—well, actually a different song, but it became iconic in novelty pop music.