Robert Moog inspires amazing Google synthesizer you can play

Robert Moog, the legendary musical pioneer who invented the Moog and Minimoog synthesizers, is celebrated today in suitably electro style -- with a Google logo that you can play yourself.

The incredible Google logo recreates Robert Moog's classic synthesizer, complete with twiddle-able knobs, flippable switches and playable keys. Not only can you play the clever Google Moog, you can record your Moog music and share it on Google Plus for your friends to enjoy.

The Moog Google doodle celebrates Dr Robert Moog, born on this day in 1934 in New York City. He was a qualified physicist and electrical engineer who pioneered electronic music with his invention of early synthesisers.

In 1964 Moog demonstrated his first synthesizer controlled by a piano-like keyboard. The first synthesisers were modular and custom-built for each user. Classically trained musician Walter Carlos was the first customer in 1967 -- closely followed by Micky Dolenz of The Monkees -- and recorded Switched-On Bach, an electronic classical album that went platinum and awoke the public interest in this unique new sound.

Carlos also used synthesisers extensively on the score for A Clockwork Orange and, after becoming Wendy Carlos in 1972, also scored Tron.

Strange Days by The Doors was the first pop record to feature the Moog, in September 1967. Albums by The Monkees, The Zodiac, The Byrds and Simon & Garfunkel followed. In July 1969, Dick Hyman's The Minotaur became the first top 40 hit to make heavy use of the Moog.

For more Moog -- along with the first recordings, the dirty secret of autotune and John Lennon's flange -- check out our history of musical gadgets.

Google has previously let you carry a tune on the doodle with a stunning playable guitar celebrating Les Paul. Press play on our video below to see the Google guitar and the rest of our favourite Google doodles: