Editing Pete Townshend (section)

=== Keyboards ===
Townshend played keyboards on several Who songs. On ''Who's Next'', he began to work with [[analogue synthesizer]]s, using the [[ARP 2600]] model that he first encountered at [[Cambridge University]].{{sfn|Giuliano|2002|p=95}} He had this to say about the instrument: "I like synthesizers because they bring into my hands things that aren't in my hands: the sound of an orchestra, French horns, strings. There are gadgets on synthesizers that enable one to become a virtuoso on the keyboard. You can play something slowly and you press a switch and it plays it back at double speed. Whereas on the guitar you're stuck with as fast as you can play and I don't play fast, I just play hard. So when it goes to playing something fast I go to the synth."{{sfn|Giuliano|2002|p=96}}

The synths Townshend was referring to included the EMS [[VCS3]] and ARP 2600, some of which modified a [[Lowrey organ|Lowrey TBO Berkshire organ]]. Current photos of his home studio also show an [[ARP 2500]]. Townshend was featured in ARP promotional materials in the early 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/gear/guitar/arp.html|title=ARP 2500 and 2600 synthesizers &#124; Pete Townshend's Guitar Gear &#124; Whotabs|website=Thewho.net|access-date=12 May 2020}}</ref>

Since the late 1980s Townshend has predominantly used [[Synclavier]] Digital Audio systems for keyboard composition, particularly solo albums and projects.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.synclavier.com/about/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Synclavier |language=en-CA}}</ref>