# Synth Lead — Instrument

> Synthesizer playing lead melody. Electronic / pop / EDM essential.

## Type
Synthesizer producing melodic lead lines.

## Sub-types
- **Saw lead** — bright, cutting (EDM)
- **Square lead** — hollow, retro (chiptune)
- **Sine lead** — pure, smooth
- **FM lead** — DX7 metallic (80s)
- **Pluck lead** — short attack
- **Supersaw** — multiple saws (trance)
- **Sync lead** — aggressive (modern EDM)

## Famous synth leads
- Vintage: Moog, Oberheim, Korg M1
- 80s: Yamaha DX7
- Modern: Serum, Massive, Sylenth1

## Sound character
- Variable (any timbre)
- Cuts through mix
- Modern / electronic feel
- Often modulated (LFO, envelope)

## Playing styles
### EDM lead
- Big melodic hooks
- Often "supersaw" style
- Drop melody

### Synthwave / 80s
- Catchy retro melodies
- Pluck or saw

### Modern pop
- Subtle synth hooks
- Often layered with vocals

### Trap
- Atmospheric leads (less melodic)
- Pads more than leads

## Effects on lead
- Reverb (atmosphere)
- Delay (echo)
- Distortion (aggressive)
- Sidechain compression (pumping)

## Genre fit
- EDM (essential)
- Electronic
- Synthwave (defining)
- Modern pop
- 80s retro
- Modern hip-hop (atmospheric)

## For Suno
```
[Synth lead: bright saw lead with reverb and delay, big EDM hook melody]
```

```
[Synth lead: vintage Moog-style pluck lead, 80s synthwave melody]
```

## When to use
Electronic genres. Hook moments in pop. Drop melodies in EDM. Avoid in acoustic / folk / classical.