The world's first sampler might be the Mellotron, a keyboard that plays recordings of real instruments like violins and pianos. Born in the 1960s as a parlor instrument, it can be heard on recordings ranging from The Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever” to Kanye West’s “Gold Digger.” We hear the story of this unusual instrument from Dianna Dilworth, director of the documentary Mellodrama: The Mellotron Movie.

Musicians: Have you used a Mellotron or a Chamberlin? Tell us about your experience. Leave a comment!