diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.cpp b/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.cpp
index 1aa248bb04..2f0b13bd32 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.cpp
@@ -58,6 +58,11 @@ void SynthesiserVoice::clearCurrentNote()
 
 void SynthesiserVoice::aftertouchChanged (int) {}
 
+bool SynthesiserVoice::wasStartedBefore (const SynthesiserVoice& other) const noexcept
+{
+    return noteOnTime < other.noteOnTime;
+}
+
 //==============================================================================
 Synthesiser::Synthesiser()
     : sampleRate (0),
@@ -407,12 +412,11 @@ void Synthesiser::handleSoftPedal (int midiChannel, bool /*isDown*/)
 }
 
 //==============================================================================
-SynthesiserVoice* Synthesiser::findFreeVoice (SynthesiserSound* soundToPlay,
-                                              const bool stealIfNoneAvailable) const
+SynthesiserVoice* Synthesiser::findFreeVoice (SynthesiserSound* soundToPlay, const bool stealIfNoneAvailable) const
 {
     const ScopedLock sl (lock);
 
-    for (int i = voices.size(); --i >= 0;)
+    for (int i = 0; i < voices.size(); ++i)
     {
         SynthesiserVoice* const voice = voices.getUnchecked (i);
 
@@ -421,22 +425,25 @@ SynthesiserVoice* Synthesiser::findFreeVoice (SynthesiserSound* soundToPlay,
     }
 
     if (stealIfNoneAvailable)
-    {
-        // currently this just steals the one that's been playing the longest, but could be made a bit smarter..
-        SynthesiserVoice* oldest = nullptr;
-
-        for (int i = voices.size(); --i >= 0;)
-        {
-            SynthesiserVoice* const voice = voices.getUnchecked (i);
-
-            if (voice->canPlaySound (soundToPlay)
-                 && (oldest == nullptr || oldest->noteOnTime > voice->noteOnTime))
-                oldest = voice;
-        }
-
-        jassert (oldest != nullptr);
-        return oldest;
-    }
+        return findVoiceToSteal (soundToPlay);
 
     return nullptr;
 }
+
+SynthesiserVoice* Synthesiser::findVoiceToSteal (SynthesiserSound* soundToPlay) const
+{
+    // currently this just steals the one that's been playing the longest, but could be made a bit smarter..
+    SynthesiserVoice* oldest = nullptr;
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < voices.size(); ++i)
+    {
+        SynthesiserVoice* const voice = voices.getUnchecked (i);
+
+        if (voice->canPlaySound (soundToPlay)
+             && (oldest == nullptr || voice->wasStartedBefore (*oldest)))
+            oldest = voice;
+    }
+
+    jassert (oldest != nullptr);
+    return oldest;
+}
diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.h b/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.h
index 7202b4b284..069253ba15 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.h
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.h
@@ -199,6 +199,9 @@ public:
     /** Returns true if the sostenuto pedal is currently active for this voice. */
     bool isSostenutoPedalDown() const noexcept                  { return sostenutoPedalDown; }
 
+    /** Returns true if this voice started playing its current note before the other voice did. */
+    bool wasStartedBefore (const SynthesiserVoice& other) const noexcept;
+
 protected:
     //==============================================================================
     /** Returns the current target sample rate at which rendering is being done.
@@ -481,6 +484,12 @@ protected:
     virtual SynthesiserVoice* findFreeVoice (SynthesiserSound* soundToPlay,
                                              const bool stealIfNoneAvailable) const;
 
+    /** Chooses a voice that is most suitable for being re-used.
+        The default method returns the one that has been playing for the longest, but
+        you may want to override this and do something more cunning instead.
+    */
+    virtual SynthesiserVoice* findVoiceToSteal (SynthesiserSound* soundToPlay) const;
+
     /** Starts a specified voice playing a particular sound.
 
         You'll probably never need to call this, it's used internally by noteOn(), but