Quite simply, it'
s an ancient
guitar instrument from India. It has a unique 'cosmic' sound to western ears. Invented many centuries ago. George
Harrison of the Beatles introduced it into rock'n'roll when sitar maestro Ravi Shankar gave him lessons. 'Norwegian Wood' features it prominently and that's the first
hit song in Western rock to feature it. Soon, other bands such as the Rolling Stones, Kinks and more would use it. Since it's
pretty complex and cumbersome, the easier-to-play electric sitar was invented in the US a few years later. Similar in tone, you can hear the electric sitar in many late 60s - early 70s soul and funk records. Many bands use sitars of both types up to this day.
1. When I was growing up, I had heard songs featuring a sitar, original model and electric. In 1983 the
band YES had a hit single featuring a sitar, 'It Can Happen' from their then current album '90125'.
2. Electric sitars are more commonly used than you might think. They've been used by artists and bands in a wide spectrum spanning from Kool and the
Gang, Duran Duran, Prince, REM, INXS, Dinosaur Jr., ABBA, Lenny Kravitz, several Motown acts, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Police and more.
3. In concerts by Kool and the
Gang, the Rolling Stones and Dinosaur Jr., I've
seen musicians playing electric sitars.
4. Anoushka Shankar is Ravi's daughter and an acclaimed sitarist in her own merit. And her sister is
famous too, we know her by the
name 'Norah Jones'. I shit you not.