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Sitar Facts

The sitar is a plucked stringed instrument used in Hindustani and Indian classical music. The instrument descended from lutes and was also influenced by the veena, an ancient Indian instrument. The body is characterized by a long hollow neck and a gourd resonating chamber at the lower end. Teak wood or tun wood are commonly used for the neck and faceplate. The instrument looks a lot like the tanpura, except that it has frets.

Here are a few more sitar facts. This unique instrument has 18, 19, or 20 strings. Six or seven are played strings which run over curved, raised frets. The rest are sympathetic strings which run underneath the frets and resonate in sympathy with the played strings. The frets are movable, which allows fine tuning.

More Sitar Facts

Fun Fact
A person who performs on this string instrument is called a sitarist.

Notable sitarists include Pandit Nikhil Banerjee, Ashwin Batish, Anjan Chattopadhyay, Annapurna Devi, Reenat Fauzia, Lowell George (Little Feat), George Harrison (The Beatles), Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Brian Jones (The Rolling Stones), Shri Premadasa Hegoda, Prem Joshua, Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan and The Khan Family, Al Gromer Khan, Gabby La La, Dr. Swarn Lata, Emily Robison (Dixie Chicks), Ravi Shankar and his daughter Anoushka Shankar, and Ronnie Wood (The Rolling Stones).

Beautiful Girl Playing Sitar

Canvas Poster Print

Beautiful Girl Playing Sitar Vintage Poster High Quality Canvas Print 12×16 Poster

The Sitar in Mainstream Pop Culture

Though highly popular in the Indian culture, the sitar gained fame on the worldwide stage when the Beatles featured the instrument in several of their compositions. Sitarist Ravi Shankar inspired lead guitarist George Harrison to play the instrument on the song “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown),” written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney in 1965. “Love You To,” written and sung by George Harrison in 1966, was the first Beatles song to fully embrace Indian classical music.

George Harrison received one-on-one guidance from Ravi Shankar during a seven-week visit to India, which left a lasting impact on his musical style. He promoted Indian music for the remainder of his long and successful career.

Brian Jones played the instrument on The Rolling Stones 1966 hit “Paint It Black.” Another English guitarist, Dave Mason, played it on Traffic’s 1967 hits “Paper Sun” and “Hole in My Shoe.” Ravi Shankar described this pop song trend as “the great sitar explosion.”

Ravi Shankar Playing Sitar

Vintage Painting Metal Sign

Ravi Shankar Painting Retro Collectible 8×12 Metal Wall Sign – Pre-Drilled Holes for Mounting

Listen to the Sitar

Performed by Anoushka Shankar

Anoushka Shankar is the daughter of Indian sitar maestro Ravi Shankar. Anoushka began training with her father at the age of seven, eventually accompanying him on the tanpura. She was 13 when she performed sitar onstage for the first time at a concert celebrating her father’s 75th birthday. After establishing herself as a respected classical sitarist, Anoushka began composing music. Her unique style blends Indian music with flamenco, jazz, electronica, and Western classical genres. Musical talent runs in the family. Both she and her half-sister Norah Jones were nominated for Grammy awards in 2003.

Best Gifts for Music Lovers

We’ve created more than 2,000 products for string instrument players and music lovers. Find a unique gift for your favorite sitar player or enthusiast. Beware of inferior copycats! Our original designs are available here and in our String Kings Music Sitar collection.

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Maharaja Musicals Electric Sitar

Product details:

#1 Rated Sitar
Fully tuned electric sitar with pick up
Handmade and professionally tested in India
Exquisite inlay work and floral carving
7 main strings and 13 sympathetic strings
Kharaj Pancham style
Mizrabs
Extra set of strings
Nylon padded gig case

Maharaja Musicals Electric Sitar, Fully Tuned Studio Edition with Mizrabs, Extra String Set Carefully Handmade in India from Natural Color Tun Wood with Exquisite Inlay Work

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La Bella ST30 Sitar Strings – Excellent Quality Plain Steel & Plain Golden Alloy Loop-Ends – Easy to Install Karuna Sitar Strings – Professional Quality Complete Set of Sitar Strings – Individually Packed in Paper Packets Vadyam Mizrabs – Plectrum, Pick for Indian Sitar – Set of 2 Double Grip Mizrabs – High Quality Stainless Steel Sitar Virtuoso and Composer Ravi Shankar – The Master – His 90th Birthday Collection (2010) – 3 Audio CDs