The Beatles introduced the use of the sitar in rock music in their 1965 song “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)”. They followed that with a few others such as “Within You Without You” (1967) on the famous “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album.

The Coral Electric Sitar

Almost no other bands of the time tried to use sitar because it’s a very difficult instrument to play, and was difficult to acquire. New York session guitarist Vinnie Bell and the Danelectro company introduced the Coral Electric Sitar in 1966. Several songs that I like (not top-ten, but good) of the 1960s use the electric sitar. Here are sound clips from five of these songs.

“Green Tambourine” by The Lemon Pipers (1967)

“Cry Like a Baby” by The Box Tops (1968)

“Hooked on a Feeling” by B.J. Thomas (1968)

“Paper Sun” by Traffic (1967)

“Paint It, Black” by The Rolling Stones (1966)

Here are two Beatles songs that use an acoustic sitar.

“Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” by the Beatles (1965)

“Within You Without You” by the Beatles (1967)