You know that sound. That shimmering, buzzing, mind-bending sound that made your favorite rock songs feel just a little more cosmic. It’s the sitar—an instrument rooted in centuries of Indian classical tradition, and by the mid-1960s, plugged straight into the heart of Western pop and rock. Whether used as spiritual seasoning or a psychedelic centerpiece, these 20 songs prove the sitar set some songs free.
1. “Love You To” – The Beatles (1966)
George Harrison’s first full sitar showcase, “Love You To” wasn’t just an experiment—it was a full-on raga-rock awakening. It introduced millions to Indian classical music and changed the way pop could sound forever.
2. “Paint It, Black” – The Rolling Stones (1966)
Brian Jones’ sitar work gave the Stones’ already-haunting track an otherworldly energy. A chart-topping lament wrapped in hypnotic drone, it remains one of rock’s most iconic uses of the instrument.
3. “Hurdy Gurdy Man” – Donovan (1968)
Mystical, murky, and utterly mesmerizing, this track pairs Donovan’s spiritual lyrics with a sitar that spirals like incense smoke in a candlelit room. It’s folk, but from another dimension.
4. “When We Was Fab” – George Harrison (1987)
A loving, psychedelic wink to Beatlemania, this track is all sitar shimmer and backward loops. Harrison’s solo work often returned to the instrument he helped bring to rock’s main stage—and this is one of the finest.
5. “Holiday Inn” – Elton John (1971)
Hidden within Madman Across the Water, the sitar on “Holiday Inn” adds a gentle twang that transforms this road-weary ballad into something oddly serene. A subtle, shimmering texture beneath Elton’s piano magic.
6. “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)” – Scott McKenzie (1967)
The Summer of Love in one song—and yes, that delicate sitar glistening behind the flower-power melody is what ties the whole bouquet together. Pure peace and paisley.
7. “Paper Sun” – Traffic (1967)
Sitar blends effortlessly with Steve Winwood’s acid-drenched vocals in this psychedelia-drenched debut single. A British invasion classic that owes as much to Ravi Shankar as it does to blues and jazz.
8. “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” – The Beatles (1965)
The one that started it all. George Harrison’s introduction of sitar to Western pop wasn’t flashy—it was poetic. One brushstroke of Eastern sound opened the door to a musical revolution.
9. “Tales of Brave Ulysses” – Cream (1967)
Though often mistaken for sitar, the guitar tone mimics its swirling drone so perfectly it deserves mention. Eric Clapton channeled raga spirit into psychedelic blues—and the voyage still stuns.
10. “Cry Like a Baby” – The Box Tops (1968)
Sitar and soul? Yes, please. This Memphis track mixes pop hooks and psychedelic flair with a sitar line that takes it to unexpected places—cool, catchy, and completely unique.
11. “Itchycoo Park” – Small Faces (1967)
“It’s all too beautiful” indeed—especially with that dreamy sitar lacing its way through mod psychedelia. The perfect picnic soundtrack for a kaleidoscope-colored summer day.
12. “This Time Tomorrow” – The Kinks (1970)
Ray Davies’ ode to existential travel features subtle sitar work that gives the song a floating, introspective vibe. It’s more about mood than melody—and that’s where the magic lies.
13. “Monterey” – Eric Burdon & The Animals (1967)
A love letter to the Monterey Pop Festival, complete with sitar flourishes that celebrate the East-meets-West fusion of the time. It’s history, harmony, and hallucinogens rolled into one.
14. “Within You Without You” – The Beatles (1967)
Harrison’s deepest dive into Indian classical music, with no guitars or drums in sight. Just tabla, sitar, dilruba, and philosophical wonder. It’s not a song—it’s a meditation.
15. “Sunshine Superman” – Donovan (1966)
Proto-psych-pop laced with sitar vibes and groovy swagger. Donovan knew how to flirt with mysticism without losing the beat—and the sitar here is both accessory and anchor.
16. “Tomorrow Never Knows” – The Beatles (1966)
Okay, technically no sitar, but its swirling loops, backward guitars, and drone owe everything to Indian influence. A trippy benchmark that showed how deep the sitar’s shadow could stretch.
17. “See My Friends” – The Kinks (1965)
Ray Davies beat almost everyone to the punch with this sitar-inspired drone-rock gem. The instrument’s not explicitly used—but the atmosphere and intent are pure raga-rock.
18. “Signed D.C.” – Love (1966)
Arthur Lee’s mournful track about addiction is sparse and aching, with a sitar threading through like a heartbeat. It’s haunting and heartfelt, a far cry from psychedelic indulgence.
19. “Main Title” – The Beatles’ Help! (1965)
The soundtrack album featured incidental music by Ken Thorne with sitar-heavy arrangements that hinted at what was coming next. Call it the opening notes of a cultural shift.
20. “The Inner Light” – The Beatles (1968)
One more for George. Recorded with Indian classical musicians, it’s the first Beatles song to feature none of the band members but him. The sitar sings here—gentle, reverent, and wise.
From British invasion bands to psychedelic trailblazers, the sitar didn’t just cross over—it elevated everything it touched. Whether it shimmered in the background or blazed up front, these songs proved that one instrument could stretch a song’s soul all the way to another continent.
