Dubbed one of the most popular Indian musical instruments, the sitar, derived from the Persian word sehtar, is a guitar-like stringed instrument with a signature reverberating buzz.
It’s often associated with South Asian and Middle Eastern music, frequently appearing in classic and “old-time” movies.
The sitar is filled with historic and familial significance. Here are 13 of the most interesting facts about the sitar you might not have known!
1. The Sitar Is Over 700 Years Old
Although still popular to this day, the sitar is one of India’s oldest instruments, up there with the pakhawaj (a barrel-shaped drum), the sarangi (a non-fretted bowed instrument), and the sarod (a stringed instrument).
The sitar is believed to have been invented in the 13th century, over 700 years ago. This makes it older than the piano, the guitar, and the violin.
2. No One Knows Where the Sitar Originated From
The origins of the sitar are still debated. Indian scholars argue it is of Indian origin, while Western scholars suggest it likely comes from West Asia.
Some Muslim scholars believe Indo-Persian Sufi singer Amir Khusrow (c. 1253–1325), said to have pioneered major forms of Hindustani classical music, developed the sitar.
It’s also possible that the sitar evolved from the Tritantri veena, a long-necked lute from the 10th century, a theory supported by one of the world’s most famous sitarists Ravi Shankar.
3. The First Sitar Only Had Three Strings
Early versions of the sitar had only three strings; in fact, the Persian word sehtar means “three-stringed.” In the 1700s, the sitar expanded to five strings, as used in the Hamir-Raso by Rajasthan author Jodharāja.
Today, sitars can have between 18 and 21 strings, but players only play one set. The playable set includes five to seven strings that pass over rounded frets and tuning pegs at the neck’s tip.
The other set consists of about 13 to 15 sympathetic strings of different lengths, running under the frets and tuning pegs at the top edge of the neck. These sympathetic strings vibrate with the played strings. Each set has its own bridge.
4. The Sitar Is Extremely Difficult to Master
The sitar is one of the hardest classical instruments to master and is much more challenging to play than a guitar. The pedagogy, tuning, fret count, and musical system are all very different from the latter.
While the basics aren’t too difficult, there are many intricate “rules” players must follow. Players must glide from one note to another while tuning the sympathetic strings, and even fretting is challenging.
Mastering the sitar is made harder by the complexity of Indian classical music. It takes years of lessons from respected masters to truly learn and master the instrument, much like martial arts.
5. Ravi Shankar Is India’s Most Popular Sitar Player
In India, Ravi Shankar was — and still is — considered the most virtuosic player of the sitar, so much so that the fully decorated “instrumental style” sitar is dubbed the Ravi Shankar style.
He, along with the famous tabla player Alla Rakha, is believed to have been responsible for introducing the sitar in Western culture in the 1960s.
6. George Harrison Learned the Sitar From Ravi Shankar
Throughout the 20th century, Ravi Shankar influenced musicians worldwide, including George Harrison of The Beatles.
Harrison used the sitar in the song “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown),” which helped popularize Indian music. However, Shankar was not impressed when he first heard Harrison play the sitar, saying in an interview that it sounded like “an Indian villager trying to play the violin.”
Harrison wasn’t offended and admitted that his sitar playing on “Norwegian Wood” was basic. He later went to India to study the sitar under Shankar.
After several months of lessons, Harrison admitted that mastering the sitar would require decades of practice, proving that while anyone can play the sitar, playing it well is a different matter.
7. The Sitar Was Popularized in Pop Music in the 1960s
The 1960s Beatles song, “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown),” is the first pop music that featured the sitar.
Thanks to its booming popularity, other famous bands started using the instrument to add a little flair to their songs. This includes The Rolling Stones and The Doors.
8. The Sitar Is One of the Most Expensive Musical Instruments in India
The cost of the sitar is determined by the instrument’s appearance, material, and manufacturer. Depending on the quality, a sitar can cost anywhere between $300 to a whopping $15,000!
Some of the best sitars by Indian musical instrument maker Hemen & Co. range from $3,600 to $14,000.
George Harrison’s sitar, which he had bought for only a couple of dollars in the UK, was sold for $62,500 in the US as a collectible.
9. The Sitar Comes in Multiple Types
There are several types of sitars, with the most popular being Kharaj Pancham, Gandhar Pancham, and Surbahar.
The Kharaj Pancham, also known as the Ravi Shankar style, has several playable strings and two extra bass strings. It’s the most popular type and is often decorated with jewels and other embellishments.
The Gandhar Pancham, or Vilayat Khan style sitar, has four drone strings, two melody strings, and 11 sympathetic strings but no bass strings.
The Surbahar, or bass sitar, has three to four drone strings, four playing strings, and 11 sympathetic strings. It features thicker strings and a longer neck compared to the other two types.
10. The Sitar Is Made Out of Four Primary Parts
The sitar is approximately four feet long and made out of four primary parts: the dand, the tabli, the gulu, and the tumba.
The dand, also known as the fingerboard, is made out of Sheesham wood.
The gulu is a block of wood that connects the tabli, the sitar’s fundamental source of sound, and the tumba, the reverberating part of the instrument.
In a way, the sitar looks fairly similar to the tambura, another popular long-necked stringed instrument in India.
11. Sitars Can Last Up to 45 Years in Good Condition
Sitars have an average life expectancy of 30 to 45 years, depending on the quality of care given to the instrument. High-quality sitars can last up to 75 to 100 years, but they’re more of a collectible than a playable instrument.
Over time, the sitar’s neck will bend due to the tension from the strings, making it harder to play. Its neck and strings will have to be replaced every 20 or so years for it to be in playing condition.
12. The Sitar Is Commonly Played With a Mezrab
The mezrab is the sitar equivalent of a guitar pick. It is made of stiff steel and is worn on the index finger of the sitar player.
Some players wear a second mezrab on their middle fingers to assist them with playing.
13. The Sitar Takes Hours to Make
Not only is the sitar difficult to play, but it’s also difficult to make. Most sitars are made by hand to preserve the quality and integrity of the instrument.
On average, it takes up to 12 hours to make a single sitar from scratch. David Courtney, a teacher of Indian music, wrote a simplified guide for making the sitar.
Summing Of Our List of Sitar Facts
The sitar is a beautiful instrument with an equally beautiful history. The instrument plays a vital role in Indian culture, and it’s almost always used in older-themed Bollywood movies.
Even today, modern musicians continue to experiment with the sitar’s unique sound. Although it’s fairly challenging to play, the sitar has millions of active learners across the globe.
