Psychedelic Rock Songs with Sitar

A list of popular Psychedelic Rock songs that feature the Sitar.

The Beatles – “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)”

“Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1965 album Rubber Soul. It was written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The sitar, an Indian string instrument, is played throughout the song by lead guitarist George Harrison. Although basic tracking for the song took place on 12 October 1965, Harrison’s sitar parts were overdubbed three days later, making “Norwegian Wood” one of the first Western pop recordings to feature a sitar.

The Byrds – “Eight Miles High”

The Byrds – “Eight Miles High”

One of the most popular and influential psychedelic rock songs, “Eight Miles High” was written by Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, and Chris Hillman of the Byrds. The song was inspired by a cross-country flight the band took in 1966, during which they experimented with LSD. The sitar playing on the track was done by Hillman, who was influenced by Ravi Shankar’s work.

The Doors – “The End”

The Doors’ “The End” is one of the essential psychedelic rock songs of the 1960s. The songwriter, Jim Morrison, was inspired by the sitar playing of Ravi Shankar and decided to incorporate the instrument into this song. The result is a hypnotic and eerie track that perfectly captures the trippy vibe of the psychedelic era.

Jimi Hendrix – “Third Stone from the Sun”

“Third Stone from the Sun” is a psychedelic rock song by Jimi Hendrix with sitar. It is the opening track on the 1967 album, Are You Experienced. Hendrix wrote the song in 1966 while he was living in New York City. The song is about a spacecraft that is traveling to Earth from another planet. The lyrics are written from the perspective of the spacecraft’s occupants.

The song features a number of innovative musical elements, including the use of sitar, feedback, and reverse tape effects. These elements combined with Hendrix’s guitar playing create a unique and atmospheric soundscape. “Third Stone from the Sun” is considered to be one of Hendrix’s most influential songs and is often cited as an early example of psychedelic rock.

Led Zeppelin – “Kashmir”

“Kashmir” is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, included on their sixth studio album Physical Graffiti (1975). It was written primarily by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant over the course of several years with contributions from John Paul Jones. Due to the length and musical changes of “Kashmir”, it is often regarded as one of Led Zeppelin’s most ambitious and challenging songs.

The song makes prominent use of the sitar, an instrument Page had become interested in after hearing George Harrison play it on the Beatles’ song “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)”. Jones also played mandolin on “Kashmir”. In contrast to other Led Zeppelin songs with sitar like “Your Time Is Gonna Come” and “Black Mountain Side”, where the instrument is used for textural effect, “Kashmir” features a more integral contribution from the sitar throughout the song’s eight-and-a-half minute length.

Pink Floyd – “Interstellar Overdrive”

“Interstellar Overdrive” is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd. It was first released on their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, in 1967. The song was written by Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and Nick Mason, and is one of only two Pink Floyd songs to feature Barrett on lead vocals.

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The Rolling Stones – “Paint It, Black”

The Rolling Stones – “Paint It, Black”
The first psychedelic song on our list is The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It, Black”. This 1966 classic was one of the first popular songs to incorperate sitar into its soundscape, popularizing the instrument in Western music. The dark, hypnotic melody of the sitar combined with Mick Jagger’s urgency create a perfect storm of psychedelic rock.

Santana – “A Love Supreme”

Santana’s “A Love Supreme” is a psychedelic rock masterpiece that features some of the best sitar playing ever captured on record. The song was written by bandleader Carlos Santana and released on the band’s self-titled debut album in 1969.

“A Love Supreme” is a tribute to jazz legend John Coltrane and his iconic album of the same name. Santana’s version features an extended sitar solo from virtuoso player Ravi Shankar that is nothing short of dazzling. The rest of the band is in top form as well, with drummer Michael Carabello laying down a groove that propels the tune forward.

If you’re a fan of psychedelic rock or simply want to hear some of the best sitar playing ever recorded, “A Love Supreme” by Santana is essential listening.

The Velvet Underground – “Venus in Furs”

“Venus in Furs” is a song by the American rock band the Velvet Underground, released on their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. Written by Lou Reed, the song includes viola, bass and sitar playing. It is one of the first pop songs to feature the sitar.

Reed wrote “Venus in Furs” while he was working as a freelance commercial jingle writer. The song was inspired by the 1860 book Venus in Furs by Austrian novelist Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, which tells the story of a man who becomes sexually submissive to a woman.

The Velvet Underground recorded “Venus in Furs” in December 1966 with English producer and musician John Cale. Cale’s use of the viola and Reed’s stripped-down guitar playing give the song an atmospheric sound that reflects the lyrical themes of sadomasochism and domination. The song’s instrumentation and minimal production values were influential on later psychedelic rock songs that featured sitar playing, such as George Harrison’s ” Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” and Traffic’s “Paper Sun”.

Yes – “Heart of the Sunrise”

“Heart of the Sunrise” is a song by the English progressive rock band Yes. It was released in 1971 on their fourth studio album Fragile. The song was written by Jon Anderson and Chris Squire, and was one of the longest songs the band ever recorded, at over 11 minutes in length. It featured extended instrumental sections and a complex structure, with multiple time signature changes. The song also prominently featured a sitar, played by keyboardist Rick Wakeman.

The track was popular with Yes audiences, and became a staple of their live shows. It has been included on several of their live albums, including 2001’s Keystudio and 2002’s In a Word: Yes (1969–).