What is the difference between sitar and guitar? We will explain the differences in playing methods and strings in an easy-to-understand manner.

The sitar, an Indian musical instrument, has a long history and is said to have originated in northern India around the 14th century.
The sitar sound that instantly transports you to another world has been used in many famous songs.

It has been used not only in world famous songs such as the Beatles' "Norwegian Wood" and Pat Metheny's "Last Train Home," but also in Japanese popular music such as SMAP's "Yozora Nomukou."

In this article, we will explain in an easy-to-understand way the differences between the enchanting sitar and the familiar guitar.

Recreate the sitar sound with your guitar!

A tool has been created that allows you to create an oriental sitar-like sound from your regular guitar.
Sitar Express is compatible with acoustic guitars and electric guitars.
You can add tones without adding any effects or new instruments!

▼ Commonalities between guitar and sitar

Guitars and sitars are both classified as plucked string instruments, and they have many things in common.

First of all, both are classified as stringed instruments, and they share the same basic mechanism of producing sound by plucking the strings with your fingers, nails, or picks.
This allows the guitar and sitar to play melodies and accompaniment, and is widely used in various musical genres.

Additionally, guitars and sitars are used in a variety of settings, including music classes, concerts, and recording studios. These instruments are important tools for music lovers and professional musicians to expand their range of musical expression.

▼ Guitarists fascinated by the sitar

For example, George Harrison and Pat Metheny were fascinated by the unique tone and expressive power of the sitar.

George Harrison incorporated the sitar into many Beatles songs, especially songs such as "Norwegian Wood". Harrison was deeply impressed by the oriental tones and utilized the sitar to add a new dimension to his music.

Meanwhile, Pat Metheny was also drawn to the expressive power of the sitar and incorporated elements of it into his jazz music.
Fascinated by the rich tones of the sitar, Metheny created innovative music by experimenting with the fusion of guitar and sitar. By incorporating the unique tones and playing techniques of the sitar, these guitarists added new color and depth to their music, pursuing innovative musical expressions.

▼Difference between guitar and sitar

Next, I will explain the difference between a guitar and a sitar in an easy-to-understand manner.

# Differences in shape and structure

There are some major differences between the guitar and sitar in terms of their shape and structure as musical instruments.
First of all, a guitar is generally a six-string instrument with an integrated wooden neck body. A sitar, on the other hand, typically has more than 20 strings and has a complex neck structure. Notably, the sitar also has additional strings called drone strings, which are used to continuously play certain notes or overtones.

# Differences in playing style

Furthermore, while the general style of playing the guitar is to hold down the fingerboard while playing, the sitar has its own unique way of playing.
On a sitar, the strings are played using a different method of fingering than on a guitar.
In addition, by making extensive use of detailed slides, bold vibrato, and bending, you can create complex and unique tones and tones.

The differences in shape and structure between the guitar and sitar affect the unique musicality and expressiveness of each instrument.

The guitar is a versatile instrument used in a wide range of musical genres, while the sitar is an instrument with an oriental feel and unique tone that is prized in specific musical styles and cultures.

▼How to get the sitar sound?

# Get a real sitar

The first thing that comes to mind is to get a real sitar.
However, there are various hurdles to this.

First, it can be very difficult to obtain a sitar in good condition.
Furthermore, even if you could obtain a genuine sitar, learning the unique playing techniques and maintaining it would be quite expensive.

# Get an electric sitar

There is an instrument called the electric sitar provided by Danelectro and Stars Guitars.

These instruments reproduce the sound of a sitar while maintaining the guitar shape and playing feel that guitarists are accustomed to, so they can be played smoothly even if you switch from a guitar.

While you can enjoy a tone close to that of a real sitar, it requires purchasing a new instrument, which can be inconvenient if you have space or budget constraints.

# Get an effect pedal

Electro-Harmonix's Ravish Sitar effect pedal is also supported by many musicians as a convenient tool for producing sitar sounds.

It's convenient because you just connect an effect pedal to your regular electric guitar, but you do need to get used to the operation and settings of the effect pedal. You will also need to purchase some fairly expensive effect pedals.

# Get Sitar Express

In fact, there is a trick that allows you to get a sitar sound with your regular guitar without having to buy any additional guitars or equipment and without spending a few thousand yen.

That is "Sitar Express".

By attaching this attachment to your guitar, you can easily reproduce the overtone-filled tones that are unique to the sitar.

The Sitar Express allows you to easily enjoy the attractive sound of the sitar, so it is recommended for people who are interested in the sound of the sitar or who want to make a sitar-like sound with a guitar.