5 Key Facts About the Sitar's Pop Debut on 'Norwegian Wood'
- George Harrison played the sitar on ‘Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)’, marking the first time the instrument appeared on a pop recording.
- The song was released on The Beatles’ 1965 album Rubber Soul.
- Harrison’s use of the sitar was a landmark moment for pop instrumentation, introducing Indian classical sounds to a mainstream audience.
- He learned to play the sitar from Indian musician Ravi Shankar, who became a major influence on Harrison’s music.
- The track’s success helped spark a wave of interest in Indian music and instruments in Western pop and rock.