A sitar is heard in the intro to Metallica’s “Wherever I May Roam” from The Black Album.
The song’s opening is unusual in Metallica’s catalog because it combines a gong, sitar, and an overdubbed Warwick 12-string bass. Those sounds create an atmospheric introduction before the main heavy-metal arrangement enters.
The 12-string bass was used for effect during the intro, emphasizing several accented notes. A standard-tuned four-string bass supplies the main bass part for the rest of the recording. The song’s guitars and basses otherwise use standard tuning.
The sitar detail is sometimes missed because the instrument is part of the recorded intro rather than a continuing feature throughout the song. In live performances, Metallica has generally relied on the original sitar recording for the opening. During the S&M concerts, Kirk Hammett used a Danelectro electric sitar before switching to his ESP guitar.