So many amazing guitarists, so many awesome shreds, strums, and solos. Somehow all these virtuosi have one thing in common: they’re all men. Really? No, of course not! That’s why we’ve put together a list of ten mind-blowing guitar goddesses for you. Prepare to be educated!
Kaki King
Kaki is an American guitarist and composer. This woman is known for the different styles she plays; jazz, punk, folk, you name it and she shreds it. When Rolling Stone magazine published a list of “The New Guitar Gods” in 2006, Kaki was the only woman on it. When you see her shining, you know she won’t let you down.
Play along with “Playing With Pink Noise”
Orianthi Panagaris
Orianthi is an Australian musician, singer and composer. In 2009 she was rehearsing with Michael Jackson for his This Is It tour. Later, she also performed with Alice Cooper’s band. Orianthi has been named one of the twelve greatest female electric guitarists by lifestyle magazine Elle. According to her Instagram, she loves blueberries; just so you know.
Play along with “According to You”
Jennifer Batten
Speaking of MJ, Jennifer Batten is an American guitarist who has worked a lot as a session musician and solo artist. Between 1987 and 1997 she played in all three of Michael Jackson’s world tours where she made the audience wild with her guitar solo in “Dirty Diana” and her punk hairstyle.
Jennifer released three studio albums: in 1992 her debut Above Below and Beyond; in 1997 the album Jennifer Batten’s Tribal Rage: Momentum; and Whatever, an album that was released on CD and DVD in Japan in September 2007. Yup, this girl’s got mad skills.
Gabriela Quintero
Gabriela Quintero is one half of the guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela. Both are extremely talented musicians, originally from Mexico. Their trademark is a fast and rhythmically played, classical guitar style in which Gabriela takes on the role of rhythm guitar. The two met in a thrash metal band. Later the duo moved to Europe to get more appreciation for their music.
Play along with “Mettavolution”
Lita Ford
Lita started as a guitarist in The Runaways, side-by-side with Joan Jett. After that, she had a solo career with her pop-metal sound. In 1988 she released Lita, a sexy riff-stuffed album that left rockers and mainstreamers screaming for more. This guitar goddess became best-known for “Close My Eyes Forever.”
Nancy Wilson
Nancy Wilson is an all-rounder. Besides being a bizarrely good guitarist, she is also a singer, songwriter, producer, and composer. She grew up with her older sister, Ann Wilson; and together they played in the rock band Heart. This was the first hard-rock band with two front women. Nancy has been praised for her guitar playing in which she is able to mix the elements of flamenco, classical, and hard rock without hesitation.
Liona Boyd
Liona was born in London and grew up in Toronto. She was thirteen years old when she got her first guitar as a Christmas present. She mainly plays classical music and was a musical sensation and TV celebrity in the 70s. Fun fact: she was dubbed First Lady of the Guitar.
Susan Tedeschi
Susan is one of the guitarists in the group Tedeschi Trucks Band, alongside her husband Derek Trucks. They have both grown tremendously as guitarists since they found each other. Susan has Derek to thank for her jazz influences, before she met him she was mostly interested in R&B.
Maybelle Carter
Maybelle Carter was a member of the Carter Family, one of the first rural music groups. Maybelle played the autoharp, banjo, and guitar in the group. She was known for her own sound and innovative scratch style of guitar playing. Maybelle used her thumb to play the melody on the bass and middle strings, and her index finger to determine the rhythm.
Play along with “Wildwood Flower”
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Sister Rosetta Tharpe was an American guitarist from the thirties and forties of the twentieth century. She became known for her interpretation of gospel music by giving it a unique touch. She did this by accompanying the lyrics with a rhythmic rock section. Her music has influenced rock-‘n’-roll artists like Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. With this guitar goddess we end our list and hope you have enough inspiration to step up your game now. Happy jamming!