Top Ten Best Female Guitarists
Joan Marie Larkin known professionally by her stage name Joan Jett, is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and occasional actress, best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, preceded by success with The Runaways, including their hit song "Cherry Bomb". The rowdiest, raunchiest (in a good way), rawest rock guitar player in the studio and on stage. Her chops and chord approach probably helped the big boys in thrash metal gain some confidence in their early playing. All attitude and loud guitar - that's Joan Jett!
Two words: pure epicness. Joan Jett is a major influence on young women in the music business.
She's also one of the top punk guitarists.
Nancy Lamoureaux Wilson is an American musician, singer, songwriter, producer, and composer. She rose to fame alongside her older sister, singer Ann Wilson, as a guitarist and backing vocalist in the rock band Heart, which she joined in 1974. When Nancy Wilson picks up her guitar, you know you're going to be blown away by her dynamic, aggressive acoustic playing or her raunchy rock rhythms on the electric. Her amazing picking styles add to her dynamic persona on stage, making her the ultimate guitar queen.
Her songwriting and magical voice make her a complete artist. She's been rocking and creating music for a good 40 years. If Nancy Wilson had been male, she would have made "God" status by now. Respect to guitar goddess Nancy Wilson.
The beauty plays like a beast. Not limited to one presentation, she personifies electricity as she moves like a wild cheerleader. Yet she does nothing but homage to the guitar, electric or acoustic. Thank you for all you've done for music. Love you, kid!
Orianthi Panagaris, known professionally as Orianthi, is an Australian musician, singer, and songwriter. She was born on January 22, 1985, in Adelaide, South Australia. She is best known for her exceptional guitar skills and her work with major artists such as Michael Jackson, Alice Cooper, and Carlos... read more Only 4% votes? She's literally the only singer on this list who plays her guitar in every one of her songs and videos. Plus, she was actually going to be Michael Jackson's guitarist for his This Is It tour, and she's currently Alice Cooper's guitarist!
She is my most favorite Queen of Guitarists. Hope I can bring her to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for a concert to honor her amazing skills. She is awesome with lots of experience and confidence when on stage. She really rocks.
If you listen just once, you have to put her at the top or close to it! I don't know how she is left off any top 10 list.
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter, musician, and activist. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of roots-influenced albums that incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country. The one and only woman on slide blues guitar is Bonnie Raitt. She's got the sound that many women try to capture and emulate. Many blues men have hailed her as one of the finest voices and guitar players out there. She always gives us something to talk about.
One of the best guitarists, period.
Also known as "Dany," she plays lead guitar in her band, The Warning, along with her two sisters on drums and bass. They're from Monterrey, Mexico.
Roberta Joan Mitchell, professionally known as Joni Mitchell, is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Drawing from folk, pop, rock, and jazz, Mitchell's songs often reflect social and environmental ideals as well as her feelings about romance, confusion, disillusionment, and joy. Something is really wrong with y'all if you let Joni Mitchell lose against Avril Lavigne and Taylor Swift.
Joni's tuning and technique of playing were groundbreaking.
Lita Rossana Ford is an English-born American rock guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, who was the lead guitarist for The Runaways in the late 1970s, an all-female rock band formed by Joan Jett and Sandy West. In the 1980s Lita Ford embarked on a solo career. Hi there, Lita. I love three things about you: 1) Your great microphone skills, 2) Your singing, especially Close My Eyes Forever, and 3) Your great guitar skills. It only goes to show you're a rockin' darling. I love you.
It's Joeysworld.
Listen to "Close My Eyes Forever" and get back to me. P.S. I don't think Swift qualifies.
The Newcomers
Miranda Leigh Lambert is an American country music singer and songwriter. She is best known as a solo artist, and is a member of the Pistol Annies.
Christine Ellen Hynde (born September 7, 1951) is an American-British musician. She is a founding member and the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band the Pretenders, and one of the band's two remaining original members alongside drummer Martin Chambers. She is the only continuous... read more Probably one of the biggest influences for any female guitarist starting out in the '80s and '90s. She is raw, real, and what you see is what you get. On stage, her guitar is as much a part of her as the lyrics she sings. The Pretenders paved a wider freeway for women to travel.
And an excellent, engaging vocalist and performer.
Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian–French singer-songwriter and actress. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more than $2 million.
Anne Erin "Annie" Clark, better known by her stage name St. Vincent, is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.
Joan Chandos Baez is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist whose contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest or social justice.
Melissa Lou Etheridge is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and activist. Her self-titled debut album Melissa Etheridge was released in 1988 and became an underground success. She came onto the scene and was quickly heard all over the radio. Another woman who can take the guitar to another level. Who else have you heard or seen make the guitar practically scream aggression? Then Melissa can take you to a slow 2 miles per hour when she picks her strings from her heart.
Sometimes I think she is to the 12-string what Charlie Daniels is to the fiddle. Yet another woman on the list who not only plays guitar but also sings.
Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. She was born on December 13, 1989, in Reading, Pennsylvania. Swift is best known for writing personal songs and has won 13 Grammy Awards... read more
She really rocks. Control Chaos. Looking forward to new stuff. Hope to see her again soon, solo UK tour or with Alice Cooper.
This girl can really shred! Should be in the top ten.
Shania Twain is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She has sold over 100 million records, making her the best-selling female artist in country music history and among the best-selling music artists of all time.
One of the most underrated guitarists ever! And not just because she's a female. Great guitarist, period!
Should be top ten. Also, the sexiest guitarist ever.