Top Ten Female Rock Guitarists
Most original, best sound, just plain able to ROCK OUT!!
Nita Strauss wasn't on the list to vote for so I placed my vote with Orianthi. Watching her with the Alice Cooper made it seem she was only the 3rd best guitarist up on the stage, but there was no shame when in that company. I'm still looking for that female guitarist that I can put up there in that pantheon of greats
With out having to categorize them as best "female".
No one touches Orianthi. I like some of the others as performers, but Orianthi is an absolute shredder. If you don't know who she is, like I am sure most of the people on this board, you best check her out on YouTube. Contest over
An absolute natural. Shreds with the best but can play any style with ease. Mentored by Steve Vai and Carlos Santana and now considered their equal. Seen her play live twice; blown away!
With guitar solos and rock slowly vanishing, Orianthi is truly an inspiration for young people to realize how amazing rock music is; at her young age she plays like none other!
Anne Erin "Annie" Clark, better known by her stage name St. Vincent, is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. How is she not at LEAST in the top ten? She's certainly better than Demi Lovato!
One of the weirdest and most amazing guitarist I've ever heard.
One of the most innovative guitar players ever.
Beautiful oddity sound? No problem for her!
Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro is an American hard rock singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actress. She was the first female bass player to become a major rock star, breaking a barrier to women's participation in rock music.
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. I never paid much attention to Heart until recently. Now, after seeing Nancy through her career from raw, to record label forced mainstream, and now back into her own... I saw she has unparalleled talent. Looking back into her videos over the years shows she's done everything, even though she's been held mostly to acoustic and rhythm guitar. She's so perfect, Nancy could have been a very highly paid session guitarist. Nancy nailed the intro to the live Stairway To Heaven at the Kennedy Center Awards... it shows how artistically and perfect she plays. Besides that, Nancy is very kool, has a great stage presence, and hasn't appeared to have led a self destructive lifestyle. Nancy and Ann are amazing accomplished artists with the greatest talent and depth. They can make almost any song better. "Love Reign O're Me" is just one.
Have loved Heart from their debut album. I wa amazed they wrote almost all their own songs and totally blown away when I realized it was Nancy playing guitar. Once I heard Silver Wheels (intro to Crazy on You) I knew I wanted to buy a guitar and play like that! Her and Ann are inspirations, Nancy being the best woman guitarist and Ann having the absolute voice of all time! Have seen them in concert many many times - always fantastic!
Love the group Heart! I have seen them in concert and what an event--these ladies are amazing and truly know how to rock. Nancy can play like no other woman on the planet in my opinion. When I think of the best female guitarist there is no other woman which comes to mind. To see Nancy at #1 on this chart is deservedly so and right on target. Thanks for getting this one right. Rock goddesses!
Awesome and great on stage with ann. What a duo! Do have to say I have a hard time deciding with nancy and susan tedeschi who is also a great singer and blues guitarists. Hope to see the latter at the ottawa blues fest, and some day soon nancy.
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". Another of those Runaway guitarists that could really make a guitar sing.
Dude it's Joan Jett ok don't even question it just vote. She sang Bad Reputation people like come on
That is way to many votes for Nancy wilson! Besides, I like Joan Jetts songs more and I like more of them
When I Googled 'top ten best female guitarists' Joan came first! HA!
For those that don't know, Jan was the lead guitarist for Vixen. One of the most underrated female guitarists!
RIP Jan...
Truly amazing guitarist from one of my all time fave female rock bands... Love her x
Jan Kuehnemund is awesome. I love her
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. " First of all. It is admittedly somewhat of a tough decision to make, given the vast amount of excellent female singers and performers including guitarists out there. However, I would be lying if I didn't say that Lita Ford TOTALLY KICKS ASS! I mean there is just no other way of putting it. But then again there are hardly words in any language strong enough to describe her and her art. In fact, I am currently working on mastering the electric guitar myself, and Lita is a mentor and role model for me all the way! I LOVE YOU LITA FORD! "
We are talking rock now aren't we?
Lita out rocks all of these, Joan is a rhythm guitarist and Nancy was good but she backed up the lead guitarist in her band. Lita has always stood front and center. Hard Rocking Women!
Shes the only one who plays more than the same thing here people. She mixes it up ALL the time. Greatest soloist EVER!
Lita rocked in the 80s. Some amazing guitarists came from the Runaways.
No doubt about it Bonnie is the best to ever pick up a guitar!
Her longevity in the business is proof of that as she only gets better!
Bonnie strums and picks along with the big boys!
Best female slide guitarist of all time.
Saw her in Vienna tonight. Still has it 63!
The best only serve the best of the best and Jennifer is a perfect example. She rocks!
Amazing player. Her performances are stunning!
A veteran of the most supreme proportions!
She amazing she has worked with the king 3 world tour & the super bowl
I discovered Susan and her virtuoso guitar playing while listening to many other great blues guitarists. The Blues is about emotion, feeling, and self-expression in every note. I enjoy hearing her choices with the guitar on every one of her songs. There are many great guitarists on this list, and the blues players in particular get better with age and experiences. Whether on her own or with the Tedeschi-Trucks Band, her guitar playing continues to evolve into a fantastic form of self-expression the rest of us can enjoy.
Think she is the best current blues guitarist/singer. Checkout "Midnight in Harlem" and "Everybody's Talking". The Tedeschi/Trucks band is unbelievable.
Her amazing skills that are accompanied by here husband in TTB make for one of the best acts you'll ever see!
She and her husband just plain rock!
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 member of the band, appearing on every studio album. Hynde formed the Pretenders in Hereford, England in 1978, with Pete Farndon, James Honeyman-Scott and Chambers. She has also recorded a number of songs with other musicians including Frank Sinatra, Cher and UB40. She recorded her first solo album, Stockholm, in 2014. Hynde was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 as a member ...read more. Love Chrissie Hynde. Fan since 1st album hit the streets. Always a great show when they hit Detroit
One of my all time favorite! Her singing rules too.!
Inredibly exciting Rock guitarist, song writer, and singer who can pound the strings off a 12 string guitar, and play electric or acoustic.. Plus play a few other instruments.. I've seen Heart in concert and they are awesome.. But so is Melissa..
The whole package! Writes music, great singer and live performer and can play any guitar put in her hands. Every cover song she makes her own. Number 1 on my list by far
Had the priveldge to see Joan Jett, Heart, Bonnie Raitt, and Melissa all in concert. Melissa always puts on a 3 hour concert and leaves ya screaming for more. Awesome solo riffs and endurance to match. So for me Melissa-then Bonnie. I love Bonnie's attitude-a whole lotta attitude LOL!
Loved her music when I first heard her sing!
Elizabeth Mae "Lzzy" Hale is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. She is best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the American hard rock band Halestorm, which she co-founded in 1997. I think she's a great guitarist and singer and I love halestorm, there's just so many other girls who play guitar who are a lot better than her. I don't think she's bad but I think there's much better guitarists than her that should be on this list.
Lzzy needs to be higher on the list. She has the voice of an angel. If anyone in today's time could channel Janis Joplin, it's Lzzy. Extraordinary guitar player, & very naturally beautiful woman! Nothing fake about Lzzy!
Lzzy hale is a great guitarist and also very beautiful.
Even her name screams badass..
Saw Ana in Key West Florida at the Green Parrot October 2012... This girl Rocks...
THE best female blues guitarist. Also mostly plays her own music.
She both plays and sings amazingly well!
So cool. She is a natural
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Her music incorporates elements of pop, rock, folk, country and blues. Bass, acoustic, electric... Name it, she plays it and she plays them well.
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. Joni is from a different breed she has more folk style music than girl guitarist today. I couldn't put her at 12. Once a poll from rolling stone magizne put out a top 100 best guitarist and Joni was the only girl guitarest on the list. I would put her 4
She practically reinvents the guitar with every album and spends months learning the new chord structures each new tuning produces. No one comes close.
Demetria Devonne "Demi" Lovato is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. After appearing on the children's television series Barney & Friends as a child, she received her breakthrough role as Mitchie Torres in the Disney Channel television film Camp Rock and its sequel Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. I wouldn't class her as a guitarist, let alone a rock one. I'm not hating on her though.
Way too underrated, but very talented.
Korey rocks! She can rock out with all the other guys (and even girls! ) and she also plays awesome keyboards! Korey is a great guitarist overall, and no other female guitarist can beat her.
Korey is amazing. She rocks the guitar, keyboards and vocals and looking gorgeous when doing it!
Absolutely amazing woman, deserves so much more love then she receives.
Korey is amazing! How the hell is she number 28?!
Just saw the video of her new song "Scrap Metal". Blew me away.
Just discovered her, playing Oloe Strut on you tube is as a good as it gets for me.
She should be way higher on this list. She is the epitome of a rock god!