10 Greatest Female Guitarists Of All Time

At a time when music was mostly dominated by men, these female axeslingers proved they could outperform their male counterparts. In more ways than one, they helped paved the way for the next generation of guitarists. Let’s check them out:

Joan Jett

Joan Jett is a trailblazer. She proved to girls everywhere that females can rock just as hard as male rockstars. She’s a straightforward, no-nonsense guitar player and on stage, she oozes with power, confidence, and charisma. She remains an influential figure today.

Nancy Wilson

One song that best captures Nancy Wilson’s amazing talent – Heart’s Barracuda. Her solos are nothing short of jaw-dropping. Her masterful fingerpicking has become a highlight in Heart’s sound and she can go from electric to acoustic and it’s mesmerizing every time.

Lita Ford

As a member of The Runaways with Joan Jett, Lita Ford’s more technically proficient than her more popular bandmate. She doesn’t just have serious chops but she can shred like it’s no big deal.

Susan Tedeschi

She’s a multiple Grammy Award nominee and has opened for the likes of B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Bob Dylan. She’s a formidable player and she knows how to embellish a song with her tasteful licks and amazing solos.

Muriel Anderson

With her excellent talent and fantastic technique, her style includes elements of classical, country, flamenco, and jazz. In short, she never confines herself in a box musically. She has played alongside other music greats such as Tommy Emmanuel, Chet Atkins and Victor Wooten.

Elizabeth Cotten

This left-handed guitarist was self-taught and she developed her own unique style in guitar playing. She’s a legendary folk and blues musician who played a right-handed guitar upside-down. Her “Cotten picking” style is not easy to learn and takes a lot to master.

Memphis Minnie

Another self-taught guitarist, she got in the game by performing at the legendary Beale Street in Memphis. Aside from her masterful guitar playing, she was known for being fearless and she even faced Blues greats Big Bill Broonzy and Muddy Waters in contests and won. Plus, she influenced several rock acts like Led Zeppelin.

Liona Boyd

She’s a classical guitarist who has played alongside David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, Chet Atkins, Alex Lifeson, and Steve Morse. Known as the “first lady of the guitar”, she became a popular celebrity in the 1970s.

Kaki King

She’s a multi-instrumentalist who earned the respect and admiration of several musicians including Dave Grohl. She’s a virtuoso with her whose music embraces modern classical, progressive jazz, and even pop.

Poison Ivy

She’s a legend in the US punk scene. She became the link between punk and rockabilly thus earning the reputation of being a trailblazer.