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0 / 30 Fotos
Elizabeth Cotten
- Elizabeth Cotten is a folk-blues legend. She was left-handed, so while playing on a guitar meant for right-handed players, she developed a unique fingerpicking technique now known as "Cotten picking."
© Getty Images
1 / 30 Fotos
Memphis Minnie
- Lizzie Douglas, AKA Memphis Minnie, was a legendary blues guitarist with a career spanning over three decades. She has been quoted as an inspiration by bands such as Led Zeppelin.
© Getty Images
2 / 30 Fotos
Odetta
- The "Voice of The Civil Rights Movement" earned a place in the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s, often being quoted as an inspiration by many folk guitarists.
© Getty Images
3 / 30 Fotos
Mother Maybelle Carter
- Mother Maybelle Carter was a member of one of the most important groups in country-western music: the Carter Family. She revolutionized the genre with her groundbreaking fingerpicking technique (playing rhythm and melody in different strings). This innovative technique became known as the Carter scratch, thumb brush, the Carter lick, or the church lick.
© Getty Images
4 / 30 Fotos
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
- The one and only "Godmother of Rock 'n' Roll" is often quoted as one of the most inspirational musicians of all time. Her guitar playing incorporated elements of blues, jazz, and gospel.
© Getty Images
5 / 30 Fotos
Wanda Jackson
- Wanda Jackson was one of the first female rock 'n' roll stars, but she also released country and gospel music. "The Queen of Rockabilly" truly deserves a spot on this list.
© Getty Images
6 / 30 Fotos
Carol Kaye
- Carol Kaye is arguably the most iconic female bass player of all time and has recorded bass for the likes of The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, and Quincy Jones. But Kaye also played six-string guitars. In fact, she recorded guitar on both Ritchie Valens' 'La Bamba,' and The Righteous Brothers' 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin.'
© Getty Images
7 / 30 Fotos
Joni Mitchell
- Joni Mitchell is one of the most famous songwriters of all time. Mitchell pushed musical boundaries and experimented with elements such as unorthodox tunings, percussive slaps, and complex fingerpicking.
© Getty Images
8 / 30 Fotos
Vicki Peterson
- Vicki Peterson's guitar playing shaped the sound of The Bangles. The group is known to have played covers of The Yardbirds in their early shows, so that says something about Peterson's guitar skills. Check out 'A Hazy Shade of Winter.'
© Getty Images
9 / 30 Fotos
Joan Jett
- Joan Jett is arguably one of the most important figures in rock 'n' roll, and indeed she's a great guitarist. From The Runaways to Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, she inspired many women to pick up the guitar over the years.
© Getty Images
10 / 30 Fotos
Lita Ford
- Joan Jett's bandmate in The Runaways, Lita Ford, is yet another iconic guitarist. Ford became one of the most successful female guitarists in the rock and metal scene of the '80s. In 2014, Lita Ford became the first woman to win a Certified Legend Award by Guitar Player magazine.
© Getty Images
11 / 30 Fotos
Jennifer Batten
- Not many guitarists could shred like Batten back then, so she became one of the most sought-after guitarists in the '80s and '90s. Jennifer Batten's technical ability and style was second to none. Not many guitarists (male or female) can say they've toured with the likes of Michael Jackson and guitar legend Jeff Beck, right?
© Getty Images
12 / 30 Fotos
Nancy Wilson
- You probably recognize Nancy Wilson from the band she has with her sister Ann: Heart. Nancy Wilson was named by guitar maker Gibson as the eighth greatest female guitarist of all time.
© Getty Images
13 / 30 Fotos
Kristy Marlana Wallace (Poison Ivy)
- Kristy Marlana Wallace, AKA Poison Ivy, shaped the sound of The Cramps. The guitarist is known for incorporating elements of punk and rockabilly in her sound.
© Getty Images
14 / 30 Fotos
Nita Strauss
- Nita Strauss is currently one of the best rock and metal guitarists on the scene. A true guitar hero, Strauss has played with a number of artists, but she is best known for touring with Alice Cooper. Nita Strauss is guitar maker Ibanez's first female artist with a signature guitar model.
© Getty Images
15 / 30 Fotos
Bonnie Raitt
- Not many guitarists dominate blues, rock, folk, and country music like Bonnie Raitt does. Raitt is listed in Rolling Stone magazine's '100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.' Oh, and did we mention that she has a whopping 15 Grammy wins under her belt?
© Getty Images
16 / 30 Fotos
Orianthi
- The Australian guitarist was meant to play with Michael Jackson in his 'This Is It' tour, which sadly never happened. Orianthi did however tour with Alice Cooper! In 2010, Orianthi won Guitar International magazine's 2010 Breakthrough Guitarist of the Year award.
© Getty Images
17 / 30 Fotos
Liona Boyd
- Liona Boyd is an outstanding classic guitarist with over 25 albums under her belt. Boyd recorded and toured with the likes of Eric Clapton, Chet Atkins, and David Gilmour, among many others. She's often called the "First Lady of the Guitar."
© Getty Images
18 / 30 Fotos
Kaki King
- There isn't an abundance of female guitar virtuosos, but Kaki King surely fits the bill. Her playing often mixes elements of modern classical, progressive jazz, and pop. In 2006, she was listed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of "The New Guitar Gods."
© Getty Images
19 / 30 Fotos
Nili Brosh
- The Israeli-American guitarist has collaborated with the likes of with Steve Vai and DragonForce. In 2017, Brosh joined the cast of Cirque du Soleil's production.
© Getty Images
20 / 30 Fotos
Muriel Anderson
- From classical to bluegrass, flamenco, and folk, Muriel Anderson dominates a number of styles on her classical and harp guitar. Anderson was the first female guitarist to win the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship.
© Getty Images
21 / 30 Fotos
Susan Tedeschi
- Best known for her work with the Tedeschi Trucks Band, the guitarist is truly outstanding. She has shared the stage with the likes of Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, and B.B. King.
© Getty Images
22 / 30 Fotos
Ana Popović
- The Serbian guitarist was hailed by Bruce Springsteen as "one helluva a guitar player." Ana Popović is one of the best contemporary blues guitarists.
© Getty Images
23 / 30 Fotos
Marnie Stern
- Marnie Stern's tapping technique is second to none. She's best known for being a member of The 8G Band from the show 'Late Night with Seth Meyers.'
© Getty Images
24 / 30 Fotos
Emily Remler
- In 1985, the late Jazz virtuoso was named "Guitarist of the Year" in Down Beat magazine's poll. Despite being just 32 when Remler left us, her legacy lives on.
© Getty Images
25 / 30 Fotos
Annie Clark (St. Vincent)
- Grammy-winner Annie Clark, AKA St. Vincent, may be a multi-instrumentalist, but she really does shine with a guitar in her hands.
© Getty Images
26 / 30 Fotos
Tracy Chapman
- Not only is Tracy Chapman an acclaimed singer-songwriter, but she also happens to be a really good guitarist; an instrument she's been playing since she was eight.
© Getty Images
27 / 30 Fotos
Arianna Powell
- How good is Ariana Powell? Good enough to play with the Black Eyed Peas and Nick Jonas. Do we need to say more?
© Getty Images
28 / 30 Fotos
Yvette Young
- Best known for fronting the math rock band Covet, Yvette Young first found fame on YouTube with her complex, virtuoso-style playing. Sources: (Guitar lobby) (Midder Music) (Far Out) (Discover Music) See also: Music's best female drummers
© Getty Images
29 / 30 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 30 Fotos
Elizabeth Cotten
- Elizabeth Cotten is a folk-blues legend. She was left-handed, so while playing on a guitar meant for right-handed players, she developed a unique fingerpicking technique now known as "Cotten picking."
© Getty Images
1 / 30 Fotos
Memphis Minnie
- Lizzie Douglas, AKA Memphis Minnie, was a legendary blues guitarist with a career spanning over three decades. She has been quoted as an inspiration by bands such as Led Zeppelin.
© Getty Images
2 / 30 Fotos
Odetta
- The "Voice of The Civil Rights Movement" earned a place in the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s, often being quoted as an inspiration by many folk guitarists.
© Getty Images
3 / 30 Fotos
Mother Maybelle Carter
- Mother Maybelle Carter was a member of one of the most important groups in country-western music: the Carter Family. She revolutionized the genre with her groundbreaking fingerpicking technique (playing rhythm and melody in different strings). This innovative technique became known as the Carter scratch, thumb brush, the Carter lick, or the church lick.
© Getty Images
4 / 30 Fotos
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
- The one and only "Godmother of Rock 'n' Roll" is often quoted as one of the most inspirational musicians of all time. Her guitar playing incorporated elements of blues, jazz, and gospel.
© Getty Images
5 / 30 Fotos
Wanda Jackson
- Wanda Jackson was one of the first female rock 'n' roll stars, but she also released country and gospel music. "The Queen of Rockabilly" truly deserves a spot on this list.
© Getty Images
6 / 30 Fotos
Carol Kaye
- Carol Kaye is arguably the most iconic female bass player of all time and has recorded bass for the likes of The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, and Quincy Jones. But Kaye also played six-string guitars. In fact, she recorded guitar on both Ritchie Valens' 'La Bamba,' and The Righteous Brothers' 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin.'
© Getty Images
7 / 30 Fotos
Joni Mitchell
- Joni Mitchell is one of the most famous songwriters of all time. Mitchell pushed musical boundaries and experimented with elements such as unorthodox tunings, percussive slaps, and complex fingerpicking.
© Getty Images
8 / 30 Fotos
Vicki Peterson
- Vicki Peterson's guitar playing shaped the sound of The Bangles. The group is known to have played covers of The Yardbirds in their early shows, so that says something about Peterson's guitar skills. Check out 'A Hazy Shade of Winter.'
© Getty Images
9 / 30 Fotos
Joan Jett
- Joan Jett is arguably one of the most important figures in rock 'n' roll, and indeed she's a great guitarist. From The Runaways to Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, she inspired many women to pick up the guitar over the years.
© Getty Images
10 / 30 Fotos
Lita Ford
- Joan Jett's bandmate in The Runaways, Lita Ford, is yet another iconic guitarist. Ford became one of the most successful female guitarists in the rock and metal scene of the '80s. In 2014, Lita Ford became the first woman to win a Certified Legend Award by Guitar Player magazine.
© Getty Images
11 / 30 Fotos
Jennifer Batten
- Not many guitarists could shred like Batten back then, so she became one of the most sought-after guitarists in the '80s and '90s. Jennifer Batten's technical ability and style was second to none. Not many guitarists (male or female) can say they've toured with the likes of Michael Jackson and guitar legend Jeff Beck, right?
© Getty Images
12 / 30 Fotos
Nancy Wilson
- You probably recognize Nancy Wilson from the band she has with her sister Ann: Heart. Nancy Wilson was named by guitar maker Gibson as the eighth greatest female guitarist of all time.
© Getty Images
13 / 30 Fotos
Kristy Marlana Wallace (Poison Ivy)
- Kristy Marlana Wallace, AKA Poison Ivy, shaped the sound of The Cramps. The guitarist is known for incorporating elements of punk and rockabilly in her sound.
© Getty Images
14 / 30 Fotos
Nita Strauss
- Nita Strauss is currently one of the best rock and metal guitarists on the scene. A true guitar hero, Strauss has played with a number of artists, but she is best known for touring with Alice Cooper. Nita Strauss is guitar maker Ibanez's first female artist with a signature guitar model.
© Getty Images
15 / 30 Fotos
Bonnie Raitt
- Not many guitarists dominate blues, rock, folk, and country music like Bonnie Raitt does. Raitt is listed in Rolling Stone magazine's '100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.' Oh, and did we mention that she has a whopping 15 Grammy wins under her belt?
© Getty Images
16 / 30 Fotos
Orianthi
- The Australian guitarist was meant to play with Michael Jackson in his 'This Is It' tour, which sadly never happened. Orianthi did however tour with Alice Cooper! In 2010, Orianthi won Guitar International magazine's 2010 Breakthrough Guitarist of the Year award.
© Getty Images
17 / 30 Fotos
Liona Boyd
- Liona Boyd is an outstanding classic guitarist with over 25 albums under her belt. Boyd recorded and toured with the likes of Eric Clapton, Chet Atkins, and David Gilmour, among many others. She's often called the "First Lady of the Guitar."
© Getty Images
18 / 30 Fotos
Kaki King
- There isn't an abundance of female guitar virtuosos, but Kaki King surely fits the bill. Her playing often mixes elements of modern classical, progressive jazz, and pop. In 2006, she was listed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of "The New Guitar Gods."
© Getty Images
19 / 30 Fotos
Nili Brosh
- The Israeli-American guitarist has collaborated with the likes of with Steve Vai and DragonForce. In 2017, Brosh joined the cast of Cirque du Soleil's production.
© Getty Images
20 / 30 Fotos
Muriel Anderson
- From classical to bluegrass, flamenco, and folk, Muriel Anderson dominates a number of styles on her classical and harp guitar. Anderson was the first female guitarist to win the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship.
© Getty Images
21 / 30 Fotos
Susan Tedeschi
- Best known for her work with the Tedeschi Trucks Band, the guitarist is truly outstanding. She has shared the stage with the likes of Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, and B.B. King.
© Getty Images
22 / 30 Fotos
Ana Popović
- The Serbian guitarist was hailed by Bruce Springsteen as "one helluva a guitar player." Ana Popović is one of the best contemporary blues guitarists.
© Getty Images
23 / 30 Fotos
Marnie Stern
- Marnie Stern's tapping technique is second to none. She's best known for being a member of The 8G Band from the show 'Late Night with Seth Meyers.'
© Getty Images
24 / 30 Fotos
Emily Remler
- In 1985, the late Jazz virtuoso was named "Guitarist of the Year" in Down Beat magazine's poll. Despite being just 32 when Remler left us, her legacy lives on.
© Getty Images
25 / 30 Fotos
Annie Clark (St. Vincent)
- Grammy-winner Annie Clark, AKA St. Vincent, may be a multi-instrumentalist, but she really does shine with a guitar in her hands.
© Getty Images
26 / 30 Fotos
Tracy Chapman
- Not only is Tracy Chapman an acclaimed singer-songwriter, but she also happens to be a really good guitarist; an instrument she's been playing since she was eight.
© Getty Images
27 / 30 Fotos
Arianna Powell
- How good is Ariana Powell? Good enough to play with the Black Eyed Peas and Nick Jonas. Do we need to say more?
© Getty Images
28 / 30 Fotos
Yvette Young
- Best known for fronting the math rock band Covet, Yvette Young first found fame on YouTube with her complex, virtuoso-style playing. Sources: (Guitar lobby) (Midder Music) (Far Out) (Discover Music) See also: Music's best female drummers
© Getty Images
29 / 30 Fotos
The greatest female guitarists of all time
Meet the most influential guitar goddesses
© Getty Images
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