talented innovative or just plain entertaining these six stringers of the
entertaining these six stringers of the
entertaining these six stringers of the female variety know how to get the party
female variety know how to get the party
female variety know how to get the party rolling
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten female guitarists of all time
for this list we’ve picked female
for this list we’ve picked female guitarists based on a mixture of
guitarists based on a mixture of
guitarists based on a mixture of innovation talent notoriety and public
innovation talent notoriety and public
innovation talent notoriety and public esteem I will thank you
esteem I will thank you
esteem I will thank you since all’s finite they don’t
since all’s finite they don’t
since all’s finite they don’t necessarily have to be virtuosos or the
necessarily have to be virtuosos or the
necessarily have to be virtuosos or the best guitar players ever but they’re
best guitar players ever but they’re
best guitar players ever but they’re certainly known for possessing some
certainly known for possessing some
certainly known for possessing some skill on the instrument
skill on the instrument
skill on the instrument [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number 10 Annie Clark
number 10 Annie Clark
number 10 Annie Clark [Music]
[Music]
[Music] performing a st. vincent’s since 2006
performing a st. vincent’s since 2006
performing a st. vincent’s since 2006 Annie Clark has made a name for herself
Annie Clark has made a name for herself
Annie Clark has made a name for herself as a source of unshakable and buzz
as a source of unshakable and buzz
as a source of unshakable and buzz filled hooks
[Music]
[Music] raised in Dallas Texas on bands like
raised in Dallas Texas on bands like
raised in Dallas Texas on bands like pavement and Pink Floyd the guitarist
pavement and Pink Floyd the guitarist
pavement and Pink Floyd the guitarist also draws on yes Led Zeppelin and Sonic
also draws on yes Led Zeppelin and Sonic
also draws on yes Led Zeppelin and Sonic Youth in her plane and songwriting
Youth in her plane and songwriting
Youth in her plane and songwriting [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] a Berklee College of Music dropout Clark
a Berklee College of Music dropout Clark
a Berklee College of Music dropout Clark was a self-styled jazzy finger picker
was a self-styled jazzy finger picker
was a self-styled jazzy finger picker before joining coral rock band The
before joining coral rock band The
before joining coral rock band The Polyphonic Spree
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
noted for her unique approach Clark has
noted for her unique approach Clark has said that she writes many of her songs
said that she writes many of her songs
said that she writes many of her songs while trying to fall asleep
while trying to fall asleep
while trying to fall asleep [Music]
number nine Mother Maybelle Carter while
number nine Mother Maybelle Carter while not as well known today as her
not as well known today as her
not as well known today as her son-in-law Johnny Cash Maybelle Carter’s
son-in-law Johnny Cash Maybelle Carter’s
son-in-law Johnny Cash Maybelle Carter’s contribution to the art of guitar should
contribution to the art of guitar should
contribution to the art of guitar should not be overlooked
not be overlooked
not be overlooked [Music]
using a large body Gibson l5 guitar
using a large body Gibson l5 guitar Carter pioneered a thumb and finger
Carter pioneered a thumb and finger
Carter pioneered a thumb and finger picking style known as Carter family
picking style known as Carter family
picking style known as Carter family picking or the Carter scratch using her
picking or the Carter scratch using her
picking or the Carter scratch using her thumb to pluck out face and melody lines
thumb to pluck out face and melody lines
thumb to pluck out face and melody lines Carter would simultaneously strum the
Carter would simultaneously strum the
Carter would simultaneously strum the treble strings with her finger this
treble strings with her finger this
treble strings with her finger this style of playing later became the basis
style of playing later became the basis
style of playing later became the basis for Bill Monroe’s bluegrass style and
for Bill Monroe’s bluegrass style and
for Bill Monroe’s bluegrass style and helped establish the guitar as a lead
helped establish the guitar as a lead
helped establish the guitar as a lead instrument he’s go
[Music]
[Music] number eight kaki king although she
number eight kaki king although she
number eight kaki king although she began playing guitar at age four kaki
began playing guitar at age four kaki
began playing guitar at age four kaki king switched to drums at an early age
king switched to drums at an early age
king switched to drums at an early age and did not return to the guitar until
and did not return to the guitar until
and did not return to the guitar until she was 19
she was 19
she was 19 [Music]
[Music]
[Music] King more than made up for lost time and
King more than made up for lost time and
King more than made up for lost time and has developed a unique blend of flamenco
has developed a unique blend of flamenco
has developed a unique blend of flamenco percussion fret tapping Fanning and bass
percussion fret tapping Fanning and bass
percussion fret tapping Fanning and bass style slaps on both conventional and
style slaps on both conventional and
style slaps on both conventional and unconventional guitars known for her use
unconventional guitars known for her use
unconventional guitars known for her use of altered tunings King is also noted
of altered tunings King is also noted
of altered tunings King is also noted for playing her guitar koto hybrid
for playing her guitar koto hybrid
for playing her guitar koto hybrid instrument
instrument
instrument [Music]
[Music]
[Music] in this style king will insert a second
in this style king will insert a second
in this style king will insert a second bridge saddle under the strings which
bridge saddle under the strings which
bridge saddle under the strings which creates two sets of notes and
creates two sets of notes and
creates two sets of notes and mind-blowing results number seven Joni
mind-blowing results number seven Joni
mind-blowing results number seven Joni Mitchell
as a slack tuning innovator and writer
as a slack tuning innovator and writer of the classics both sides now Joni
of the classics both sides now Joni
of the classics both sides now Joni Mitchell may be fogey but don’t call her
Mitchell may be fogey but don’t call her
Mitchell may be fogey but don’t call her folk leave last night I heard although
folk leave last night I heard although
folk leave last night I heard although her career grew out of the 60s folk
her career grew out of the 60s folk
her career grew out of the 60s folk scene and she quite literally learned
scene and she quite literally learned
scene and she quite literally learned from the Pete Seeger book of guitar
from the Pete Seeger book of guitar
from the Pete Seeger book of guitar playing Mitchell happily went electric
playing Mitchell happily went electric
playing Mitchell happily went electric in the late 70s and typically recorded
in the late 70s and typically recorded
in the late 70s and typically recorded with jazz based musicians as no one else
with jazz based musicians as no one else
with jazz based musicians as no one else was willing to give her the sound she
was willing to give her the sound she
was willing to give her the sound she wanted with a scant handful of songs and
wanted with a scant handful of songs and
wanted with a scant handful of songs and standard tuning Joni uses or developed
standard tuning Joni uses or developed
standard tuning Joni uses or developed 51 different guitar tunings which today
51 different guitar tunings which today
51 different guitar tunings which today she accesses through a roland vg8 guitar
she accesses through a roland vg8 guitar
she accesses through a roland vg8 guitar processor
[Music]
[Music] number six Sister Rosetta Tharpe
number six Sister Rosetta Tharpe
number six Sister Rosetta Tharpe [Music]
if you were gonna give rock-and-roll
if you were gonna give rock-and-roll another name you might call it rosetta
another name you might call it rosetta
another name you might call it rosetta tharpe a rocker before Rock existed dark
tharpe a rocker before Rock existed dark
tharpe a rocker before Rock existed dark blended folk blues and gospel into a
blended folk blues and gospel into a
blended folk blues and gospel into a sound that was a major influence on
sound that was a major influence on
sound that was a major influence on Little Richard Elvis and Chuck Berry her
Little Richard Elvis and Chuck Berry her
Little Richard Elvis and Chuck Berry her recording of strange things happening
recording of strange things happening
recording of strange things happening every day was a proto rocker and reached
every day was a proto rocker and reached
every day was a proto rocker and reached the second spot of what is now the
the second spot of what is now the
the second spot of what is now the Billboard R&B charts in 1944 in 1947
Billboard R&B charts in 1944 in 1947
Billboard R&B charts in 1944 in 1947 Thorpe switched to electric guitars
Thorpe switched to electric guitars
Thorpe switched to electric guitars mostly from Gibson
she is even rumored to have been buried
she is even rumored to have been buried with her 1961 Les Paul SG custom
[Music]
[Music] number five Orianthi
appearing to come out of nowhere this
appearing to come out of nowhere this Wonder from Down Under
Wonder from Down Under
Wonder from Down Under is one of the leading names in hired
is one of the leading names in hired
is one of the leading names in hired hands
Orianthi was playing guitar with Carrie
Orianthi was playing guitar with Carrie Underwood when she was drafted by
Underwood when she was drafted by
Underwood when she was drafted by Michael Jackson for what would have been
Michael Jackson for what would have been
Michael Jackson for what would have been his final tour
in addition to our own revered solo
in addition to our own revered solo career Orianthi is played with Alice
career Orianthi is played with Alice
career Orianthi is played with Alice Cooper Michael Bolton James Durbin and
Cooper Michael Bolton James Durbin and
Cooper Michael Bolton James Durbin and Dave Stewart of the arrhythmias
Dave Stewart of the arrhythmias
Dave Stewart of the arrhythmias [Music]
formerly a classical guitarist she
formerly a classical guitarist she switched to lead blues based rock guitar
switched to lead blues based rock guitar
switched to lead blues based rock guitar at age 11 after seeing Carlos Santana in
at age 11 after seeing Carlos Santana in
at age 11 after seeing Carlos Santana in concert and as rarely looked back
Bonnie Raitt’s plans to be a folk singer
Bonnie Raitt’s plans to be a folk singer fizzled out soon after the redhead
fizzled out soon after the redhead
fizzled out soon after the redhead discovered slide or bottleneck guitar
discovered slide or bottleneck guitar
discovered slide or bottleneck guitar [Music]
[Music]
[Music] given her slide stylings rate typically
given her slide stylings rate typically
given her slide stylings rate typically plays in open a or open G tuning and has
plays in open a or open G tuning and has
plays in open a or open G tuning and has a preference for glass slides originally
a preference for glass slides originally
a preference for glass slides originally using actual bottles to play
[Music]
[Music] while rate does use acoustic guitars on
while rate does use acoustic guitars on
while rate does use acoustic guitars on occasion she prefers electric guitars
occasion she prefers electric guitars
occasion she prefers electric guitars for their increased sustain and
for their increased sustain and
for their increased sustain and expressiveness long associated with her
expressiveness long associated with her
expressiveness long associated with her Fender Strat brownie she has since been
Fender Strat brownie she has since been
Fender Strat brownie she has since been honored by the company with a signature
honored by the company with a signature
honored by the company with a signature model becoming the first female artist
model becoming the first female artist
model becoming the first female artist to have one
[Music]
[Music] number three joan jett a rock star in
number three joan jett a rock star in
number three joan jett a rock star in her teens Joan Jett made her name by
her teens Joan Jett made her name by
her teens Joan Jett made her name by doing just what the establishment said
doing just what the establishment said
doing just what the establishment said she couldn’t do rock
she couldn’t do rock
she couldn’t do rock [Music]
[Music]
[Music] beginning her career with the runaways
beginning her career with the runaways
beginning her career with the runaways jet co-wrote the band’s signature track
jet co-wrote the band’s signature track
jet co-wrote the band’s signature track cherry bombs
cherry bombs
cherry bombs [Music]
and eventually took over vocal duties
and eventually took over vocal duties when singer cherry curry left the group
when singer cherry curry left the group
when singer cherry curry left the group following the band’s breakup Jeff
following the band’s breakup Jeff
following the band’s breakup Jeff recorded a solo album but was rejected
recorded a solo album but was rejected
recorded a solo album but was rejected by 23 different labels so she started
by 23 different labels so she started
by 23 different labels so she started her own
her own
her own [Applause]
still active today with the Blackhearts
still active today with the Blackhearts jet is a cult icon in rock and punk and
jet is a cult icon in rock and punk and
jet is a cult icon in rock and punk and still plays her signature Gibson melody
still plays her signature Gibson melody
still plays her signature Gibson melody maker guitars at crotch level
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number two Nancy Wilson
number two Nancy Wilson
number two Nancy Wilson [Music]
[Music]
[Music] although no slouch at playing electric
although no slouch at playing electric
although no slouch at playing electric it was Nancy Wilson’s mission when she
it was Nancy Wilson’s mission when she
it was Nancy Wilson’s mission when she joined her sister and band heart to add
joined her sister and band heart to add
joined her sister and band heart to add more acoustic guitars to the group
more acoustic guitars to the group
more acoustic guitars to the group [Music]
with results like the timeless and wrote
with results like the timeless and wrote to crazy on you you could argue with her
to crazy on you you could argue with her
to crazy on you you could argue with her [Music]
Wilson’s role as guitarist in the group
Wilson’s role as guitarist in the group continued to grow however her playing
continued to grow however her playing
continued to grow however her playing really came to the forefront when
really came to the forefront when
really came to the forefront when guitarist Roger Fisher left the group a
guitarist Roger Fisher left the group a
guitarist Roger Fisher left the group a vacancy she had no trouble filling
vacancy she had no trouble filling
vacancy she had no trouble filling [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
before we unveil our top pick here are a
before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions
few honorable mentions
few honorable mentions [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number one Lita Ford
number one Lita Ford
number one Lita Ford [Music]
[Music]
[Music] like Joan Jett Lita Ford first rose to
like Joan Jett Lita Ford first rose to
like Joan Jett Lita Ford first rose to fame in The Runaways
fame in The Runaways
fame in The Runaways however Joan followed a more Punk
however Joan followed a more Punk
however Joan followed a more Punk direction while Lita went down a harder
direction while Lita went down a harder
direction while Lita went down a harder rockier path
rockier path
rockier path [Music]
[Music]
[Music] once engaged to Black Sabbath guitarist
once engaged to Black Sabbath guitarist
once engaged to Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and having recorded with
Tony Iommi and having recorded with
Tony Iommi and having recorded with frontman Ozzy Osbourne Ford wears heavy
frontman Ozzy Osbourne Ford wears heavy
frontman Ozzy Osbourne Ford wears heavy metal like a bat
metal like a bat
metal like a bat [Music]
uninterested in effects she uses a basic
uninterested in effects she uses a basic rig of a bc rich warlock plugged into a
rig of a bc rich warlock plugged into a
rig of a bc rich warlock plugged into a Marshall stack firing off thick crunchy
Marshall stack firing off thick crunchy
Marshall stack firing off thick crunchy rhythm parts and tears into leads with
rhythm parts and tears into leads with
rhythm parts and tears into leads with abandoned do you agree with our list
abandoned do you agree with our list
abandoned do you agree with our list who’s your favorite female guitarist
who’s your favorite female guitarist
who’s your favorite female guitarist [Music]
[Music]
[Music] for more hard-rocking top 10s published
for more hard-rocking top 10s published
for more hard-rocking top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to
every day be sure to subscribe to
every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
”
Be First to Comment