You're all familiar with those lists in Guitar World, Guitarist Monthly or whatever the hell title the six-string obsessives choose to use for their publication. Y'know the ones where people like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani come quite high up but then you'll see someone like Jack White in there, too, making you think "hmmmmm, interesting". Women often don't seem to feature too highly in 'em, you may have noticed.
Well, Elle magazine have just named their twelve top female guitarists ever and, in a world traditionally dominated by the male, it makes for pretty good reading.
In no particular order, the 12 greatest female ELECTRIC guitarists of all time, as chosen by Elle magazine are:
- Joan Jett
- Lita Ford
- Nancy Wilson of Heart
- Jennifer Batten
- Donita Sparks of L7
- Kelley Deal of The Breeders
- Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney
- Poison Ivy of The Cramps
- Ruyter Suys of Nashville Pussy
- The Great Kat
- Marnie Stern
- Orianthi
And so, here's a few video clips from the chosen shredders to feast your ears and eyes upon.
WOT, NO COURTNEY?
Any notable exceptions from this list which you feel need a mention? Of course, Gabriela from Rodrigo Y Gabriela is excluded not playing the electric guitar 'n all.
- In Photos: ATP Nightmare Before Christmas - Day One curated by Les Savy Fav
- CMJ: The DiS Review
- Marnie Stern - Marnie Stern
- Marnie Stern - Marnie Stern
- Marnie Stern adds two London dates to UK tour
- Marnie Stern to tour UK in November
- Favourite 50: Marnie Stern In Advance of the Broken Arm (chosen by Alexander Tudor)
- Listen: Download free Kill Rock Stars sampler ft. The Thermals, Elliott Smith, Sleater Kinney
I AM A SEXIST PIG
I haven't heard of half of those.
Sister
Rosetta Tharpe. Surely.
Although to imagine seeing her mentioned in Elle would be a bit of a stretch I guess.
Kelley's a rubbish guitarist.
Well, not rubbish, she's just not top 12 material. Kim's definitely better.
Carrie Brownstein isn't just one of the top 12 female guitarists ever - she's probably the best guitarist ever.
...
This list is insulting to women. It should have read:
- The Great Kat
- The Great Kat
- The Great Kat
- The Great Kat
- The Great Kat
- The Great Kat
- The Great Kat
- The Great Kat
- The Great Kat
- The Great Kat
- The Great Kat
- The Great Kat
- The Great Kat
- The Great Kat
- The Great Kat
- Katie Melua
In terms of
cheesy rock soloage, it's gotta be Louise Post from Veruca Salt. She's also dead pretty.
The Great Kat is, quite simply, a joke. She's just soulless shred metal Beethoven played at lightspeed that no one's actually ever listened to - not to mention her ridiculous dominatrix persona.
Courtney Love and PJ Harvey probably do deserve spots too.
i love it when women play guitar.
I would have added
PJ,Courtney,Charlotte Heatherley,Belinda Butcher
Yeah, because they're exactly the same
From Elle: "Sleater-Kinney could have fallen into obscurity like some of their ’90s indie-rock classmates (what ever happened to Joan Osborne?)"
It's very much a virtuoso's list (and an American one), which is why someone talented but non-shredding like Polly Harvey or Charlotte Hatherley would never get near it - the Carrie Brownstein bit recommends One Beat specifically because it sounds like Jimmy Page.
she plays bass
she plays bass very badly
i am shocked at the exclusion of Thurston Moore though. She's a right hotty
she does play guitar as well.
glowing review right there
i mean, those are the credentials i look for in my top 12 guitarists lists: "also plays guitar"
Wata
Where is the diminutive Queen of sludge? No one else makes a Les Paul look (or sound) so huge.
No Kristin Hersh?
Kristin Hersh is actually one of the best guitarists ever, male or female. Fact.
Aye Kim is the good one
I dunno what they were thinking there. I guess this is the bit at the bottom where everyone steams in with people who 'should be on the list'.
Scout Niblett!
Lydia Lunch (only joking)!
Elisa Ambrogio (on a good day)!
Two notable names missing...
Ani DiFranco and Kaki King. www.thebrowntweedsociety.com
her from Girlschool...?
much as I love L7/Donita...

Marnie Stern
The Breeders
Sleater-Kinney
L7
Drowned in Manchester #15 – May 2013
armchair dancefloor 39: Mount Kimbie interview, Bobby Browser, Powell, Move D, Leon Vynehall...
DiS meets John Lydon - Part 1: The Man
DiS Does Singles 20.05.13: Paramore, Laura Marling, The Replacements
DiS joins the Music Alliance Pact + May 2013's global MAP compilation
Drowned in Bristol #12
Comments
- Post a new comment on this article