has there ever been a brilliant female guitarist?

Answer 1

There's Mary Osborne (jazz guitarist), Carol Kaye (bassist), Jennifer Battern (rock), Emily Remler (jazz), Lita Ford (rock) and a handful of other excellent guitarists who are known exclusively for their instrumental guitar skills.

However, most of the famous women guitarists - Joni Mitchell, Phoebe Snow, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, Melissa Etheridge, Tracy Chapman and others - are all known for their singing and songwriting. There are virtually no female counterparts to Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton, Andres Segovia. Why not?

In some guitar-related activities, many women are disadvantaged by physiological factors. One example is hand and arm strength. According to Dr.Theodore Hettinger of the Max Planck Institute in Germany, in studies of the four muscle groups pertaining to guitar playing activities - women possess from 55% to 75% of the strength of men, although these differences do not exist between males and females under the age of ten.

Answer 2

I would say that probably Lita Ford is about as close as we can get to a female guitar god. Reading over the messages, I think another reason for the relative lack of guitarists is also because of the bands themselves. Most bands that have female members put them out in front so they are the lead vocalist. If they do play an instrument, it's usually bass or rhythm guitar. It's very difficult to be a lead guitarist and a lead singer. Very few bands have been able to pull that off.

I would like to mention some other female guitarists: Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders), Janice Johnson (of the 1970s group A Taste Of Honey), and Vicki Peterson (The Bangles)

Answer 3

Yes,but few are given the adulation that male guitarists get.Girl rock bands like the Donna's and Girlschool all have good guitatrists, equally Michael Jackson toured with a technically excellent guitarist called Jennifer Batten - check out You Tube for some examples ( be warned on the 80's hair).Joan Jett and Suzi Quattro were good as was a great bass player called Gail Anne Dorsey - who often tours with David Bowie.
Most female guitarists seem to come from a jazz or blues background - Memphis Minnie through to players like Emily Druce , but also Joni Mitchell and others.

You may find this link interesting - a project created to show off great female guitarists... I have not heard it but it may be good

http://www.pattylarkin.com/laguitara/home.html

Answer 4

Check out Nancy Wilson from Heart

Answer 5

I can't think of any 'brilliant ones'....
and as a woman it hurts to say that.

Sheryl Crow
Nancy Wilson of Heart
Suzi Quatro ~ bass guitar

Answer 6

Nancy Wilson from Heart...she is fantastic.....

Answer 7

Nope

Answer 8

Suzy Quattro was pretty good.

Answer 9

here i am

Answer 10

No! All women are crap at everything!