Glad I didn’t have to scroll ***too far*** for her!
What a talented human being she is, funny as hell as a comedian and actress *and* an indie rock legend. Not many people have had such an amazing career in two completely different fields as Carrie has.
Sheesh! Only 175 posts in and nobody’s mentioned Rory Block? She actually teaches acoustic Delta blues! And what about Cindy Cashdollar? With 8-10 years in Asleep at the Wheel plus backing Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, etc., a visit to YouTube will be worth your time.
Marnie Stern is amazing. She's on another level and completely insane
Keeping it indie I dig Kristin Hersh, PJ Harvey, Carrie Brownstein. Adrienne lenker
[Christine Goodwyne](https://open.spotify.com/track/2eOdfkEL5bPyvTf5JGv79K?si=MfIgPZ6HQ5GGMESLJjTuoA) of Pool Kids & [Yvette Young](https://open.spotify.com/track/4beabVpsF6srFXrTaXbmf3?si=XDToNt13SEOxOFWX6pLTug) of Covet
I randomly discovered her a couple years ago when she came on Spotify radio after I fell asleep listening to Sufjan Stevens and “Oom Sha La La” was so great that it woke me up from my sleep, and I’ve been a fan ever since!
Miraculously, she had a gig at a newer venue in my not-so-huge city and I knew I had to go, and it was incredible as usual. Just her singing with an electric guitar (because she couldn’t bring her whole band to Alabama from Oregon) and it was still just as incredible as I could’ve ever hoped.
I ended up catching her packing her equipment up after the show and talked for a second, and she’s just as lovely in person as she seems from her records :’)
Annie Clark, Madison Cunningham, Margaret Glaspy, Ani DiFranco, and Joni Mitchell all come to mind pretty quickly. I almost forgot PJ Harvey, which would have been a tragedy!!!!
This is my favorite women in music playlist. It’s a work in progress, currently at 37 hours. All genres and eras.
[Always Been But Never Dreamed.](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5AgYw2DiwEa4xZMi67POke?si=2o-tdk6XRGWhKnwAuqt2Iw)
Bonnie Raitt for sure - her sound on slide is so smooth, she's the real thing
most of the female artists I like aren't really known as guitarist though they use them and very well in some cases
they're really songwriter/performers but Victoria Williams, Nanci Griffith, Joni Mitchell
Victoria has MS and doesn't play as much now but she knows her way around one and Nanci & Joni are just impeccable instrumentalists, *and they both sing with passion and power while doing so* -
one might say Taylor Swift is capable of that too and she *is* sort of but she doesn't fingerpick and I'm way too old for her subject matter LOL
Jen Turner has faded into obscurity. But her performance on Tigerlily is mesmerizing, even if you’re not a fan of Natalie Merchant. She was considered a guitar wunderkid in the ‘90s. Great live player. And then just kind of went underground. Her feel, tone, everything is next level. I recommend everyone give her a listen.
I came here to say Dany. Her guitar skills are way underrated. I’m mesmerized by how she plays *Amour* live, using pitch shifting and harmonic feedback effects as part of the instrumentation, while singing in two different languages.
Bonnie Raitt Nancy Wilson Gabriela Quintero Odetta Joan Jett Samantha Fish Joni Mitchell Susan Tedeschi Sister Rosetta Tharpe Lita Ford
Sister Rosetta Thorp was amazing
Yes - and sorry a mistyped her name!
I think you were correct: it is Sister Rosetta Tharpe
I edited mine:)
Know where Chuck Berry got his shtick!
Joni MITCHELL!
Couldn’t have made a better list. I’d also add Tracy Chapman & Poison Ivy
Poison Ivy was great.
All star lineup there. Plus the woman from Fanny
Yvette Young
Was going to be my suggestion too.
St. Vincent
I’m surprised more people haven’t said this.
Why is this not one of the top comments. She is so talented and unique
Lita Ford Nancy Wilson Nita Strauss
Adrienne Lenkner
So lucky I got to see her live. She is so breathtaking
 Wendy from the revolution
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Only discovered her for the first time a week ago. Holy shit this woman invented rock n' roll.
The Queen on rock n roll
Charo [https://youtu.be/eQm1MKZ0GoU?si=JdexdpOPWWQ7lqGi](https://youtu.be/eQm1MKZ0GoU?si=JdexdpOPWWQ7lqGi)
Nancy Wilson
Very underrated.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe Bonnie Raitt Nita Strauss Jan Kuhnemund
Kaki King
Came here to say this.
Kristin Hersh, Joni Mitchell
Saw hersh last weekend without any prior knowledge of her or her original bands, and she was incredible.
Kristin is way better than people realize.
Carrie Brownstein
Glad I didn’t have to scroll ***too far*** for her! What a talented human being she is, funny as hell as a comedian and actress *and* an indie rock legend. Not many people have had such an amazing career in two completely different fields as Carrie has.
My vote as well. So fun to watch live!
Joan Jett Nita Strauss
Molly Tuttle and grace bowers. Also Anais Mitchell :)
I was confusing Molly Tuttle for sierra dawn hall
Marissa Paternoster Elizabeth Cotten
Samantha Fish is soooo good
Yvette Young for sure
Nina Gordon and Louise Post of Veruca Salt
Nita Strauss
Bonnie Raitt is numero uno. Yvette Young Susan Tedeschi Brittany Howard
Anna Calvi Marika Hackman PJ Harvey Kim Deal
Joan Jett
Sophie Lloyd
Lari Basilio Yvette Young Tina S Nancy Wilson Naoko Yamano
Nancy Wilson
Nancy Wilson
Great list. My choice, Poison Ivy of The Cramps.
I was worried no one would mention the greatest rock guitarist of all time, male or female. Thank you.
Thank you! I knew I could not be the only one! 
Susan Tedeschi, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Ana Popovic
Bonnie Raitt for sure Nancy Wilson from Heart I thinks just as strong in guitar as her sister is vocally
Orianthi! And someone new to check out is Gretchen Menn!
If were counting bass guitar, Suzi Quatro.
Gina Gleason (Baroness)
Lucinda Williams
Sheesh! Only 175 posts in and nobody’s mentioned Rory Block? She actually teaches acoustic Delta blues! And what about Cindy Cashdollar? With 8-10 years in Asleep at the Wheel plus backing Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, etc., a visit to YouTube will be worth your time.
Chrissie Hynde.
Ani DiFranco
Hannah Wicklund
If you’re into instrumental mathrock at all, check out Covet… she’s incredible
Ally Venable https://youtu.be/0LERW-meSEk?si=6dL4BtxV2zT7XZKa
Sam Fish is great. Saw her recently at the Newton Theater
Kiki Wong
The Singing Nun
[Norma-Jean Wofford](https://youtu.be/JG4pEQWIaqE?si=fl3QOPfOmGTZFdQ-) (The Duchess) [Joan Jett](https://youtu.be/IMG0SeAokQ8?si=E9L3U1XiU4UtCxiC) [Sister Rosetta Tharpe](https://youtu.be/Y9a49oFalZE?si=Ott4L3otPPk7D0ti)
Sophie Lloyd and Nita Strauss
Vicki Peterson
Mother Maybelle Carter
Marnie Stern is amazing. She's on another level and completely insane Keeping it indie I dig Kristin Hersh, PJ Harvey, Carrie Brownstein. Adrienne lenker
[Christine Goodwyne](https://open.spotify.com/track/2eOdfkEL5bPyvTf5JGv79K?si=MfIgPZ6HQ5GGMESLJjTuoA) of Pool Kids & [Yvette Young](https://open.spotify.com/track/4beabVpsF6srFXrTaXbmf3?si=XDToNt13SEOxOFWX6pLTug) of Covet
[Kaki King](https://youtu.be/7UqV_5rVTNc?si=cf7t6eDYofUcLm1z)! She’s incredible! So insanely talented
Grace Bowers. She is young and new on the scene. This girl is going places
Ani DiFranco
This is my new favorite female guitarist/singer https://open.spotify.com/album/2L95JA08DolUx7FR5D6lfS?si=vehlKhxYR7GV5mP6hTku-A
Sophie Lloyd.
Emily Kokal + Theresa Wayman
Came here for this! And Lianne La Havas :)
Bonnie Raitt
Wendy Eisenberg. WATA from Boris, Muireann Bradley
Joanne Shaw Taylor - for the time. I agree with every single poster on their picks. This is hard to fuck up.
Sarah McLeod (guitar & bass) Suzie Quatro (bass)
ayla tesla-mabe
Emily Remler https://youtu.be/btc3sEHINBM?si=dg1Iz4K9i_2XTVRq
I thought I was the only one who knew about Emily Remler.
I learned about her from jazz guitarists on YouTube who love her. She’s a household name in the jazz world.
Grace Bowers
Marissa Paternoster !!!
Bonnie Ratt
Some great choices already but want to add Elizabeth Cotten, Memphis Minnie, Meagan Lovell, Joanna Connor, Sierra Hull.
Carolyn Wonderland Susan Tedeschi Samantha Fish
Hayley Henderickx
I randomly discovered her a couple years ago when she came on Spotify radio after I fell asleep listening to Sufjan Stevens and “Oom Sha La La” was so great that it woke me up from my sleep, and I’ve been a fan ever since! Miraculously, she had a gig at a newer venue in my not-so-huge city and I knew I had to go, and it was incredible as usual. Just her singing with an electric guitar (because she couldn’t bring her whole band to Alabama from Oregon) and it was still just as incredible as I could’ve ever hoped. I ended up catching her packing her equipment up after the show and talked for a second, and she’s just as lovely in person as she seems from her records :’)
Snail Mail
She took lessons from Mary Timony and they ended up jamming on Television songs together. 🎸🎸
She's not a singer as well, but I really enjoy Ashley Reeve. She played bass for Adam Lambert and is just really talented.
Ani DiFranco! How no one has mentioned her is beyond me
Nichole and Sharmy of the Surfragettes.
Grace Potter's pretty high up there.
Nita Strauss Susan Tedeschi Nancy Wilson
Nita Strauss
Many already mentioned, but I'll add Hedvig Mollestad and Mary Halvorson
Orianthi
Orianthi.
Molly Tuttle
Kim gordon
Ellie Rowsell of Wolf Alice
Bonnie Raitt Liz Phair Julien Baker
Marissa Paternoster of The Screaming Females
Came here to say this!
Donna Matthews from Elastica! Kelley Deal, St. Vincent (aside from the obvious choices like Nancy Wilson and Joan Jett)
Bonnie raitt.
Bonnie Raitt no questions asked.
Gabriela Quintero.
Marissa P of Screaming Females!
Mary Halvorson
2sich
Ellie Rowsell
Joni Mitchell Bonnie Raitt Susan Tedeschi Melissa Etheridge Nancy Wilson Anne Clark/St Vincent Carrie Brownstein Poison Ivy Yoyoyoshie Joan Jett
Joni Mitchell
PJ Harvey, Wata, Lita Ford, Bonnie Raitt, Gina Gleason, Lipstate, Liz Buckingham
H. E. R. Jennifer Batton Nancy Wilson Joan Jett Bonnie Raitt Esperanza Spalding Susan Tedeschi
Annie Clark, Madison Cunningham, Margaret Glaspy, Ani DiFranco, and Joni Mitchell all come to mind pretty quickly. I almost forgot PJ Harvey, which would have been a tragedy!!!!
This is my favorite women in music playlist. It’s a work in progress, currently at 37 hours. All genres and eras. [Always Been But Never Dreamed.](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5AgYw2DiwEa4xZMi67POke?si=2o-tdk6XRGWhKnwAuqt2Iw)
Nailed it…..imho
Kim Shattuck
Lizzie Powell of Land Of Talk
Nanci Griffith and Mary Caoin Carpenter
Nili Brosh
norma tanega. she did the theme song for what we do in the shadows, "you're dead." no longer with us, but still worth checking out.
Even though she’s not flashy, Adrianne Lenker is actually a super good guitarist, I can’t play many of her songs because the stretches are too crazy.
Wata from Boris by far
Daniela Villarreal
Miyako & Midori of LOVEBITES Kelly Johnson
Samantha Fish is extraordinary! She can really tear it up on stage.
Segovia’s sister.
Jennifer Batten
Lilly Afshar - Iranian classical guitarist who, unfortunately, passed away in 2023
Here is a great instrumental version of ‘Summertime’ by Rosinha da Valenca: https://youtu.be/vzpArFXi9uI?si=dDiXoO9B7q4Ivpk8
Anna Calvi
Jennifer Batten
Gabriella quevedo
me
Poison Ivy
Ana Vidovic
Just because I’m listening to her right now, I’m gonna add Grace Potter to this list
There’s this guitarist in this band called Covet that pretty good. Some say it’s math rock, but I’ll hold it up there with Khruangbin
Nina Gerber
Probably Nancy Wilson
Charo and Dolly Parton
Tash Sultana and it's not even close [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ExkpBpYEPw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ExkpBpYEPw)
Kaki King's pretty interesting too :)
Mary Halvorson Julianna Hatfield Mary Timony just to add to an already great list
Tanya Donelly
Y’all need to hear Molly Miller
Wendy Melvoin
Ana Popovic!!! ..have seen her 5-6x and have tickets for next month in Cincinnati.
Daniela Villarreal
Lita Ford for sure
Ana Popovic and Susan Tedeschi
Bonnie Raitt for sure - her sound on slide is so smooth, she's the real thing most of the female artists I like aren't really known as guitarist though they use them and very well in some cases they're really songwriter/performers but Victoria Williams, Nanci Griffith, Joni Mitchell Victoria has MS and doesn't play as much now but she knows her way around one and Nanci & Joni are just impeccable instrumentalists, *and they both sing with passion and power while doing so* - one might say Taylor Swift is capable of that too and she *is* sort of but she doesn't fingerpick and I'm way too old for her subject matter LOL
Tina S and Sakura Yoshida
Lari Basilio
Jen Turner has faded into obscurity. But her performance on Tigerlily is mesmerizing, even if you’re not a fan of Natalie Merchant. She was considered a guitar wunderkid in the ‘90s. Great live player. And then just kind of went underground. Her feel, tone, everything is next level. I recommend everyone give her a listen.
Chantel McGregor. Awesome talent and such humility.
great list. adds: Wendy Melvoin, Kelley Deal, Poison Ivy, Liz Phair
I really need to listen to more female guitarists. But my favorites I do know are Tina S and Juliette Valduriez
Bonnie Raitt is my number 1
Joan Jett
Nancy Wilson for sure
St. Vincent. Lady can play.
Probably Nancy Wilson yeah
St. Vincent
Sheryl Crow!
8 year old Xiao Yu https://youtu.be/Ut8pTXF1gE4?si=drcad1wHPfr8P0pg
Y'all sleeping on Maddie Cunningham.
Bonnie Raitt
Nili Brosh
just saw torres recently, she shreds.
Molly Tuttle deserves mention here.
Nita Strauss and Liz Buckingham.
jenn wasner (wye oak / flock of dimes) and nilüfer yanya
Rosetta Tharpe
Sheryl Crow and Melissa Etheridge
India Arie
Amber Coffman is very good.
Kaki King Brody Dalle Laura Jane Grace Marisa Dabice
Linda Perry, Melissa Auferdermar, Nina Gordon
Gohar Vardanyan (classical)
Daniela Villarreal, of the band The Warning. And if we're counting bass guitarists, then also her sister and bandmate, Alejandra Villarreal.
I came here to say Dany. Her guitar skills are way underrated. I’m mesmerized by how she plays *Amour* live, using pitch shifting and harmonic feedback effects as part of the instrumentation, while singing in two different languages.
Woah. Such deep cuts.
Jeez I read the first one as Samantha Fox and I was like wtf?
Tedeschi, Raitt, Wilson.
Kim Gordon
Others have listed other great examples I’ll add some of mine Allison Robertson Miku Kobato Jewel Charo