'10 Amazing Female Guitarists'

Subject: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 06 Jul 12 - 05:18 PM

10 Amazing Female Guitarists, by Ryan Bort at PasteMagazine.com, as "List of the Day"

Most of these are NOT FOLK, of course. Or even non-electric. I was going to say that I'd not heard of most of them, but I actually have heard of 7 out of 10.

Note: not "Best" or "Most", just "Amazing". Of course there are others suggested in the comments there. Others here may have opinions, too. ;-)

Go to the link for notes and sound clips. I've given the name of the tune in the clip.

There are few things in music more under-appreciated than the female guitarist. In 2003, Rolling Stone released a list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All-Time and only two women were included. They released a revised list that was compiled by a panel in 2011 and, again, only two women were featured, with only Joni Mitchell making both lists. But there are plenty of women out there who have the chops to put most axe-wielding dudes to shame. Here are 10 amazing guitar players who just happen to be women.

10. Sarah Lipstate - Brilliant Colors
9. Kelley Deal - Cannonball
8. Marnie Stern - Nothing Left
7. Kaki King - Ingots
6. Carrie Brownstein - What's Mine is Yours
5. Elizabeth Cotten - Shake Sugaree
4. Nancy Wilson - Crazy on You
3. Joan Jett - I Love Rock and Roll
2. Joni Mitchell - California
1. Bonnie Raitt - Something to Talk About

Can we up the folk quotient? Provide some links that 'Catters like me won't need to turn down the volume for? ;-)

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: alanabit
Date: 06 Jul 12 - 05:25 PM

Did Joni play the guitar on "California"? I think the track is on "Blue" and from what I remember, she would have played dulcimer to James Taylor's guitar. Please correct me if I am wrong. I only heard many years later that Joni Mitchell had effectively been forced to play guitar mainly in open tunings because childhood polio had left her unable to form chords in the usual way in standard tuning. I am a huge admirer of her work. She is easiy the best singer I have ever seen live.

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 06 Jul 12 - 05:30 PM

Yeah, I was thinking that one was dulcimer, too. Whoops!

The polio story is given in the notes for this list.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: PHJim
Date: 06 Jul 12 - 05:41 PM

I'd love to be able to play like Marcy.

Girl Django

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: Tiger
Date: 06 Jul 12 - 05:44 PM

Check out Nina Gerber, who used to play with Kate Wolf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmKWT72xr-s&feature=related

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: maeve
Date: 06 Jul 12 - 06:35 PM

Cindy Kallet is my first choice! http://www.cindykallet.com/music

Cindy Kallet and Grey Larsen perform Cindy's song "If You Say Yes"/a>

Shores of Africa/Eighth of January

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 06 Jul 12 - 06:45 PM

There's no shortage of fine female guitarists in traditional folk. Peggy Seeger springs to mind (her deft playing was inspired by Elizabeth Cotten, cited above).

And there's Maybelle Carter. And so on and on.

Granted these are figures passing or gone from the scene. But that's more a matter of the dwindling of the traditional folk ranks. The action has passed to the pop folk, so that's where the nimble-fingered women are drawn.

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 06 Jul 12 - 09:13 PM

I don't perform on any instrument, and I'm no expert on judging those who do, but Rory Block has always impressed me. Here's one video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaK4x7TLQ3E&feature=related

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 06 Jul 12 - 09:29 PM

Great examples, all. Thanks.

More?

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: PHJim
Date: 06 Jul 12 - 09:48 PM

How about Mimi Fox?

Mimi Fox

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: PHJim
Date: 06 Jul 12 - 09:51 PM

Or Emily Remler:

Emily Remler

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: PHJim
Date: 06 Jul 12 - 10:05 PM

And of course Muriel Anderson:

Muriel Anderson & Tommy Emanuel

Sorry Tommy, that should;ve been Emmanuel

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: mrdux
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 12:50 AM

How about Memphis Minnie?

and i'll second Emily Remler.

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: GUEST,Roger Knowles
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 03:11 AM

I agree with Tiger - Nina Gerber is great!! She should be on the list.

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: Will Fly
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 04:21 AM

What - no Sister Rosetta Tharpe?

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: Cool Beans
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 08:40 AM

Muriel Anderson, for sure. And how about Mary Flower.

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: GUEST,Charles Macfarlane
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 08:57 AM

> From: Will Fly
>
> What - no Sister Rosetta Tharpe?

Yes, I'd agree with that choice, though AFAICR she played electric, so not helping the accoustic/folk rankings. I must be getting out of touch, because I've only heard of the top five (that is, the last five listed).

If it was "top accoustic" rather than "amazing", I would include Joan Baez. The thing about folk music is that it's the song that is important, and the accompaniment should help carry the song without distracting from, or even worse getting in the way of, it. Particularly in her solo days, Joan used to get that balance right every time. Although without the flashiness that people would call 'amazing', her playing was always very good - supremely competent yet appropriate. I call to the witness stand: Copper Kettle (live), Gospel Ship (live), Sweet Sir Galahad, and perhaps Milanese Waltz/Marie Flore (though I'm not quite sure who's doing what there).

I always had a soft spot, sometimes a hard one, for Nancy Wilson.

Sorry, I'll see myself out.

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 09:21 AM

Sorry about the above...hit the wrong key..Joni Mitcell, especially on Hejira and Turbulent Indigo...Bonnie Raitt and ,perhaps the best of them all, Ellen MacIllwaine.
Interesting thread, thanks for starting it.

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: GUEST,John Foxen
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 10:01 AM

Kristina Olsen is a wonderful guitarist as well as singer, songwriter and raconteur. Sadly in Britain she never gets the audiences she deserves and we don't see her as often as we should.

Phoebe's Iceberg


And for jazz-folk crossover check out Jennifer Maidman on Airplay along with Alistair Anderson on concertina and the excellent trombonist Annie Whitehead.

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: GUEST,Doc John
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 10:05 AM

Macyn Taylor...and she's still young

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: PHJim
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 10:58 AM

Hilo, I was once on my way from Hamilton to Port Hope and stopped in Bowmanville for a break. I noticed a poster advertising that The Ellen MacIllwaine Band would be playing at a pub in town. I got my friend Ted to head over to Bowmanville with me that weekend and Ellen put on a great show, but it was a small, somewhat sleazy pub. There was no cover and about five people in the audience. Ellen had a trio. I wondered how someone of her talents could possibly afford to play a joint like this and pay a three piece combo.

Somebody lost money that night.

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 11:54 AM

I have seen her three times..mostly in large puns with a good crowd. Also saw her at an outdoor blues festival, many in the audience had never heard of her, by the time she finished her gig, she was the hit of the week end..fabulous player, should be world famous.

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 11:55 AM

My fingers have gone all wonky today...although I do like large puns, I have never seen a guitarist in one...that should read large pubs.

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 12:11 PM

For country blues: Joanne Kelly, Memphis Minnie (both deceased)and Rory Block.
Classical: Liona Boyd, Sharon Isbin
All of the above are world class and I still get off listening to Maybelle Carter.
And Shawn Colvin accompanies her vocals so well.

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 12:33 PM

Great stuff, folks!

Of the few videos of Ellen MacIllwaine that I checked, all were great songs, but the slide guitar accompaniment was appropriate, but not strictly speaking spectacular. But, here's something different and that sure shows off her guitar musicality: La Guitara-Ellen McIlwaine.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 12:38 PM

Garbiella of the duo Rodriguo y Gabriella is handy enough at it:

video

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: GUEST,sturgeon
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 12:51 PM

Some more to consider.

Kelly Johnson and Jackie Chambers of Girl School
Kelley Deal
Lita Ford
Poison Ivy of The Cramps
Jennifer Batten
Kelly Richey

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 03:55 PM

sturgeon, fine electric players, surely, but I'm not sure any of those qualify as more "folk-y" or lower volume than the first list. :-)

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 04:09 PM

Peggy Malone

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: GUEST,sturgeon
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 04:14 PM

All right, DD.

Two more I missed.

Ani diFranco
Phoebe Snow

But this thread's only a repeat of this one - thread.cfm?threadid=142778

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 04:50 PM

Whoa, you are right, sturgeon. I did not do my due diligence looking for prior threads. It does look like we're pulling in a few more here.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: '10 Amazing Female Guitarists'
From: Leadfingers
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 08:11 PM

Folk SONG is about the song , not the accompaniment, so a thread like this is a minor interest . There ARE a lot of very good Female musicians , and not just on guitar .