# Best Female Guitarist **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 5, 2003, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626 "2003-09-05T00:26:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kjckjc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@kjckjc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kjckjc)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/1 "2003-09-05T00:26:28Z")
[This](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=209078) thread got me thinking about who is the best. You can give points to your favorite for influence or technical ability or whatever. I am going to start by throwing out Juliana Hatfield. She may not be the BEST per se, but she is my favorite and I feel she is one of the best technically speaking. Discuss. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/2 "2003-09-05T00:37:39Z")
I’m sure that **Lisa Loeb** has a place somewhere in this list. I haven’t heard anything blindly technical from her yet (although it’s probably in her reach), but she plays very effectively and she gets an excellent sound. ---
**Author:** ![Husker\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Husker\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Husker_Dude)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/3 "2003-09-05T00:42:30Z")
Both Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein from Sleater Kinney are pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/4 "2003-09-05T00:44:11Z")
If Shannon Curfman isn’t on the list yet, give her a few years. I’m amazed that this girl isn’t famous and Avril Lavigne is; Shannon’s the real stuff! ---
**Author:** ![Bandanaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ab097/32.png) [@Bandanaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bandanaman)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/5 "2003-09-05T00:47:06Z")
Chryssie Hynde can go from D to G, and back again. ---
**Author:** ![Silvio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Silvio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvio)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/6 "2003-09-05T00:50:52Z")
Nancy Wilson (Heart, Cameron Crowe soundtracks) does some wonderful accoustic stuff. Joni Mitchel. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/7 "2003-09-05T01:54:33Z")
I have to second Joni Mitchell. Also throw in the ring Patty Larkin (Patty’s even got an instructional video out there on how to play). Mary-Chapin Carpenter Janis Ian (She can rock with the best of 'em and then switch to folk or many other styles, simply amazing). Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls ---
**Author:** ![dbygawdcapn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dbygawdcapn/32/3995_2.png) [@dbygawdcapn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbygawdcapn)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/8 "2003-09-05T02:16:30Z")
Erika Luckett Rory Block Nina Gerber ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/9 "2003-09-05T03:28:55Z")
Neko Case - not technical, but wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/10 "2003-09-05T04:16:57Z")
**krokodil** I’ll second the nomination for **Shannon Curfman**. She is a great guitarist and singer. To think that she recorded the CD “Loud Gutars, Big Suspicions” when she was 13. I’d really love to see her reach the level of fame that someone like Britney Speers has achieved. Shannon is much more talented than a lot of folks that are more famous. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/11 "2003-09-05T05:03:23Z")
Susan Tedeschi is very good. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/12 "2003-09-05T05:14:44Z")
bass-Carol Kaye. played on more hits than any female,but didn’t sing. Mostly 60’s. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/13 "2003-09-05T06:30:31Z")
My vote goes to the ladies of **Veruca Salt** - Nina Gordon and Louise Post. ---
**Author:** ![sandalwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@sandalwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandalwood)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/14 "2003-09-05T06:57:19Z")
Acoutic or Electric? Hmm… Bonnie Raitt Nancy Wilson Melissa Ethridge Shawn Colvin Sheryl Crow ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/15 "2003-09-05T10:34:17Z")
I’d shout **PJ Harvey**. im a big fan of her sound, even if she doesnt really get technical. still, its emotion that counts in my book, rather than being able to solo for eons. I like **Poison Ivy** off the Cramps too. ---
**Author:** ![sickboy51](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@sickboy51](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sickboy51)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/16 "2003-09-05T11:03:40Z")
**Kim Deal** well, maybe she is not the best, but I´m in love with her so… ---
**Author:** ![moj34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@moj34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moj34)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/17 "2003-09-05T11:17:28Z")
Bonnie Rait… plays great blues. ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/18 "2003-09-05T11:24:31Z")
Jennifer Batten pretty much exceeds everybody on the list so far as far as pure technique. Lita Ford also rocks, but she unfortunately sounds too much like her idol, Richie Blackmore, and not enough of her own sound. Chris W ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/19 "2003-09-05T11:56:46Z")
\*\* Charo \*\* ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626/20 "2003-09-05T12:02:04Z")
Another vote for Bonnie Raitt. No doubt about it. (Although I just _adore_ the Sleater-Kinney gals.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-female-guitarist/199626.md?page=2)