# Why are there so few well-known female guitarists and drummers, compared to bassists? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 19, 2018, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448 "2018-05-19T07:30:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/21 "2018-05-19T14:12:12Z")
I’m sure it’s a mix of things, but one thing is that [there are fewer women in music in general.](https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2017/oct/12/tonights-live-music-acts-will-mostly-be-male-only-whats-holding-women-back) From the day this article was published: > [@](#): > > Tonight, more than two-thirds of the live music acts performing in the UK will feature no women on stage, according to a Guardian analysis. Of the 370 gigs listed for 12 October on the [Ents24.com](http://Ents24.com) listings website, 69% of the acts (255) are made up entirely of men, while just 9% (33) are female-only (half of these are solo artists). There could be a lot of reasons, like some women were intimidated before they even started, or some started to play guitar but were discouraged from playing more. Also very possible that with two equally good bands, one of all women and one with just a woman on bass, that the mostly male group could have an easier time getting gigs and had an easier time growing in popularity and success. I’ve seen and heard comments from guys about how St. Vincent isn’t that great at guitar, not just that she’s not to their taste but sounding confused how anyone could think she was great. I’m sure that’s a minority of men saying things like that, but if she gets those comments, I’m sure women starting out on the guitar get a lot worse. **WordMan’s** theory about why women are more often the bass players rather than being equally in other roles makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/22 "2018-05-19T14:13:16Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > The guitar industry looks at Taylor Swift as the George Harrison of sales, St. Vincent is a guitar hero, and the accessibility of YouTube and the #metoo movement are all getting more voices heard. I think St. Vincent is more known as a multi-instrumentalist and singer, but she’s all around badass to the max. Taylor Swift, no comment. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/23 "2018-05-19T14:19:17Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > As an avid music fan and a bassist myself, I’ve always been keenly aware of this situation. I can name a lot of great female bassists right off the top of my head. I wondered if being a bassist yourself might have made you more aware of bass players. We’ve had threads before ([here](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=620848), [here](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=434117) about female band members. I’m not sure whether there are more bassists than guitarists and drummers listed (though not all the women listed are “well-known”). ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/24 "2018-05-19T15:03:49Z")
I was friends with a girl in high school who played drums for some local garage bands. She later got a four year degree in music and moved to Boston. She is now the drummer for an [all-female Judas Priest tribute band](http://www.judaspriestessband.com/about_us.html). [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6j69T7YZDY) [are](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibHiOrFpq2o) a couple of her drum solos. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/25 "2018-05-19T15:45:32Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/26 "2018-05-19T16:16:02Z")
> **[Blake Babies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake_Babies)** > > Blake Babies were an American college rock band formed in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts. The three primary members were John Strohm, Freda Love, and Juliana Hatfield. They recorded three albums before splitting up in 1991. They reformed to record a new album in 1999, and again in 2016. > The band formed in 1986, while Hatfield was studying at Berklee College of Music. The name "Blake Babies" was provided by the poet Allen Ginsberg; following a reading at Harvard University, the group (which had ju... Freda Love was the kick ass drummer for the Blake Babies. Come to think of it, Julianna Hatfield has been a guitarist and bassist for the Lemonheads too. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/27 "2018-05-19T16:17:07Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > Moe Tucker on drums. Thank You! ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/28 "2018-05-19T16:27:53Z")
Not so well-known and a cover band, but… > **[Zepparella](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zepparella)** > > clemthegreat.com > gretchenmenn.com > hollywestmusic.com ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/29 "2018-05-19T17:54:35Z")
I’ll add Orianthi and Bonnie Raitt to the list. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/30 "2018-05-19T18:01:52Z")
Maybelle Carter was one of the all-time greatest guitarists, period. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/31 "2018-05-19T18:09:03Z")
> [@Meurglys](#): > > Shiela E? She drums as well as her more usual percussion playing. > [@WordMan](#): > > Oh hell yes. She’s toured with Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/32 "2018-05-19T18:41:18Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Maybelle Carter was one of the all-time greatest guitarists, period. Certainly one of the most influential. Her picking style is one of the core techniques in folk and country for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/33 "2018-05-19T22:22:59Z")
With a little more time to think: Sue Foley Debbie Davies Joanna Connor ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/34 "2018-05-19T22:24:11Z")
I don’t know why it slipped my mind because she’s like the latter day Mo Tucker, but Georgia Hubbly is the drummer for Yo La Tengo, a great band. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/35 "2018-05-19T23:06:36Z")
Strangely (or maybe not so strangely), there is an entire genre of Youtube videos of women playing some kick-ass guitar and drums. [Sina Playing The Who](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lrkiuZG9yo) [Sina Playing Rush](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C00BpiE52mM&index=54&list=PLflbtPAWh7ioJwjbff3E_bbNrwQThGfwU) She’s kind of a prodigy, it seems to me. She was somewhere between 13 and 16 when she recorded many of these. When she plays drums, she actually seems to take on the body movements of the original drummer. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/36 "2018-05-19T23:09:57Z")
Guitarists? Marissa Paternoster of Screaming Females, who ought to be _huge_: here’s [Marissa vs “Cortez the Killer”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi77WkVgvxA). ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/37 "2018-05-20T00:29:38Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > Guitarists? Marissa Paternoster of Screaming Females, who ought to be _huge_: here’s [Marissa vs “Cortez the Killer”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi77WkVgvxA). Here she is covering the aforementioned Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off”: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-qOdtoE5OCI/maxresdefault.jpg "Screaming Females - "Shake It Off" (Taylor Swift)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qOdtoE5OCI) And covering “If It Makes You Happy” by Sheryl Crow: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ocRyF7ft0ok/maxresdefault.jpg "Screaming Females - "If It Makes You Happy" (Sheryl Crow)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocRyF7ft0ok) ---
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/38 "2018-05-20T00:47:43Z")
> [@Meurglys](#): > > Shiela E? She drums as well as her more usual percussion playing. First name that came to mind for me. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/39 "2018-05-20T00:49:32Z")
Two great old-time blues guitarists were [Libba Cotten](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_Minnie) and [Memphis Minnie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Cotten). The latter was a pioneer of single-string lead guitar, which was enabled by the louder resophonic guitars she played before electric guitars were commonly available. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448/40 "2018-05-20T01:10:22Z")
Different instruments do seem to attract/require/favour different personalities. It’s partly tradition, but also partly true. It’s partly reasonable that guitarists have an “egotistical show-off” reputation, and fewer women cultivate that side. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-well-known-female-guitarists-and-drummers-compared-to-bassists/814448.md?page=3)