Music has always told powerful stories, but some voices have been silenced by time and bias. The history of rock music, especially, tends to celebrate the same famous men while amazing women guitarists are pushed into the shadows. These talented musicians helped shape rock’s sound and spirit but didn’t get the recognition they deserved.
I want to shine a light on 10 incredible women guitarists who changed rock music forever, despite being erased from many history books. Each of these musicians brought unique skills, styles, and innovations to their instruments.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Way back in the 1930s and 40s, before rock and roll even had a name, Sister Rosetta Tharpe was already shredding on her electric guitar. This musical pioneer blended spiritual lyrics with distorted guitar sounds and driving rhythms that would eventually evolve into what we now call rock music. Many famous male artists, including Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis, carefully studied her revolutionary technique. Despite her groundbreaking talent and ability to outplay many of her male contemporaries, most music history books sadly omit her name when discussing rock’s origins.
Memphis Minnie
Astonishing audiences with her incredible talent, blues guitarist Memphis Minnie dazzled crowds in the 1930s and 40s with skills that impressed even the most accomplished male musicians. Throughout her remarkable career, she wrote and recorded more than 200 songs, including the famous “When the Levee Breaks,” which Led Zeppelin later adapted without properly acknowledging her contribution. Incredibly, during the harsh economic times of the Great Depression, she managed to earn enough from her performances to support herself completely—a rare achievement for any musician of that era.
Beverly “Guitar” Watkins
Talented guitarist Beverly Watkins continued playing energetic blues guitar performances into her 80s, often playing behind her head and with her teeth. She traveled with piano legend Dr. Feelgood during the 1950s but remained unknown to most music fans until the 1990s. Her musical style mixed traditional blues with funk elements to create a sound that was both classic and uniquely personal. Despite her amazing talent and dedication, she needed to work cleaning jobs for many years while male guitarists with similar abilities became rich and famous.
Elizabeth Cotten
Crafting her own unique approach to the instrument, left-handed musician Elizabeth Cotten developed a distinctive style by playing a right-handed guitar upside down, which later became known as “Cotten picking.” At the remarkably young age of 11, she composed the now-classic folk song “Freight Train,” though she would wait decades before receiving any recognition for her work. Her innovative fingerpicking technique featuring alternating bass notes went on to influence countless folk and rock musicians across generations. For most of her life, she earned a living as a housekeeper, and it wasn’t until her 60s that someone finally discovered her extraordinary musical talents, allowing her to at last receive credit for her groundbreaking innovations.
Barbara Lynn
Boldly breaking conventions, songwriter Barbara Lynn both wrote and performed her hit song “You’ll Lose A Good Thing” while playing left-handed lead guitar—something virtually unheard of for women musicians in the 1960s. She shared stages with music legends like Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight on tour, consistently wowing audiences with her impressive songwriting talents and exceptional guitar abilities. Throughout her career, music industry executives repeatedly pressured her to focus solely on singing, refusing to fully acknowledge her complete musical gifts.
Bonnie Raitt
Earning genuine respect from blues legends like Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker, performer Bonnie Raitt mastered slide guitar with remarkable skill and feeling. Throughout the 1970s, she consistently released outstanding albums, yet mainstream success eluded her until 1989’s “Nick of Time”—ironically, after her record label had nearly dropped her from their roster. Her extraordinary command of bottleneck slide guitar technique rightfully places her among history’s greatest guitarists, regardless of gender. Unfortunately, for much of her career, the music industry seemed more interested in marketing her appearance than celebrating her exceptional guitar prowess.
Jennifer Batten
For an incredible ten years, lead guitarist Jennifer Batten performed alongside Michael Jackson, delivering jaw-dropping solos before some of the largest concert audiences in history. Her lightning-fast playing and impressive two-handed tapping technique shattered long-held stereotypes about women’s ability to master technical, shred-style guitar. Despite her high-profile position and extraordinary talents, she continuously battled skepticism and sexism throughout her professional career.
Lita Ford
Metal pioneer Lita Ford broke barriers as the lead guitarist for the all-female punk band The Runaways before becoming a solo heavy metal artist in the 1980s. Her aggressive playing style and technical solos challenged the idea that women couldn’t handle hard rock and metal guitar techniques. Marketing campaigns often focused on her appearance instead of highlighting her impressive guitar skills and songwriting abilities. Her determination to succeed in the male-dominated world of heavy metal created opportunities for future generations of women interested in playing this style of music.
Kaki King
Kaki King revolutionized acoustic guitar playing with her percussive tapping techniques and innovative use of alternate tunings. Her instrumental compositions blend elements of folk, jazz, and progressive rock into something entirely unique and instantly recognizable. Despite being named by Rolling Stone as one of the “New Guitar Gods” – the only woman on their list – she still doesn’t receive the same level of mainstream recognition as male guitarists with similar technical abilities. Her influence extends beyond just playing technique to encompass composition and her creative approach to the guitar as both a melodic and percussive instrument.
Yvette Young
Drawing from her classical background, modern guitarist Yvette Young developed an extraordinary two-handed tapping style that seamlessly blends mathematical precision with deep emotional expression in her band Covet. Newcomers to her music often respond with shock and disbelief when first witnessing her play, despite the fact that she ranks among today’s most technically accomplished guitarists. Her innovative approach to math rock has motivated countless guitarists to experiment with new techniques, while her increasing visibility serves as powerful inspiration for young women considering picking up the instrument.
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