Women Guitarists

When people start discussing guitarists, they invariably speak of Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Andres Segovia, John Williams, Pepe Romero, Julian Bream...

Notice anything? No women.

In all the time that I have spent in my two favorite music stores, one of which is entirely devoted to guitars, I have never seen a woman or girl looking at guitars. Not one time in what, twenty years? Does that speak to anything? I think it does. Even in my favorite guitar store which has a woman guitar technician, who has been playing for over 30 years, no other women. Check out this article by Fender guitars about why women don’t buy guitars in shops.

So, I am about to paint the bleak picture, at least in my mind, of the status of women and guitar standouts, stars, guitar heroes. This blog was previewed by three women and their feedback was unanimous—what the hell? The best response was a chalet— what was I hoping to prove or say with this blog? Naturally, I have given that a lot of thought.

It’s easy to be critical. It’s also ironic because I have coached girls’ basketball and I have always supported women in sports. Let me take you back a little in history. Not that many years ago, women professional tennis players made far less, truly less, money on the pro tours. Evonne Goolagong didn’t make quite as much as, say, John McEnroe. Raise your hand if you know who Evonne Goolagong is/was. Raise your hand if you have ever heard of John McEnroe.

BACKGROUND

Not long ago, a handful of star players said “enough,” think “the Williams sisters.” They stood up and refused to play, and now they make the same money as men and they enjoy wide publicity and coverage of their sport. Very recently, the U.S. women’s soccer team, which established itself as the very best in the world, fought and fought for equity. It was a long hard battle. In 2022, they succeeded. Their record on the world stage in soccer is vastly superior to the men’s, but the men were paid significantly more. The inequity was simply dumbfounding. Now the women are finally getting their due, in terms of pay. This is currently happening in Canada where the women are paid significantly less and they are starting a campaign called “Enough,” supported by the American women.

The WNBA is a joke as far as pay for women is concerned. Brittany Griner suffered in prison in Russia because American stars had to play in Russia, which paid women well, to make up for the (lack of) money and support that they should earn in America.

Baseball is a grand sport. Have you ever seen a softball game between the University of Oklahoma and UCLA. You should. Women athletes playing softball are incredible and their games are shorter and better than the men’s. Watch one of their home runs leave the ball park. They are magnificent. Yet, their pro games are poorly attended and they are relatively unknown and underpaid.

POLITICS

Think about the role of women in America over the last 120 years. In the early 20th century, they had to fight just to get the right to vote. Think about 1950, how women were in Congress, how many women were governors of any state. Now, we have a woman Vice President of the United States. Someday, there will be a woman president of the United States. Look at all the Senators and Representatives to the House who are women. Look at the women governors, especially like the Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer. Years ago, Dianne Feinstein, from California, was a pioneer and a real force in the US Senate. Barbara Lee, a Representative from California, was the only member of the House who voted against the war in Iraq.

MUSIC

In the world of music, the primary female stars are singers. Pop, opera, and broadway. Who is it who produces albums, promotes bands and musicians, who runs tours and world wide performances. Men. Just like who ruled the world of sports—tennis, soccer, basketball, golf.

I challenged my daughter to name one outstanding, celebrity level guitarist with a reputation like Eric Clapton. Couldn’t do it.

What is my point? It’s easy. I would like to see more acclaim, more recognition, more notoriety for women guitarists. I would like to see more women impress the world with their incredible finger picking and inspiring songs. Women can sing better than Willie Nelson, can't they also play guitar better?

What brought equity to the sports I mentioned above. Anger, dissatisfaction, desire and the skills to back it up. I am willing to bet that there are women who can play circles around Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler. For women over 45, they have a lifetime already of seeing guitar playing as a male dominated industry. In later years, for women that raised children, maybe they have more time and energy to embrace music, and the joy of music. Women that have developed strong careers might be able to rest slightly on the foundations of their hard work and spend time on a new hobby.

So here are a couple of comments regarding the status of women playing guitar—or, more accurately, being recognized for their ability to play guitar. If you are a women forty-five, fifty-five, sixty-five, seventy-five or even eighty-five, please pick up a guitar. Or a ukulele. We'll help each other.

ROCK

Name the rock culture female counterpart of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, or Mark Knopfler or a country counterpart to Chet Atkins or Merle Haggard. There are none. Well, Mother Maybell Carter does spring to mind.

CLASSICAL

Ana Vidovic

Only in the realm of classical guitar are there any women of real repute playing guitar. Thu Le, Thai, Ana Vudovic, another lovely Russian player , Sharon Isbin, American, Xuefei Yang, Chinese are very well known for their fantastic abilities. Sharon Isbin is one of a handful of classical guitarists of the post-Andrés Segovia age who have crossed into something approaching celebrity. Her range of music is amazing from baroque, to Spanish, to classical, to jazz and fusion. Geez.

POP

In the world of pop music, rock and roll, acoustic guitar, famous women are singers. Linda Ronstadt can play guitar, but she is not known for it nor ever will be. Women play guitar only to accompany their voices and they do that well. But, I don’t know of a woman who is celebrated for her ability to play guitar like, say, James Taylor, or who performs a guitar based venue. Perhaps, Joni Mitchell or Bonnie Raitt playing slide guitar, but both are primarily known as singers. Susan Tedeschi?

WHATEVER

I discussed this with my wife who plays guitar. She played in her early 20s when she was working as a music therapist in hospitals around St. Louis. (She played keyboard in a band working her way through college.) OF course, she has a great voice. Her first comment about women over 45 learning to play was, women just feel like they don’t have time. That’s interesting. But, she feels there should not be a distinction . Don’t make a distinction unless you have some interest in championing women for playing guitar. Well, I have an interest in championing women, especially a little older, for playing guitar.

I feel like, for whatever reason, women see guitar as a man’s instrument and avoid it. Unless, of course, they want to sing.

I really like thinking this through, but frankly it seems pretty clear. Of course, the world has many, many women guitarist but they just don’t seem to reached the legendary stature of the men mentioned above. I am excited about receiving all angry, and hopeful, responses from women, just try to keep the profanities to a minimum.