Roundup of popular female guitarists: introducing guitar players from Japan and around the world.
In this article, we’ll introduce a whole lineup of recommended female guitarists! This time, we’ve picked out lots of cool guitarists from both Japan and abroad.
Along with rock band guitarists, we’ve also included players active in the worlds of jazz and fusion, as well as classical guitarists.
Whether you’re looking to find a guitarist to stan, or you’re a beginner female guitarist hoping to discover an inspiring role model, we hope this article helps you get to know many amazing female guitarists.
Now, let’s dive right into our recommended guitarists!
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Roundup of popular female guitarists: Introducing guitar players from Japan and abroad (1–10)
FanfareMAMI（SCANDAL）
MAMI, the guitarist of SCANDAL—a Japanese girls’ rock band known for providing theme songs for numerous anime, films, and TV dramas—has been delivering music that blends rock and pop since forming the band in 2006 with fellow students from the same music school.
In 2014, she gained international recognition as a guitarist with the release of her signature model from Fender.
While she often performs passionate rock numbers at live shows, she is also an artist with a wide range of musical activities, including hosting solo acoustic performances.
White SugarJoanne Shaw Taylor
Joanne Shaw Taylor is a female guitarist from the United Kingdom who started playing guitar at the age of eight and became well known in Britain as a prodigy.
At sixteen, she was recognized by Dave Stewart of Eurythmics and joined the supergroup D.U.P.
as a touring guitarist, which quickly brought her to fame.
I AM THE MANCarolyn Wonderland
Carolyn Wonderland is a blues guitarist from Houston, Texas, born in 1972, who debuted in 1993 with her first album, “Groove Milk.” Carolyn’s guitar technique is stunning, but when she starts to sing, the sparkling soul within her overflows and shines, radiating an almost divine aura.
Popular Female Guitarists Roundup: Introducing Guitar Players from Japan and Abroad (11–20)
You and the summer music festivalMiyazaki Asako (SHISHAMO)
Asako Miyazaki, who serves as the vocalist and guitarist of SHISHAMO, also writes and composes most of their songs.
She often plays a Telecaster-type guitar.
True to her singing voice, she loves “pink, dolls, and sweets,” making her a girly and charming guitar-playing woman.
MarionetteSAKI（Mary’s Blood）
SAKI, a guitarist from Kanagawa Prefecture who played in the girls’ band Mary’s Blood that debuted in 2009.
Inspired to pursue the electric guitar after seeing performances by the legendary Japanese heavy metal band Seikima-II on television, she excels at rapid-fire shredding and is acclaimed for her technical playing.
She has written multiple serial columns for music magazines, and in 2024 released an EP under her solo name—continuing to broaden the scope of her musical expression.
According To YouOrianthi Panagaris
Orianthi Panagaris shot to fame in 2009 when she was chosen as the lead guitarist for Michael Jackson’s concert THIS IS IT.
Since then, she has had a dazzling career, performing with Carlos Santana, Prince, and Eric Clapton, among others, and was selected as one of the “12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists.”
The Last RevengeYuki（D_Drive）
D_Drive is an instrumental hard rock band formed by members connected to a music vocational school.
Yuki handles the twin-guitar duties in the band, known for passionate and highly technical performances.
She specializes in rapid picking and sweep picking, and it’s striking how flawlessly she plays songs that incorporate rock and metal elements.
She also works as an instructor in guitar instructional DVDs, providing clear explanations of techniques such as tapping and harmonics.
A virtuosic player with a multifaceted career, she was even selected as an image character for a Sony smartphone commercial.