Roundup of popular female guitarists: introducing guitar players from Japan and around the world.

Sugar MamaBonnie Raitt

Sugar Mama (2008 Remaster)

Bonnie Raitt is a rock guitarist and singer from the United States, born in 1949.

A pioneering female slide guitarist and a legendary figure, she excels at performing R&B.

In Rolling Stone’s 2011 list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, she was ranked 89th, highlighting her status as a highly accomplished artist.

If It Makes You HappySheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow – If It Makes You Happy (Official Music Video)

She is a singer-songwriter from the United States.

She was a late bloomer, making her debut at 30, and during her early years she even sang backup vocals for Michael Jackson.

With timeless beauty that shows no signs of fading, she stays true to her own music.

beethoven moshTHE GREAT KAT

Beethoven Mosh (Beethoven’s 5th Symphony in C Minor)

With a remarkable background is The Great Kat, a heavy metal guitarist born in 1966 (age 51 at the time referenced) from Swindon, England.

Originally a violinist, she graduated from the Juilliard School, which admits only the most talented and select musicians.

While The Great Kat delivers astonishing performances, her musical sense and aptitude are of an extraordinary caliber.

Sword Of JudgementSakura

HAGANE – Sword Of Judgement (Official Music Video)

As the leader and guitarist of the heavy metal band HAGANE, renowned for captivating audiences with a core-driven tone, Sakura commands an overwhelming presence.

The band made its debut in 2020 with the first mini-album “EpisodeØ,” and drew nationwide attention in 2022 with the album “Code ; 9021.” Influenced by her father to pick up the guitar and inspired by bands like Helloween and X JAPAN, her playing style masterfully fuses rapid-fire shredding with melodious phrasing.

On the Phoenix Journey tour starting in May 2024, HAGANE—now in a renewed lineup—elevates its musicality even further, unfolding an original sound that incorporates symphonic elements.

Sakura is the perfect artist for music fans drawn to powerful yet delicate performances and a fantastical sonic world.

Tiny Little Metal RiffJen Majura

Jen Majura – Tiny Little Metal Riff (Live) | Ibanez Guitar Festival 2016

Evanescence is a popular American rock band that debuted in 2003.

Their first album, Fallen, sold 15 million copies worldwide and won two Grammy Awards.

After guitarist Terry Balsamo left the band, Jen Majura was selected as his replacement.

Jen Majura is a female guitarist who owns a music school in Brilon, Germany, and is an artist with extremely advanced guitar technique who began making music at the age of six.

Crazy On YouNancy Wilson

Heart crazy on you

Nancy Wilson is an American rock musician who joined the rock band Heart, which features her sister Ann Wilson, in 1974 and continues to perform with them today.

From a young age, Nancy’s guitar technique has been highly acclaimed; her playing style is captivating for its blend of boldness and delicate precision.

You’ll Lose A Good ThingBarbara Lynn

Barbara Lynn – You’ll Lose A Good Thing (The Beat, 1966)

The legendary artist Barbara Lynn, known as the “Empress of Gulf Coast Soul,” is truly a pioneer who built her sound on rhythm and blues and established a style of singing while playing lead guitar left-handed.

Active since the early 1960s, she wrote “Oh! Baby (We’ve Got a Good Thing Goin’),” which The Rolling Stones covered in 1965—there’s a famous story that Mick Jagger called her directly about it.

Her achievements are evident in her receiving the NEA National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor bestowed by the U.S.

government, in 2018.

Her playing—using a thumb pick to lay down rhythm and lead simultaneously—lies at the heart of her soulful music.

If you want to experience the music of a powerful blues woman, be sure to check her out.