How to Be Awesome at Guitar: Try Playing Like These Women

The guitar has long been a male-dominated instrument.

As a kid growing up in the 1980s and 90s, I honestly can’t recall ever seeing or knowing about a single female guitarist. I’m sure there were a few of them out there, but the fact wasn’t well broadcast.

Yet thankfully, the tide is starting to turn. At least one study shows that 50 percent of all aspiring guitarists are now girls or women.

As a man, I personally think this fabulous! I am tremendously happy whenever I see anyone pick up the guitar, regardless of their gender. At my son’s middle school, for instance, there is a girl learning the electric guitar who plays in the jazz band. The guitar is just about as big as she is, but it’s super fun to hear her play, and she has a sweet pink D’Angelico to boot!

Because I get so jazzed about the idea of more ladies picking up the instrument (maybe one day my daughter will even choose to learn), I wanted to spend just a few minutes introducing you to a couple of female guitarists from completely different genres and whom you may not already know about — but should.

Raphaella Smits — the world’s best classical guitarist

The first time I heard Raphaella Smits play the classical guitar, I was transfixed.

I am not sure if I have ever heard anyone play the guitar with such passion and emotion (except for Stevie Ray Vaughan). Not only…