Top 20 Female Modern Blues Rock Guitarists

Photo: Ally Venable (Jeremiah Shepherd), Bonnie Raitt, Samantha Fish (Martine Ehrenclou), Joanna Connor (Oscar Jordan)

Top 20 Female Modern Blues Rock Guitarists

By Martine Ehrenclou

With Women’s History Month 2025 behind us, it’s time to keep the excitement going by keeping the spotlight on some of the finest current female guitarists, many of whom are also singers and songwriters. It’s impossible to feature all of them, so this list includes female artists who are currently recording and performing. See here if you’d like to see an article on female blues artists  who shaped the blues.

Blues or rock genres are pretty much dominated by men because there are simply fewer female blues rock guitarists in the field. Yet another reason to highlight these talented ladies. They are some of the most influential and respected musicians around today. A couple are under-recognized—let’s change that!
Each name includes information on the artist, a video and link to their website. The names are in no particular order.

I welcome your comments below this article.

Carolyn Wonderland
Carolyn Wonderland, award-winning Texas guitar slinger, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, became the first ever female lead guitar player for blues legend John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. She’s also the first female guitar maestro to sign with Alligator Records. With powerful vocals and fiery guitar chops, Wonderland has been compared to Stevie Ray Vaughan and Janis Joplin but with her own style. Her newest album ‘Truth Is’ is set to be released on Alligator Records on May 18, produced by Grammy winner Dave Alvin. Wonderland appeared on Austin City Limits, NPR’s Weekend Edition, and appeared alongside Bonnie Raitt in the film, The Road To Austin. She’s won multiple Austin Music Awards and is a two-time Blues Music Award nominee.
Website  and Video  Thanks to Ground Zero Blues Club Biloxi.

Samantha Fish
From Kansas City, Missouri, Samantha Fish is one of the most dynamic blues and rock forces in the world. A multi award-winning guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, she’s known for her electrifying live performances. Her last critically acclaimed album ‘Faster,’ saw Fish digging deeper into rock and roll while still incorporating her love for blues and roots music. Collaborating with Jesse Dayton, she released her seventh album ‘Death Wish Blues’ that won a 2024 Grammy nomination. A highly regarded guitarist, singer and songwriter, Fish recently toured with Slash on his SERPENT Blues Festival tour. She is set to release a new album ‘Paper Doll’ on April 25th
Website and Video 

Joanne Shaw Taylor
#1 Billboard blues artist, Joanne Shaw Taylor is considered a virtuoso blues-rock guitarist, with a husky, soulful voice. Discovered by Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics at the age of 16, she’s become a dynamic force in the blues-rock world. Her album ‘Heavy Soul’, was produced by Kevin Shirley, and ‘The Blues Album’ and ‘Blues From The Heart’ were produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith.
Website and Video 

Larkin Poe
Grammy winning sister duo, Larkin Poe, consists of multi-instrumentalists Rebecca and Megan Lovell. Critically acclaimed around the world, they are based in Nashville and have released seven studio albums, their latest being Bloom in 2025. These two Southern roots rockers boast stunning vocals and outstanding guitar, slide guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin, piano, lap steel and dobro skills. They self-produced their albums.
Website  and Video 

Sue Foley
Multi award-winning, Grammy nominated Canada-born and Austin-based Sue Foley, blues guitarist, singer, songwriter. Foley recently released her newest album, One Guitar Woman out on Stony Plain Records. The album honors icons including Elizabeth Cotten, Memphis Minnie, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, French classical guitarist Ida Presti, Southern blues women Geeshie Wiley and Elvie Thomas, Tejano sensation Lydia Mendoza, Charo, and for the second single, country music matriarch Maybelle Carter. The set is a follow-up to her critically acclaimed The Ice Queen (2018), which featured Billy Gibbons, and Jimmie Vaughan. She won “Best Traditional Female (Koko Taylor Award)” at the 2020 Blues Music Awards in Memphis, won a Juno Award (Canadian Grammy), and took home the award for “Best Guitar Player” at the Toronto Maple Blues Awards.
Website and  Video 

Orianthi
Australian guitarist Orianthi has become one of the most respected players in contemporary rock. Known for her work with legends like Michael Jackson and Alice Cooper, as well as her solo career, she combines technical precision with explosive stage presence. Her single “According to You” showcases her shredding abilities and pop-rock sensibilities, cementing her as a modern guitar hero. Collaborating with Joe Bonamassa, Alice Cooper, Richie Sambora
Website and Video 

Laura Chavez
An under-recognized guitarist, songwriter and producer, Laura Chavez has worked with many musicians including Vanessa Collier, Deborah Coleman, Monster Mike Welch, Dani Wilde, The Mannish Boyus and more. A Blues Music Award winner and two-time nominee, Chavez played guitar for Candye Kane, Nikki Hill’s band, Mike Ledbetter/Monster Mike Welch, Whitney Shay and Casey Hensley. She is a force.
Facebook  and Video 

Susan Tedeschi
With vocals like hers, Susan Tedeschi can’t just be highlighted for her guitar chops. She’s a modern blues, roots powerhouse, known for her soulful voice and searing guitar work. As part of the Tedeschi Trucks Band with her husband, Derek Trucks, she has carried the torch for blues and blues-rock into the 21st century. Songs like “Midnight in Harlem” demonstrate her heartfelt vocals with masterful guitar playing, making her one of today’s leading guitarists.
Website and Video 

H.E.R
H.E.R (Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson) is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with five Grammy Award wins and 25 Grammy nominations. California born, H.E.R is not exactly blues or roots music, but she does play those genres. More R&B, she had to be listed here for her guitar, singing and songwriting talents. Her studio album (2021) ‘Back of My Mind’ pre-dates her headlining tours and TV/Film appearances including performing “America The Beautiful” at the Superbowl.
Website and Video  Thanks to Gold of Music

Ana Popovic
From Serbia, award-winner Ana Popovic has built an international reputation as a blues-rock guitarist, singer and songwriter with fiery technique and a dynamic stage presence. She seamlessly blends blues with elements of jazz, funk, and rock, as heard on albums like ‘Can You Stand the Heat’ and ‘Like It on Top,’ produced by Keb’ Mo’. Her dedication to the craft has earned her accolades and a devoted global fanbase.
Website and Video Thanks to John Richardson

Joanna Connor
Joanna Connor is celebrated for her fiery slide guitar mastery and soulful voice in the world of blues rock. Alongside her band, The Wrecking Crew, Connor’s latest album, ‘Best of Me,’ showcases her guitar, vocals and songwriting talents. The album features a stellar lineup of special guests, including guitar legends Joe Bonamassa, Josh Smith, Gary Hoey, and Mike Zito, harmonica virtuoso Jason Ricci, saxophonist Eric Demmer, and the Groove line Horns.
Renowned for her blistering slide guitar technique, Connor is widely regarded as a virtuoso. She has shared the stage with an array of blues royalty, including Buddy Guy, Jimmy Page, BB King, Robert Cray, ZZ Top, and Etta James. After relocating to Chicago, Connor quickly became a mainstay in the city’s vibrant blues scene, performing alongside legends like James Cotton, Junior Wells, and Buddy Guy.
Website  and Video Thanks to Datflys for the video

Bonnie Raitt
A legendary blues, roots-rock artist, Bonnie Raitt has won 13 Grammy Awards and nominated for an astounding 31. With a legendary career as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, her slide guitar playing, soulful voice, and ability to blend blues, rock, and folk, have earned her countless accolades. She’s performed and played with so many music icons, there’s too many to mention. Albums like ‘Nick of Time,’ ‘Luck of the Draw’ and ‘Just Like That’ feature stunning guitar work that showcases her smoky vocals, peerless songwriting and guitar skills. Her latest album ‘Just Like That’ won a Grammy Award for Song Of The Year.
Website and Video 

Ally Venable
Tesxas blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter Ally Venable. She was just 14 years old when she released her debut EP, ‘Wise Man’ in 2013 which paved the way for this talented musican to rise in the ranks for blues rock guitarists. In 2014, Venable won the 2015 ETX Music Awards for “female guitar player of the year” and won in 2015 and 2016 as well. With six albums to her name, her last album ‘Money & Power’ (2025) features Christone Kingfish Ingram.
Website and Video 

Jackie Venson
Raised in Austin, Texas, started playing electric guitar during her senior year at Berklee College of Music. In 2016, at the age of 26, Venson appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, performing on stage with The Late Show Band. Two years later, she returned to the show for three nights as guitarist and vocalist. Venson has released five studio albums, with her latest released in 2025 ‘The Love Anthology.’ According to Forbes, “Jackie Venson is truly an Austin legend in the making.”
Website and Video 

Nita Strauss
The queen of rock guitar shredding, Nita Strauss has been Alice Cooper’s guitarist for many years. She’s also the official guitarist for The Los Angeles Rams football team. Based in Los Angeles, this talented rock guitar player became the first-ever female Ibanez signature artist with her own model guitar, the Ibanez JIVA10. Initially Nita became known for her work with the all-female Iron Maiden tribute band, The Iron Maidens. She’s been featured on magazine covers worldwide including Guitar World and Guitar Player. In January of 2022, Nita was honored at the 7thAnnual She Rocks Awards with the Inspire Award.
Website  and Video

Nancy Wilson (of Heart)
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer as a founding member of Heart, Nancy Wilson brought a melodic and dynamic guitar style to the band’s rock sound. Her acoustic fingerpicking on tracks like “Crazy on You” and electrifying riffs on “Barracuda” showcased her versatility as a guitarist. Wilson’s ability to blend intricate acoustic arrangements with hard-hitting rock anthems has made her a trailblazer for women in rock.
Website and Video

Lita Ford
Lita Ford’s blazing guitar solos and heavy metal edge set her apart in the rock world. Rising to fame as a member of The Runaways before launching a successful solo career, Ford became one of the few female guitarists to dominate the hard rock and heavy metal scene. Her hits like “Kiss Me Deadly” and her duet with Ozzy Osbourne, “Close My Eyes Forever,” highlight her technical prowess and rock star charisma.
Website and Video 

Erja Lyytinen
Erja Lyytinen is a multi-award-winning blues-rock guitarist, singer and songwriter from Finland. Known for her slide guitar chops, she ranked #2 on Total Guitar Magazine’s 10 Best Guitarists Now poll as well as being awarded “Best Guitarist” at the 2017 European Blues Awards. With 12 studio albums and three live albums, Lyytinen was voted 14th in Guitar World’s “30 Best Blues Guitarists in the World Today” poll. Her new album Smell The Roses was released on March 28, 2025. Erja is a powerful guitarist, singer, songwriter who tours the world.
Website and Video

Debbie Davies
Debbie Davies was guitarist for Albert Collins from 1988-1991. That says it all. Debbie Davies is guitarist, singer, songwriter who ranks among the top blues guitar players in the country. A ten-time Blues Music Award nominee, BMA winner for Best Contemporary Female Blues Artist and The Koko Taylor Award, Davies is a superb, soulful guitar player, one of a handful of women who paved the way for female guitarists today. A thirty-year veteran on the road, Others who have joined Debbie on her recordings are Albert Collins, John Mayall, Ike Turner, James Cotton, Mick Taylor, Peter Green, Coco Montoya, Duke Robillard, Tommy Shannon, Chris Layton, and more.
Website and Video Thanks to bluzdudemi

Rory Block
Seven-time Blues Music Award Winner, Rory Block is one of the reigning queens of acoustic guitar. Singer, songwriter and guitarist, Block is considered a blues legend. She has released 36 albums, and tours the world. The Blues Foundation wrote “Today she is widely regarded as the top female interpreter and authority on traditional country blues worldwide.” She is a torch bearer for early American roots blues, a songwriter whose originals ring with power and truth. The New York Times called her playing “perfect, her singing otherworldly…” Her latest album Positively 4th Street: A Tribute To Bob Dylan was released in 2024. Block has performed with a number of greats including Stevie Wonder, Taj Mahal and David Bromberg.
Website and Video

I welcome your comments and favorites in the comment section below.