Lady Guitarists

Lodious

...and the Weather Station, and Viv Albertine from the Slits, and Alela Diane

RichardsGuitars

Blackjack said:

Anyway, the reason for this thread is I was talking on the phone earlier to a guitar shop (not my usual one) who was very offhand and made several very caustic comments about 'women that think they can play guitar'. Sadly I have come across this attitude more than once too.  I know I probably need to toughen up and grow a pair but to be honest I found it all quite upsetting and a big knock to my already low confidence.  I was very honest with the guy on the phone, I didn't come across as if I was Erica Clapton, Davina Gilmour or any other female alter ego! 

Hi.  Just read about your plight.  I am so sorry you would have to experience this.  Its incredibly important to be understanding and compassionate about other peoples social limitations.  The person who spoke to you had issues and there is nothing you can do to change their chemistry.  You cannot re-wire their life history that has led them to behave the way they do.  What is important however is to remember that they have the problem - not you.

Never ever allow a third party to undermine your sense of self worth - because if you do the only person who loses out is you.

So with that said.... take my 5 minute rule!

Practice 5 minutes every day.  When I say practice I mean attempt something you are struggling with - something that is new to you.

By focusing on 5 minutes a day you are creating a goal which is achievable - no matter how busy your lifestyle.  By hitting your goals every day you will grow in confidence and the finger memory you generate by picking your guitar up every day will get you improving in no time.

What seems like such an easy task initially can still prove too much for some.  Once you get those first 3 chords down you will be amazed at how much you just want to keep playing those 3 chords!!!  Because they will sound amazing!  Well thats fine - keep playing those 3 chords but never forget to spend 5 minutes doing something you cannot do too.

You will be amazed at how your 5 minutes will turn into 10 - 20 - 30 - 60 but if it doesn't - it doesn't matter.

So get started with the 5 minutes a day and I will guarantee you in 12 months time you will be amazed at how far you have progressed.

Final tip - spend less time worrying about what you may achieve, less time worrying about why you didn't start sooner and enjoy the moment you have with the guitar - and don't let anyone spoil that moment for you especially some idiot in a guitar shop.

monquixote

Has anyone mentioned Chantel McGregor yet? 

Went to see her a few months ago and she was very impressive indeed.

Blackjack

I won't mention the shop in question (it's not my usual shop that I use) but what I will say is that my usual store, GuitarGuitar in Epsom are just amazing!!! Fabulous service and advice and so very friendly and helpful. I can't recommend them highly enough. They are fabulous. Quite the opposite to the idiot today!! 

EricTheWeary

vale said:

"i like being single 'cos i get stuff done, i like being single 'cos i'm always right"
the gospel according to saint viv

Lodious said:

...and the Weather Station, and Viv Albertine from the Slits, and Alela Diane

I heartily recommend Viv's autobiography although it probably wouldn't encourage anyone to be a musician. The Slits ( her original band) are an interesting example of sexism in rock as they were pretty much just objects of ridicule at the time but in retrospect their album Cut was one of the great recordings of punk/ new wave - 
loved by Kurt Cobain ( and me) and a regular in top album lists. 

vale

short & sweet. the breeders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuvXUV_rJF4

Alvin

Saw Ana Popovic last week ,amazing. And no problem using a wah in heels either - wouldn't fancy trying that .

  Shop staff can always be arses gender has little to do with it .

fandango

Guitarists come in all shapes, sizes, ages, and with many different creative ideas, and go about playing many different styles, and play to improve themselves in some way or other. They is NO barrier to playing like some of the world's greatest male and female guitarists, except yourself. If you put the effort in, you WILL be rewarded. You'll amaze yourself and those around you. Go for it!

And this applies to anyone starting out with their first guitar.

Lodious

EricTheWeary said:

vale said:

"i like being single 'cos i get stuff done, i like being single 'cos i'm always right"
the gospel according to saint viv

Lodious said:

...and the Weather Station, and Viv Albertine from the Slits, and Alela Diane

I heartily recommend Viv's autobiography although it probably wouldn't encourage anyone to be a musician. The Slits ( her original band) are an interesting example of sexism in rock as they were pretty much just objects of ridicule at the time but in retrospect their album Cut was one of the great recordings of punk/ new wave - 
loved by Kurt Cobain ( and me) and a regular in top album lists. 

Yes, I read the autobiography, brilliant book.

UnclePsychosis

Rabs said:

I always found  this performance pretty impressive

---I'd love to know how many Headrushes Akai sold on the back of this one show. I saw an interview with her and she said the very next day her inbox was just full of emails from guitarists saying "how did you do that???" 

jellybelly

Lodious said:

There are so many wonderful female guitarists and bassists around at the moment who have made great music on feminine terms, P J Harvey, Carrie Brownstein, Joanna Bolome, Meshell Ndegeocello, Gail Ann Dorsey, St Vincent etc...

Nobody has said it better than the wonderful Neko Case...

http://www.dailydot.com/upstream/neko-case-playboy-tweet/


As for the guy in the guitar shop...he sounds like a looser. I can understand that being upsetting, but don't give it any mind. Guitar is far too good an instrument to be discouraged by loosers. 

Carrie Brownstein is one of my all time favourite players. Sleater Kinney's the Woods is a phenomenal piece of work, regardless of the gender of the band!

HarrySeven

Bridgehouse said:

Just don't mention... @HarrySeven 's guitar collection and you'll be fine...

Oi!

Bridgehouse

HarrySeven said:

Bridgehouse said:

Just don't mention... @HarrySeven 's guitar collection and you'll be fine...

Oi!

I broke my own rule

Col_Decker

Really sad that this is still a thing in the guitar world. 

Keep playing and keep learning.




(Don't learn too much though as like you I play a bit of folky music these days, any more than 3 chords and we'll run you out of town. We don't don't like no new fancy-pants 4 chord songs.) 

Cabicular

I remember that time I got banned from Gretsch Talk
loads of middle aged fat Americans were posting pictures of semi nude models with Gretsches and making cringeworthy comments
i post one picture of me naked with a stratocaster and I get banned!
its not like it wasn't covering 'the bits'

rlw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqTUoV67M60

Rory Block

BigLicks67

Listening to nincompoops in music shops is always a bad idea, the world is full of excellent female musicians from young to old.

Philly_Q

As a (not) fat, know-nothing middle-aged man, watching all the amazing guitarists on this thread (their gender is irrelevant) has made me feel like jacking it in.  So thanks for that....    

BintyTwanger77

That shop should (as others have said) be named and shamed, disgraceful attitude. The fact that you have to say this, in 2017, is thoroughly depressing. Forget the needledicks in that shop, they're not worth a second thought.

Also, talk of great female guitarists gives me chance to post this. Gemma Thompson of Savages: what a glorious racket she makes. Carry on making a glorious racket, Blackjack:

guitars4you

Sorry if someone has already suggested this - Emily Remler (starts after 30 seconds or so)


step into the classical market and a host of exceptional players