There Are Differences Between Male and Female Guitar Players.
Cyberspace has given a voice to everyone with an opinion on just about any topic of conversation you can imagine. The sage advice of not discussing money, religion or politics with friends has gotten lost in cyberspace, and anything goes. In this world that has lost its sense of humor and has become too politically correct, in many ways the Internet is a godsend. It's easy to say whatever you want, no matter how insulting or rude, when hiding safely behind a keyboard and computer monitor.A frequent visitor to Heart's website message board, I've had plenty of conversations with fellow Heart fans over the years that I'm sure would never have taken place face to face. Some of my male guitarist friends continually pontificate on why there aren't more female guitar players rising in the ranks of rock music these days. The reasons offered in these discussions are as insulting as one might imagine.
One example literally made me laugh out loud. "What, women aren't great guitarists because they're afraid to break their fingernails?" I look at the stubs disguised as nails on the end of my fingers and think right off the bat how wrong that theory is. I've never had long nails because I play guitar therefore the fear of breaking a nail isn't a concern at all. This is the point I usually give up trying to have an intelligent conversation.
Most of my male guitarist friends recognize Nancy Wilson of Heart, my main guitar influence, as a great guitar player right up to the point that they dismiss her because she's not the lead guitarist in the band. What she does with an acoustic would surely qualify her as a great guitarist, wouldn't it?
This invariably leads to another trite discussion on why female guitar players don't play more leads, as if genitalia had any bearing on finger strength or how fast they fly across a fret board. These opinions would likely never be expressed in my presence in a face to face manner.
Comments
Oh yeah (last thing) and I started playing really early--I mean EARLY--which is what makes me probably better than other chicks. On that note, on Christmas morning, isn't the boy more likely to get the beginner's guitar, while the daughter's stuck getting a creepy doll that blinks when you tilt its head backwards (which is beside the point but those dolls creep me out). Well, I'm done. And sorry for all the posts btw. When I was writing I didn't realize there was a character limit but didn't want to scrap it and feel like I wasted all that time. ;)
nth pop, or something like Melissa Etheridge. Women also have smaller hands on average which may explain why they tend to suck (but I think that's probably the least of all factors). In sum, even though I totally disagree, I still enjoyed the topic of your article.
nth pop, or something like Melissa Etheridge. Women also have smaller hands on average which may explain why they tend to suck (but I think that's probably the least of all factors). In sum, even though I totally disagree, I still enjoyed the topic of your article.
nth pop, or something like Melissa Etheridge. Women also have smaller hands on average which may explain why they tend to suck (but I think that's probably the least of all factors). In sum, even though I totally disagree, I still enjoyed the topic of your article.
learn earlier but because they just have better odds of becoming interested in it and not giving it up. What I mean by the last part is that I can see how a guy might think they have a better opportunity of actually MAKING something out of their guitar playing and how a female might think the opposite or feel discouraged. I think that actually has a lot to do with it--females don't practice as much because they give up due to it being one of those male-dominated careers (which I know firsthand that it is, even when it comes to hiring guitar players for dinky little weekend gigs). Lastly, women may have different influences. Women tend to listen to less heavy metal (and I'm talking about the classics that have a lot of heavy soloing), for example, than guys and more 'gay' (sorry for that term) stuff like Lady Gaga; how's Lady Gaga gonna make a woman want to pick up a guitar? A guy would much more quickly be influenced by, say, some really super-good guitar playing than by some stupid sy
m). Finally, the thing about guys liking lead because of their 'male egos'--I don't know if that's what drives guys to play lead, but that theory is flawed because consider this: a) most drummers are also guys. Drummers are usually in the backdrop and don't get much of a chance to show off; and b) chicks DO play lead. I absolutely love playing lead and I am certainly no guy. I think that there is another reason that more chicks don't play lead--or play very well. Most likely it is the same thing that goes on in other male-dominated fields. It has to do with what society teaches kids--i.e., society inadvertently and unknowingly 'teaches' or 'grooms' kids in regard to which interests males and females should gravitate toward. As a result, chicks don't take guitar up as a hobby as often (to put it simply, it's more likely to be a 'guy hobby' thus more guys have more friends that play guitar) and so they get to learn earlier which makes them better players in the end--not only because they
Interesting perspective, but I'm not sure I can agree. First off, I am female and I play guitar. What got me playing was the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Blood Sugar Sex Magick. I knew from when I heard that guy's playing that that is what I wanted to do with my life. Thus, I tend to still, to this day, kind of emulate that style that I fell in love with way back when. For another thing, I know so many guy guitar players I've lost count--every single one of them has been able to cite an influence (a band, an album, or a particular player) that made them pick up the guitar. Further, guys (or girls) who start playing guitar because they're nerdy in high school will probably not pursue it to the point where they get to be really good players. Of course there are probably many guitar player dudes who think that getting chicks is a perk (I won't disagree there), but no one would practice hours and hours every day for years just to get a chick when they could do something easier (like go to the gy
Roget
(Guest)
(Guest)
10/30/2009
I know Jimi didn't pick up the guitar to get chicks.
Very nice article. Enjoyed!
I kinda have a different take. My daughter is a way better guitarist than I and always will be. I started playing a few years ago just to join the band at our church. But she is trained in violin and her fingers just look amazing on the strings. It's just a matter of appreciation.
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