We often think of iconic names such as Duane Allman, Derek Trucks, and Robert Johnson when we consider our slide guitar inspirations, but as in so many industries, the incredible female players are often overlooked. I'm taking a moment today to recognise some of the female slide guitar greats. If you're inspired, head here to get started on your slide guitar journey.
Bonnie Raitt
Of course, I'm beginning with Bonnie Raitt. Since the 1970s, she's been at the forefront of bottleneck blues, seamlessly blending traditional Delta techniques with rock, R&B, and her own unique touch.
What makes Raitt's approach so distinctive is her restraint. When you watch her play "Something to Talk About" or "I Can't Make You Love Me," you'll see that she never uses slide indiscriminately. Every note she plays serves the song, adding emotional weight exactly where it's needed. She often uses a glass slide on her ring finger in standard tuning, proving you don't always need open tunings to create magic.
Susan Tedeschi
Susan Tedeschi brings a fierce, contemporary edge to slide guitar that combines traditional blues foundations with a unique rock intensity. What's particularly inspiring about Tedeschi is how she's made slide guitar central to her identity as a modern blues-rock artist, with a thick, sustaining, and emotionally charged tone.
Rory Block
Rory Block represents something profoundly important in slide guitar: the preservation and continuation of authentic Delta blues tradition. She's spent decades studying the techniques of masters like Robert Johnson and Skip James, continuing the tradition in her own style. Her fingerpicking combined with slide work is particularly impressive, maintaining the complex polyrhythmic patterns of traditional country blues whilst adding slide lines that seem to float effortlessly over the foundation.
Cindy Cashdollar
Cindy Cashdollar brings a unique perspective to slide guitar through her background in pedal steel and lap steel guitar. Her note choice, phrasing, and understanding of harmony reflect the sophisticated musical thinking that comes from the country and western steel tradition. Her work shows how techniques from pedal steel can enhance standard guitar slide playing, particularly in terms of chord work and melodic sophistication.
The Next Generation
Today's scene includes players like Samantha Fish, who brings a fresh, often aggressive approach to slide that incorporates elements of punk and indie rock. These newer voices remind us that slide guitar continues to evolve and that there's always room for fresh interpretation.
Finding Your Own Voice
Raising my own daughters, it's important to me that they know music can break down gender barriers, not reinforce them, and that a unique musical voice is of value in its own right.
If you want to start developing your own style, book your free call with me and we'll get started: https://training.slidesuccess.co.uk/get-going-with-slide