10 Greatest Female Hard Rock Guitarists

Many artists tend to recognize the mid '90s as the age of riot grrrl. Even though there were plenty of boys up in the mainstream of grunge, the fierce spit of acts like Bikini Kill and Hole proved that there was some genuine force behind that initial GRRR in the genre name. While those acts may have had enough attitude for 3 different bands, Carrie Brownstein's way with melody in Sleater Kinney is more than anyone was ready for.

What we had initially with this act was already an odd choice, with no bassist to be found with Corin Tucker doubling on guitar and Janet Weiss thrashing away behind the drums on the group's classic records. Though Tucker was more known for her shrieking voice and intense vibrato notes, it's with Brownstein's riffs where the actual depth comes in. Instead of the traditional surf-like licks you would find in other riot grrrl acts, this is the sound of the past paving the way for the future.

Even with the more rudimentary style of Brownstein's licks, it always felt like you were hearing her take the basic building blocks of rock and roll and crushing them to powder to construct something new. Sleater Kinney might not get the praise as most of their contemporaries in alt rock do, but one peek in the underground will show you one of the most underappreciated guitar players of the modern age.