International Guitar Girl Day
Celebrating Female Guitarists from All Walks of Life
After hearing many stories over the years from the countless women and girls interviewed and featured in Guitar Girl Magazine, Tara Low, the Founder and Editor-in-Chief, decided to create a day highlighting the women who play guitar and bass and to encourage, inspire, and empower the future generation of young girls and female-identifying individuals to pick up a guitar, bass, ukulele, or any other instrument and play.
April 4 was chosen as the special day of celebration for several reasons. First, Guitar Girl Magazine was founded on April 4, 2012, and since that time, it’s grown from a small blog to an internationally known ezine and digital/print magazine. Second, April is International Guitar Month, so the two dates coincide perfectly.
Why a Day to Celebrate Young Girls and Women Guitar Players?
As mentioned above, after hearing the stories of the many female guitar players Guitar Girl Magazine has interviewed over the years, the common message was they were not taken seriously as guitar players. It’s been a well-known fact that men dominate the guitar industry.
The struggles of being a woman in the industry are real. For instance, as Constance Antoinette said, “We already have enough people out here saying, ‘We’re not as good as men.’ The more you play, the harder you prove them wrong.” Or comments like, “You’re pretty good for a girl.”
Again, there are countless stories of the big-box retail stores mistaking the women shoppers or the music venues mistaking women as a band member’s girlfriend. And then there are the times when they can find themselves in uncomfortable situations.
Well, on a positive note, things have gotten better because of organizations that promote women’s empowerment and highlight women in the music industry. There are more women picking up an instrument and playing today than in the past, and manufacturers are finally taking notice.
Fender conducted research in October of 2018 titled “Illuminating the State of Today’s Guitar Players” and found that “Women continue to define the emerging guitar market, accounting for 50% of all beginner and aspirational players.”
Manufacturers have also started releasing more signature guitars and pedals after some very talented women players. Martin Guitar, Fender, and Gibson have in the past released several models, but more recently, Paul Reed Smith, Epiphone, Ibanez, Brian May Guitars, Siren Pedals, and NEXI Pedals have released signature guitars and pedals for female guitar players.
Why We Love International Guitar Girl Day
International Guitar Girl Day is a great way to get involved with music. It isn’t limited to just one country, which makes it helpful for girls worldwide. Following are some reasons we love International Guitar Girl Day:
⦁ It encourages young girls to get involved in music: It helps give them the confidence boost they need, especially if they are shy. It also shows them that it is not just men who play guitar. It’s women, too!
⦁ Through this day, we hope to inspire young girls by giving them information and tools to learn more about women who play guitar.
⦁ With this knowledge, our goal is to empower them to take steps to start their journey to express who they are and what they can do: It is an art that allows them to be creative. Let’s suppose you want to now play guitar. You can now feel confident to go to the big box retail store and say, “I want to buy a guitar” and feel comfortable asking about taking lessons.
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Around the Globe!
Japan
Watanabe Miyako, professionally known as Miyako, was born in Osaka, Japan and showed an uncommonly early interest in playing music. At the ripe age of three, Miyako began learning the classical piano and continued mastering the instrument throughout her entire adolescence. Her greatest inspiration throughout this developmental period was Rachmaninoff. Though her mother exposed Miyako to classic rock bands like Rainbow and Deep Purple, it wasn’t until she was 18 that Miyako picked up the guitar for the first time.
Due to her classical training on piano, Miyako was able to teach herself how to play the guitar. She quickly acquired a fascination with the nibble precision of heavy metal guitar style. Influenced by the music of Paul Gilbert, Metallica, Ritchie Blackmore, and modern guitarists, Timothy Henson, Scott LePage, and Polyphia, Miyako developed a complex and mesmerizing signature style of her own.
At 20 years old, Miyako joined the band GoDeath, later known as A Drop of Joker. In this band, Miyako was not only a guitarist but the composer and arranger. Next, Miyako joined the band 21g and shortly after began playing with the all-female heavy metal band, Lovebites, whom she can be seen playing with in present day. In addition to Lovebites, Miyako formed the girl-duo Sonic Lover Reckless, which continues to showcase her awe-inspiring technique and iconic composed performance demeanor. Miyako’s talent and style are recognizable to even the most untrained eye. Equipped with a prodigy-like level of ability, Miyako is sure to continue influencing the masses of guitarists and metal enthusiasts with her otherworldly capabilities.
Brazil
As a Brazilian guitarist, vocalist, composer, and percussionist, Badi Assad’s music is an eclectic mix of Brazilian folk, classical, jazz, and worldbeat genres. Born Mariângela Assad Simão in the state of São Paulo, Assad’s father is a known bandolim player, her mother is a singer, and her two brothers make up the guitar duo, the Assad Brothers. Though beginning on the piano at the age of eight, Assad assumed her position as a guitarist in her teens.
Assad studied at the University Conservatory of Rio de Janeiro and made her professional musical debut as a member of the Guitar Orchestra of Rio de Janeiro. She went on to record and release music in Brazil, further developing her guitar technique to include experimental timbres. Assad moved to New York and signed with US-based label, Chesky Records and released Solo in 1994. Next, Assad signed to Universal for 1998’s Chameleon. In 2003, Assad released the collaborative Three Guitars with Larry Coryell and John Abercrombie and followed it with a sold-out world tour.
Assad would spend the next several years creating and releasing the celebrated albums, Verde and Wonderland. Following a six-year hiatus, Assad released Amore Outras Manias Crônicas and Between Love and Luck. After 2015’s English-language Hatched, Assad wrote a book and issued her most recent release, Around the World in 2020.
Though a varied and accomplished musician, Assad has dealt with bouts of focal dystonia throughout her career. Focal dystonia is a condition that causes the fingers to become paralyzed and unable to perform fine motor skills. Through physical therapy, acupuncture, and mindfulness, Assad was able to connect with her body and move past the challenging experience. Still, she never takes for granted her ability to express herself through the medium of a guitar.
Badi Assad is a skilled artist with the ability to seamlessly shift between guitar, vocals, and percussion. She is a multi-instrumentalist and innovator whose love of experimentation and growth aids in her ability to continue creating fresh and influential music.
India
J’Anna Jacoby is an accomplished professional multi-instrumentalist whose impressive resume spans working with Adele, the Chicks, and Kanye West. Jacoby’s father started her on the violin at only 15 months old. As a child, Jacoby competed in several fiddle competitions and became the first female to win the Grand Master’s title in Nashville, Tennessee. She would then go on to study violin at the Vienna Conservatory.
Despite her classical violin background, Jacoby is known for her versatile expertise in several genres of music, including jazz, folk, flamenco, tango, Middle Eastern music, rock, and country. In addition to the violin, Jacoby is an impressive vocalist who also plays the guitar and mandolin.
A freelance studio musician and once a member of the rock band the Black Watch, Jacoby can now be heard live as a member of Rod Stewart’s band. As a multi-talented musician, Jacoby’s career has reflected her ability to adapt, perform, and record with a wide range of artists.
Russia
Irina Kulikova is a classical guitarist renowned for her exquisite tone and delicate style. Born in Chelyabinsk, the capital of South Ural, Kulikova is the daughter of a cellist and a teacher, which prompted an early start to her life as a musician. Kulikova began learning guitar and piano at five years old, at eight she was giving her first live performances, and by twelve, she was touring across Russia and playing at European festivals.
In the following years, Kulikova received a scholarship from New Names, the United Nations program for talents. The editor and founder of Classical Guitar Magazine, Colin Cooper, stated, “a star is born” in his review of her playing. Kulikova decided to move to Europe and join the Salzburger Solisten and ensemble-chef Luz Leskowitz with his Stradivarius for numerous concerts in Austria and Germany. It was throughout this time of performing with violinists and cellists that she acquired a passion for chamber music. She would go on to perform for various members of the royal families of Germany and Denmark. Kulikova graduated from the Mozarteum University in Salzburg and was awarded the Dutch Youth, Culture and Podia prize in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. She has been invited to play in 30 countries and has released several albums, all of which have furthered her success and acclaim.
Kulikova’s playing has influenced guitarists and musicians across the globe. Wishing to share her knowledge and experience with others to aid their development as musicians, Kulikova has become a mentor for conservatorium students and fellow professionals. In addition, having performed throughout the US, Kulikova founded a guitar program for the Russian School of Music in Irvine, California.
A few tips to help you on your journey:
⦁ Practice, practice, practice.
⦁ Never give up.
⦁ Be tenacious.
⦁ Follow your dreams.
⦁ Know your craft.
⦁ Always be prepared.
⦁ Know you belong in the room.
⦁ Do not let anyone take advantage of you.
Ways to Celebrate International Guitar Girl Day
⦁ Listen to the music of women who play guitar
⦁ Check out videos on YouTube of women who play guitar
⦁ Read a book about women who play guitar
⦁ Social Media is a great tool to connect with like-minded individuals
⦁ Take a music lesson
⦁ Jam with some friends
⦁ Learn a new song
⦁ Write a song
⦁ Spread the news about International Guitar Girl Day #internationalguitargirlday
After reading about the women on this page, we hope that it encourages you to either pick up a guitar and play or, if you own a guitar, that it inspires you to take your playing to the next level. You never know; you could be the next trailblazer!
Check out Guitar Girl Magazine’s She Said column to read inspirational quotes from many artists that they have interviewed throughout the years and to read their interviews, visit GuitarGirlMag.com/interviews.
Remember, it’s all about learning everything you can about music and guitar, and supporting other women in music.
Encourage. Inspire. Empower.
