My journey with the guitar began with a Christmas gift when I was 13 – a Silvertone electric guitar. While it was incredibly exciting, my initial enthusiasm manifested as pure noise. As I spent Christmas morning exploring this new instrument, my dad’s call for me to “Stop with the racket!” was a clear indication that I had much to learn about playing the guitar, and especially about crafting the sound that would later become associated with Joan Jett Guitar.
Being left-handed presented an immediate hurdle. The Silvertone was a right-handed guitar. Flipping it over like Jimi Hendrix seemed like a logical solution, but my right hand simply lacked the dexterity for the fretboard. It instinctively felt more natural to keep my left hand on the frets, where I needed finer control, and let my right hand handle the strumming. This unconventional approach, born out of necessity, became a foundational element of my personal Joan Jett guitar style.
Formal guitar lessons were short-lived. My teenage impatience and rock ‘n’ roll aspirations clashed with the teacher’s more traditional approach. Asking him to “Teach me how to play rock’n’roll” was met with a bewildered look. One lesson was enough to convince me that a different path was needed. Instead, I turned to a self-teaching book and the records of my musical heroes. Bands like Free, Deep Purple, T Rex, and Black Sabbath, with their powerful barre chords and slower tempos, became my instructors. Learning by ear, mimicking their sounds, wasn’t homework; it was pure fun and the real beginning of my exploration of the Joan Jett guitar sound.
Moving from the East Coast to California marked a turning point. The idea of forming an all-girl band took root. Hollywood felt like the place where it could actually happen. This ambition fueled a more disciplined approach to playing and practicing. The initial pain of developing calluses, a common deterrent for many beginners, became a badge of progress. I knew that pushing through that discomfort was essential to truly playing the Joan Jett guitar the way I envisioned.
California also introduced me to Rodney’s English Disco, a club that played the British singles that were absent from American radio. Artists like Bowie, T Rex, The Sweet, Slade, Suzi Quatro, and Mud became integral to shaping my musical taste and, consequently, the Joan Jett guitar style. Later, the burgeoning punk rock scene further solidified my direction.
Lead guitar wasn’t my focus. My passion lay in rhythm. If guitar hadn’t been my instrument, bass guitar would have been a natural fit. Barre chords became my signature – raw, powerful, and direct. Technique for technique’s sake didn’t interest me. It was about the feel, the raw energy emanating from the Joan Jett guitar.
You don’t need a fancy, expensive guitar to rock. Reliability and tuning stability are key. In fact, many guitars are unnecessarily complicated with too many knobs for my taste. My ideal setup is streamlined: one volume knob, one tone knob, and an on/off toggle switch. This simplicity allows for quick, decisive control during live performances – just kick the guitar on or off without fumbling with volume adjustments. My go-to is a Gibson Melody Maker double cutaway guitar. The unique sound, crucial to the iconic Joan Jett guitar tone, comes partly from specific pickups – vintage models that I stocked up on years ago, just in case they ever stopped making them. These are the pickups that powered the guitar on “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.”
For girls wanting to play guitar: ignore the naysayers. You might encounter people who question your choices, who believe girls don’t play guitar. Despite progress, these attitudes persist. It’s been decades since The Runaways, but the bias is still there. Men might use these dismissive comments to undermine your confidence and try to put you “in your place.” Don’t let them. Confidence is your shield. Just keep playing. Being recognized in Rolling Stone’s 100 greatest guitarists list alongside Joni Mitchell was an honor, but the hope is that future lists will include many more women. The world needs more girls rocking the Joan Jett guitar spirit.
