Rare to come across

[Pahchisme Plaid]

I just happened to notice in the various forums I've been in that it is a rare female that either plays electric guitar or mixes sounds.  I can think of one in one forum outside here that plays electric guitar and does some mixing, but it's early level (she's clever enough, but does it in the time she's not tending her young ones, so time to devote is limited).  I also noticed @Jenn does some mixing, but aside from those two, I don't really know of too many ladies who do.  Are there more on here than what I've been exposed to?  Just curious why so lop-sided.  Cultural? Tastes? Early exposure? Interest? Opportunity?  I know plenty female singer/songwriters who play acoustic or piano or keyboard.  Even seen a few who play cello or fiddle or even drums, but really rare to come across a female electric guitarist or invested mixer.

[Peggy]

Hi PP,

I have a Protools home studio, Axiom 61 keyboard/controller i play with..., mics, instruments. I do the "enigneering", record and mix, travel with my setup to play with friends. My monitors stink.  My studio and equipment are being updated and upgraded, going to be finished before end of year. 

 

So who knows? Could be a bunch of women out there doing it..maybe

 

 

Peggy

[john]

Obviously men are better guitarists and mixers. *ducks and runs*

 

in all honesty, I don't know if there is a reason. Men tend to be more interested in tech, more into games etc. They have better spatial awareness, maybe that has a bearing? Women have better stamina and are good at dividing their time, while men are better at single tasks making them more focused, more single minded. I don't know. Maybe it is something like males find solitary tasks more appealing, so less women choose those??

 

Women tend to be better at multitasking, great at socialising.... and it maybe feels less appealing to more women?

 

All just speculation!

[john]

I will say this, in just the last couple of years, the number of awesome female guitarists has skyroocketed. Not just good either, awesome. It is great to see. I love talent no matter where it comes from.

[Richard Tracey]

6 hours ago, Pahchisme Plaid said:

I just happened to notice in the various forums I've been in that it is a rare female that either plays electric guitar or mixes sounds.  I can think of one in one forum outside here that plays electric guitar and does some mixing, but it's early level (she's clever enough, but does it in the time she's not tending her young ones, so time to devote is limited).  I also noticed @Jenn does some mixing, but aside from those two, I don't really know of too many ladies who do.  Are there more on here than what I've been exposed to?  Just curious why so lop-sided.  Cultural? Tastes? Early exposure? Interest? Opportunity?  I know plenty female singer/songwriters who play acoustic or piano or keyboard.  Even seen a few who play cello or fiddle or even drums, but really rare to come across a female electric guitarist or invested mixer.

 

You should have a look at a female artist by the name of 'I Am Snow Angel', she primarily uses Abelton as her chosen DAW, but plays guitar as well as keyboard and does all her own production and mixing as well. She also does it for other artists and set up a female only initiative called 'Female Frequency(?)', where she works with other females who can do writing, artwork, video creation etc. She is looking to empower all females who have an interest in this area.

 

There will be a lot of females who do mixing, but you just don't hear about them. Sound Engineers/Mixers are not normally well known, unless they are exceptional and sought after as they have worked on some of the biggest albums. It has been a predominantly male orientated area, but that was due to the way it was years ago. It was mostly a male dominated role and most of the time a female entered the studio was to sing. Yes there were a few who could play instruments, were the singer/songwriter, but they were actually few and you probably know of them.

 

Times they are a changing and due to advances in technology, anyone can sit down at home and learn something that probably took years to master on a mixing console.

 

As John mentioned, there are a large number of female guitarists out there and they are good. I always remember Suzi Quattro saying when she arrived on the scene with an electric guitar people stared at her as if she shouldn't be doing that, but when they heard and saw her play their attitudes changed. Maybe the electric guitar has the stigma of needing to look like a stereotypical rock chick and this is why not many females used it. You had Joni Mitchell and other folk orientated females using acoustic guitar, but maybe there was a stigma about the electric guitar, as look at how it has been used from the 60's upwards, especially in America. The electric guitar can be used to create some fantastic soundscapes to enhance a song without it having to be thrashed or used to rock out.

[TapperMike]

I regularly seek out guitar players of all styles to feature on my FB page. I too am amazed at how many there are on youtube and the skill set they carry.  As for forums I think that the fact that songstuff concentrates on songwriting draws more of them here than hardware forums.

[Rudi]

9 hours ago, john said:

Obviously men are better guitarists and mixers. *ducks and runs*

 

(not true) John, you should know that my mum was superb at mixing.

 

Quote

Men tend to be more interested in tech, more into games etc. They have better spatial awareness,

(not true) Men just look where they are going.

 

Quote

Women tend to be better at multitasking, great at socialising.... and it maybe feels less appealing to more women?

(not true) Women just talk while they do things. Nothing more.

 

PS

Every time I get in touch with my feminine side, I feel full of admiration for women, who are of course much better at those sort of tasks.

[john]

17 minutes ago, Rudi said:

(not true) John, you should know that my mum was superb at mixing.

 

(not true) Men just look where they are going.

 

(not true) Women just talk while they do things. Nothing more.

 

PS

Every time I get in touch with my feminine side, I feel full of admiration for women, who are of course much better at those sort of tasks.

 

Nature versus nurture? I don't know. The fact is that little boys tend to play different games from girls growing up. They play with different toys. LSure enough as adults there are some differences in behaviour. Are they checmical, biological or simply exposure? I don't know.

 

There certainly are differences between men and women. It doesn't mean one is better than the other... just different. Whether those differences are due to nature or nurture,, I don't know. If anything the current crop of female guitarists are proving that they are just as capable of brilliance.

 

There may also be a generational element. Kids now certainly have a different emphasis in the things that they learn from society at large. A great number seem abnormally obssessed by largely superficial things. Not all by any means, but enough to make a difference. Certainly overall pursuit of anything that takes ongoing commitment (such as learning to play a musical instrument) to time and effort is in decline, in favour of anything that is free and instant. Yet again, not all, but it is noticeable.

 

At the same time, those who remain truly passionate about music still exist.

 

Gender differences? Well one gender certainly wears skirts and makeup more often, which is certainly a demonstrable difference in outlook. Hardly scientific lol

 

I believe wholeheartedly in equal rights, but at the same time I am quite happy that there are differences and really, the diffferences should be celebrated. I am quite happy that some secrets remain to be discovered.

 

I have absolutely no idea if or why one gender shoud be more interested in one thing than another. Our own stereotyping? Who knows.

[Rudi]

16 minutes ago, john said:

 

Nature versus nurture? I don't know. The fact is that little boys tend to play different games from girls growing up. They play with different toys. LSure enough as adults there are some differences in behaviour. Are they checmical, biological or simply exposure? I don't know.

 

There certainly are differences between men and women. It doesn't mean one is better than the other... just different. Whether those differences are due to nature or nurture,, I don't know. If anything the current crop of female guitarists are proving that they are just as capable of brilliance.

 

There may also be a generational element. Kids now certainly have a different emphasis in the things that they learn from society at large. A great number seem abnormally obssessed by largely superficial things. Not all by any means, but enough to make a difference. Certainly overall pursuit of anything that takes ongoing commitment (such as learning to play a musical instrument) to time and effort is in decline, in favour of anything that is free and instant. Yet again, not all, but it is noticeable.

 

At the same time, those who remain truly passionate about music still exist.

 

Gender differences? Well one gender certainly wears skirts and makeup more often, which is certainly a demonstrable difference in outlook. Hardly scientific lol

 

I believe wholeheartedly in equal rights, but at the same time I am quite happy that there are differences and really, the diffferences should be celebrated. I am quite happy that some secrets remain to be discovered.

 

I have absolutely no idea if or why one gender shoud be more interested in one thing than another. Our own stereotyping? Who knows.

 

John! Oh man...

You just utterly diffused all my squibs

 

[ImKeN]

 

11 hours ago, Pahchisme Plaid said:

 Are there more on here than what I've been exposed to?

 

@emilyandersonmusic also does her own mixing and mastering

 

I've heard some music by fellow amateur female producers that are top notch, radio-quality, stuff - and not that I'm offended but some of these ladies can really make guys, like myself, look sad and pitiful! LOL

 

I hope SS will have more lady producers in the near future

[Pahchisme Plaid]

12 hours ago, Peggy said:

Hi PP,

I have a Protools home studio, Axiom 61 keyboard/controller i play with..., mics, instruments. I do the "enigneering", record and mix, travel with my setup to play with friends. My monitors stink.  My studio and equipment are being updated and upgraded, hopefully finished before end of year. 

 

So who knows? Could be a bunch of women out there doing it..maybe

 

 

Peggy

I didn't realize this about you, Peggy.  You go girl!

[Pahchisme Plaid]

11 hours ago, john said:

Obviously men are better guitarists and mixers. *ducks and runs*

 

in all honesty, I don't know if there is a reason. Men tend to be more interested in tech, more into games etc. They have better spatial awareness, maybe that has a bearing? Women have better stamina and are good at dividing their time, while men are better at single tasks making them more focused, more single minded. I don't know. Maybe it is something like males find solitary tasks more appealing, so less women choose those??

 

Women tend to be better at multitasking, great at socialising.... and it maybe feels less appealing to more women?

 

All just speculation!

Lol!  Honestly I wouldn't know!  That's how few comparisons there are!

 

 Believe it or not, this does make sense to me, though a generalization.  I must say, the multi-tasking was with me when I most needed it (when my kids were young), but not so good at it now.  😳

[Pahchisme Plaid]

11 hours ago, Jenn said:

@Jenn ---- I don't know that user, but seems pretty cool

hahaha no I'm kidding..

I actually was wondering this a few weeks ago... there are many men on here! But amazingly so, I've never felt belittled or outcasted. 

I feel like more women like to be in the lead--stereotypical singers/keyboard players.. If I had a band, I'd like that position too, but because I like singing the most!

 

Mixing just makes sense to me.. it's just another process of writing my song 

I'd love to work in the studio when I'm older. 

I've noticed that when following your posts with mixes--all are quite helpful.

[Pahchisme Plaid]

6 hours ago, Richard Tracey said:

 

You should have a look at a female artist by the name of 'I Am Snow Angel', she primarily uses Abelton as her chosen DAW, but plays guitar as well as keyboard and does all her own production and mixing as well. She also does it for other artists and set up a female only initiative called 'Female Frequency(?)', where she works with other females who can do writing, artwork, video creation etc. She is looking to empower all females who have an interest in this area.

 

There will be a lot of females who do mixing, but you just don't hear about them. Sound Engineers/Mixers are not normally well known, unless they are exceptional and sought after as they have worked on some of the biggest albums. It has been a predominantly male orientated area, but that was due to the way it was years ago. It was mostly a male dominated role and most of the time a female entered the studio was to sing. Yes there were a few who could play instruments, were the singer/songwriter, but they were actually few and you probably know of them.

 

Times they are a changing and due to advances in technology, anyone can sit down at home and learn something that probably took years to master on a mixing console.

 

As John mentioned, there are a large number of female guitarists out there and they are good. I always remember Suzi Quattro saying when she arrived on the scene with an electric guitar people stared at her as if she shouldn't be doing that, but when they heard and saw her play their attitudes changed. Maybe the electric guitar has the stigma of needing to look like a stereotypical rock chick and this is why not many females used it. You had Joni Mitchell and other folk orientated females using acoustic guitar, but maybe there was a stigma about the electric guitar, as look at how it has been used from the 60's upwards, especially in America. The electric guitar can be used to create some fantastic soundscapes to enhance a song without it having to be thrashed or used to rock out.

I found this Sooo interesting!

[Pahchisme Plaid]

1 hour ago, ImKeN said:

 

 

@emilyandersonmusic also does her own mixing and mastering

 

I've heard some music by fellow amateur female producers that are top notch, radio-quality, stuff - and not that I'm offended but some of these ladies can really make guys, like myself, look sad and pitiful! LOL

 

I hope SS will have more lady producers in the near future

Oh yes!  I need to pay closer attention!  @emilyandersonmusic has impressed me with her music and vocals and now that you mention it, I do recall seeing something that indicates she does her own mixing.  That is so cool!

[Peggy]

4 hours ago, Pahchisme Plaid said:

I didn't realize this about you, Peggy.  You go girl!

 

I have't posted much of my studio stuff, thinking i might start in near future.

 

Back in March i posted a couple of Rhythm Grooves (no lyrics yet) in the Rap Hip hop subforum. I have a mastered song in Showcase Political Oriented Songs, it was my first start to finish. 

 

Peggy

[Rudi]

8 minutes ago, Jenn said:

And actually... I listen to probably 70% female artists and 30% male artists.. females have more powerful/emotive voices in my opinion.

 

tell us a couple of your favourites Jenn

[Peggy]

Jeff Beck and Tal Wilkenfeld just a bit of the solo from awesome set ... Crossroads festival 2007

 

 

 

[john]

8 hours ago, Rudi said:

 

John! Oh man...

You just utterly diffused all my squibs

 

 

Awww, I deliberately left them... your mum's mixing, touching your feminine side in public... pretty well every line was loaded, some with more than one starburst

[Emily Quinn]

7 hours ago, Pahchisme Plaid said:

Oh yes!  I need to pay closer attention!  @emilyandersonmusic has impressed me with her music and vocals and now that you mention it, I do recall seeing something that indicates she does her own mixing.  That is so cool!

 

8 hours ago, ImKeN said:

 

 

@emilyandersonmusic also does her own mixing and mastering

 

I've heard some music by fellow amateur female producers that are top notch, radio-quality, stuff - and not that I'm offended but some of these ladies can really make guys, like myself, look sad and pitiful! LOL

 

I hope SS will have more lady producers in the near future

 

Wow, thanks for the mention! Well, my stuff is mainly vocals and piano, so I've figured out how to kinda make it work as long as I keep it simple. My production skills are improving, but are a far cry from some of these pros like Grimes, Bjork, and others. Females are getting into producing a lot more now than they used to, for sure! I wish I had more time to put into learning better production, as I consider that to be an invaluable skill in today's market, especially if you don't have a lot of money to pay someone.