Melissa Etheridge: From Acoustic Roots to Electric Dominance
Attending a Melissa Etheridge concert today, fans are treated to her notable guitar solos and intricate leads, showcasing her role as the lead guitarist in her band. However, this was not always the case; Etheridge has only fully embraced this role in the last 15 years.
“I’ve always had incredible lead guitarists by my side,” Etheridge, a three-time Grammy winner and recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee, shares during a Zoom call from her Los Angeles home. Her 17th studio album,Rise,is set to release on March 27.
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“I had John Shanks, Waddy Wachtel, and Pete Thorn playing on my albums-so many talented musicians,” she reflects. “When my wife and I got together about two decades ago, she asked, ‘Why don’t you play lead?’ I had always been known as a top acoustic guitarist, but I hadn’t ventured into electric playing.”
“About 15 years ago, I decided to dive into it, and I haven’t looked back as.”
Etheridge began her guitar journey at the age of eight, always open to the idea of electric guitars.As a teenager, she owned a unique Fender that a bandmate had painted purple. Though, during her junior year of high school, she sought something more substantial and, with her father, purchased a 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom.
“It was incredibly heavy,” she laughs, recalling the experience. This guitar accompanied her to Berklee College of Music and later to California, where she primarily performed solo gigs. “There’s not much you can do with an electric guitar in a lounge setting,” she notes.
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“My acoustic playing was heavily influenced by artists like Richie Havens and José Feliciano, who had a powerful style,” she explains. “Then there was Keith Richards; hearing the Rolling Stones made me think, ‘I can do that!’ Those three shaped my understanding of guitar.”
After signing with Island Records in the mid-’80s, Etheridge met Bonnie Raitt, who considerably influenced her electric guitar journey.
“Bonnie Raitt took me under her wing. She told me, ‘That Les Paul’s too heavy for you, honey. You’re not gonna be able to do that.’”
– Melissa Etheridge
“She guided me thru the process,” Etheridge recalls. “She suggested I trade my Les Paul for a Stratocaster, which I did. I wish I still had that Les paul; it would be worth a fortune now.”
“I’ve even asked Norm, but he doesn’t keep records from that long ago. Recently, someone gifted me a 1979 Les Paul, which helps fill that void.”
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Waddy Wachtel, who contributed to three of Etheridge’s first four albums, recalls her as a remarkable rhythm player with a strong presence. “Her debut song, ‘Gimme Some Water,’ was fantastic. When she played me a demo of ‘Come to My Window,’ I knew it was going to be a hit, and it was.”
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While Etheridge has featured electric guitars on her debut album and her third album, Never Enough, her recent commitment to mastering the instrument has led her to seek guidance from seasoned players like Pete Thorn, who played with her in the early 2010s.
“He’s an amazing teacher,” Etheridge states.”When I expressed my desire to play more, he suggested I get a Gibson Les Paul Custom, which I did. He also introduced me to various pedals, and I felt embarrassed at 40 for not knowing these things.”
“I went to a local store with a huge wall of pedals and spent the day with a guy who had no idea who I was. To him, I was just a middle-aged woman looking to learn.”
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“I asked him to explain guitar pedals to me, and I spent the entire day there, buying about five pedals. I was able to ask all the questions I had been too embarrassed to ask before, like the difference between gain and distortion.”
“I started practicing scales and gradually began incorporating solos into my performances. Over the years, I’ve taken on the role of lead guitarist in my band, even performing solos myself.”
“now, I have Max[[[[hart], who plays keyboards and occasionally joins in on lines, but I handle all the soloing, which enhances my enjoyment of the show.”
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Today, Etheridge’s guitar collection primarily consists of Gibsons, including Les Paul Customs, a Black Beauty, a 135, and a 335, along with a ’78 fender jaguar for her song ”Must Be Crazy for Me.” She also utilizes a customized Bigsby vibrato unit and a Jerry Jones 12-string acoustic guitar made for her in 1993.
She continues to use Suhr amplifiers recommended by Thorn, recently incorporating heads with digital inputs, including a King of Tone overdrive and a Strymon Mobius modulation pedal.
“I spent the day with a guy who had no idea who I was. To him, I was just a middle-aged woman looking to learn.”
– Melissa Etheridge
“I can blend analog pedals with my amps for digital convenience while still customizing my sound for each venue,” Etheridge explains. “I don’t believe in presets; I prefer to create my sound for every performance.”
“The best part is that I used to hear all the guys discussing gear,and now I understand everything they’re saying. I used to mock those who knew the terminology, but now I’m a total gearhead. My guitar collection keeps growing.”
This newfound confidence has significantly impacted Etheridge’s playing style, especially her solos. “I may not shred like Eddie Van Halen, but I’ve developed a melodic style that allows me to express myself through my guitar, which brings me immense joy.”
Etheridge will kick off her tour for Rise on March 26 in Detroit, with performances scheduled through mid-July.
