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National Guitar Day: Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Dolly Parton & More Stars With Guitars

By:
February 11, 2024 9:00AM EST
Taylor Swift
Christie Goodwin/TAS/Getty Images for TAS

It’s time to rock because it’s National Guitar Day! To help you get in the spirit, here is a look at some of your favorite celebs shredding on six-strings – from Taylor Swift to Dolly Parton to H.E.R.

February 11 is National Guitar Day, a time to celebrate every six-string slinger and glamorous guitar god (and goddess!) out there. From the time Sister Rosetta Tharpe slung an electric guitar around her shoulders and played the soulful R&B that would birth the sound of rock and roll, the guitar has been a conduit of creativity and excitement. As the decades continued, the instrument became iconic. The country and western genre evolved into the sound that would see Taylor Swift, Kacey Musgraves, and Brandi Carlile crossover into the pop world.

Even pop stars want to be rock stars. Harry Styles knows his way around a guitar, as do H.E.R., John Mayer, and more. Plus, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is built upon the works of Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, B.B. King, and Prince, all of whom made those guitars sing like never before.

Learning the guitar is easier than ever. Fender Play, Fender’s subscription-based learning app for guitar, bass, and ukulele, makes it easy to learn the fundamentals and progress beyond the beginner stage. Plus, learning the guitar can help out students.

According to information provided by the Fender Play Foundation, the 501(c)(3) public charity organization dedicated to increasing access to music education, arts and music access in schools (Prescool-grade 12) is linked to improved outcomes. Students with music and art classes have a 5x lower dropout rate, are twice as likely to graduate, show increased mental well-being, and increased cognitive development, and are more inclined to pursue a career. So, along with the joy that comes with playing the guitar, the music lessons at school will lead to a better life. Rock on!

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Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift
FLXX/FameFlynet.uk.com / SplashN

Taylor Swift performs during the RED tour in Omaha, Nebraska on March 13, 2016.

February 10, 2023, 8:36AM
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Steve Lacy

Steve Lacy
Fender

Since dropping Gemini Rights in 2022, Steve Lacy established himself as the modern guitar hero. In May 2023, Fender honored him with his own Fender signature Stratocaster guitar – the People Pleaser.

The guitar, which was named for Steve’s trendsetting reputation, crowd-pleasing sounds, and groundbreaking stage looks, was designed for tastemakers, cultural influencers, and bold players who crave soulful, R&B tones, outrageous singing solo sounds and everything in-between, like Steve himself.

May 9, 2023, 12:47PM
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Malina Moye

Malina Moye
Olly Curtis/Future/Shutterstock

Malina Moye, photographed in London on February 8, 2018. Here, she poses with her beloved Fenders, which she plays upside down — since she’s a lefty, and that’s how Hendrix played his. 

April 11, 2023, 9:33AM
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Kacey Musgraves

Kacey Musgraves
Jose Perez / SplashNews.com

Kacey Musgraves pictured performing for the Citi Concert Series on the Today show. While the electric guitar usually gets the glory, Fender Play reports that new learners are unplugging. 56% of users are learning with an acoustic guitar, with 44% learning with an electric.

February 10, 2023, 8:36AM
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John Mayer

John Mayer
SplashNews.com

John Mayer performs at the Born & Raised Tour 2013 at the Cruzan Amphitheatre on September 8, 2013. 

Leo Fender (b. Clarence Leonidas Fender) is the man known for designing the Fender Stratocaster in 1952. The Gibson guitar company, founded by Orville Gibson in 1902, is the home of the Gibson Les Paul, another iconic guitar that continues to inspire shredders to this day.

February 10, 2023, 8:36AM
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Harry Styles

Harry Styles
SplashNews.com

Harry Styles performs on the Today show in NYC. Dressed in pink, Harry strums a Gibson, looking like he’s about to headline at the Viva Las Vegas rockabilly weekender (which, he probably could with a Marty Wilde cover group).

February 10, 2023, 8:36AM
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H.E.R.

H.E.R.
Earl Gibson III/Shutterstock

H.E.R. performs at the 51st Annual NAACP Image Awards in 2020 with a Martin Guitar. These high-end guitars are considered top in the field, though beginners can get something more economical for their first instrument. 

February 10, 2023, 8:36AM
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Eddie Van Halen

Eddie Van Halen
Derek Storm/Everett Collection

Eddie Van Halen, seen here, is on stage for a 2015 Van Halen concert. Arguably the greatest guitarist of his generation – and a good argument can be made for him being the G.O.A.T. – Eddie’s work with the guitar continues to inspire long after his tragic passing in 2020. 

February 10, 2023, 10:04AM
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Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton
SplashNews.com

You can normally identify a guitar’s make and model by its headstock. In the case of Dolly Parton, you can identify her guitars by all the rhinestones covering them.  

February 10, 2023, 8:36AM
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Gina Gleason

Gina Gleason
Torben Christensen/EPA/Shutterst

Gina Gleason of Baroness shreds while performing at the Copenhell metal festival in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2017. Gina’s guitarwork has helped Baroness becomes one of the most celebrated and respected metal bands in modern times. 

February 10, 2023, 12:42PM
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Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen
Ron Wolfson / courtesy The Everett Collection

The Boss, back in his Glory Days. Bruce Springsteen, seen her, strums his guitar at the LA Coliseum, circa 1985. It’s hard to imagine Bruce without some kind of guitar around him. 

February 10, 2023, 10:04AM
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Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix
Courtesy Everett Collection

Another candidate for the ‘greatest of all time,’ Jimi Hendrix is also known as one of the most famous left-handed guitarists of all time. The longstanding story is that Jimi would often turn the guitar upside down, re-stringing the instrument into the correct configuration. 

February 10, 2023, 10:04AM
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Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash
©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett C

Johnny Cash became the Man In Black with the power of an acoustic guitar by his side. Here, he poses before adopting his trademark clothing. 

February 10, 2023, 10:04AM
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Prince

Prince
Ron Wolfson/Everett Collection

Prince performing at the Forum, Los Angeles, CA, February 25, 1985. If there is anyone else who could claim to being the greatest, it’s Prince. 

February 10, 2023, 10:04AM
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Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson
Courtesy Everett Collection

Willie Nelson, on stage with Trigger, his Martin N-20 acoustic guitar, circa 1990s. There are few ‘famous’ guitars out there. Trigger, as seen here, is one of them. 

February 10, 2023, 10:04AM
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Jimmy Page

Jimmy Page
Courtesy Everett Collection

Jimmy Page, seen on the left, is another guitar god. Long rumored to have had the devil tune his guitar at the crossroads, the Led Zepplin guitarist stands as one of classic rock’s brightest stars. 

February 10, 2023, 10:04AM
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B.B. King

B.B. King
©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collectio

B.B. King might be associated with the blues, but he will forever be a rock star. He will also be remembered for being one of the best to ever pick up a guitar. 

February 10, 2023, 10:05AM