A conversation with Arianna Powell. The small-town girl who beat the odds to become one of LA’s most respected young female guitarists.

A conversation with Arianna Powell. The small-town girl who beat the odds to become one of LA's most respected young female guitarists.

So, how does a girl from little ole Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania-population 3,510-make it all the way to LA to become one of the most respected session and touring guitarists in the music biz today?

Arianna Powell's improbable story of beating the odds is an inspiring one. She'll be the first to tell you there's no easy path and shortcuts to making it as a professional musician. And you had also better have a lot of confidence in yourself as well as some fearless genes in your DNA. (Arianna packed up and drove more than 36 hours from Pittsburgh to LA to chase her dream-not knowing a soul there or even having a place to stay!) "When I was younger, I remember hearing that if you want something bad enough-and really want to make it happen-then there is no Plan B. There's only Plan A," says Arianna. "I loved living in Pittsburgh-I was teaching guitar to a ton of students and playing in several bands. When I saw a Beyoncé concert video with Bibi McGill killing it in her band, I knew that was my mission. So, I read up on Bibi and other busy players. I like Justin Derrico and Jairus Mozee (who's playing I really admired), and decided that if I was going to make this happen, then I had to move to LA. I barely found a room when I arrived, but the momentum picked up quickly."

Arianna admits that not knowing anyone nor having a network of friends in LA was an advantage for her. It forced her to get out to start making friendships and connections within the LA music community. She went to every jam session that she could and even found some gigs on Craigslist. "I was just happy to be playing, you know? Doing whatever I could to meet other musicians and get by," says Arianna. "I think that's why I started getting calls for gigs. Because, in all honesty, I didn't really give myself a chance to not make it happen. There was no Plan B."

Gretsch fans were impressed with Arianna's sparkly performance on the recent product video for the new Electromatic Sparkle Jets. Her effortless, melodic soloing was front row center and based on Instagram comments, Arianna found a lot of new admirers. The still LA-based Arianna has recently been touring worldwide with pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo, and has also played national and international tours with Halsey, Nick Jonas, Black Eyed Peas, Chris Brown, and Asian star JJ Lin. She's played in the house band for American Idol and performed in several late-night TV performances including SNL with Dua Lipa in 2020. She's recorded on many of Halsey's (stripped) songs as well as having contributed nylon string guitar on Chappell Roan's song Coffee. And in 2017, she was featured in Guitar Player magazine's cover story, "50 Sensational Female Guitarists." She also has featured lessons in Total Guitar magazine through Pickup Music and teaches masterclasses through various online platforms.

Arianna will also tell you it's not easy juggling a busy music career and being the mom of a precious twenty-month-old daughter. But Arianna makes it work. And hopes her story of mixing a thriving music career with motherhood will inspire other female musicians.

We recently caught up with Arianna by phone to chat about her inspiring career, how she teaches her students to approach solo guitar arrangements, when she knows a Gretsch is the right guitar for the studio or onstage, and more. Enjoy!

You really showcased your soloing skills on the recent product demo video for the Electromatic Sparkle Jets. How did that video come to be?

Thanks, I really enjoyed making that video. I've filmed quite a few guitar and gear demos for Fender over the years, all directed by John Dreyer. Last year, I asked John if he could put me in touch with Gretsch because I was interested in playing a double cut Silver Falcon during Olivia Rodrigo's festival shows this year. He introduced me to James Hatem, the Gretsch Artist Marketing Manager, who helped me get a hold of one. It's quickly become one of my favorites to play on stage! Shortly thereafter, Gretsch was searching for a demo artist for the Electromatic Sparkle Jets and James threw my name in the hat. John ended up directing that video, too, so it kinda came full circle. I'm such a big fan of Gretsch and I'm thrilled to be involved in any way. Those Sparkle Jets are super cool.

Video: Arianna helped unveil the new Gretsch Electromatic Sparkle Jet guitars in sonic style in this May 2025 demo video.

So, what is currently in your Gretsch arsenal?

I have a Player's Edition Duo Jet in a Cadillac Green finish and the double-cut Silver Falcon. My husband also has a Country Gentleman that I borrow sometimes. That's what I'm playing on my arrangement of "Both Sides Now" on Instagram.

What is it that you like about Gretsch guitars onstage and in the studio?

For one, I love the presence a Gretsch has onstage. It's loud sonically and visually and I like that blend of flair and flashy sparkles while having a versatile sound. I love playing solo guitar as well as melody-infused chordal accompaniments with singers. Gretsch guitars have a great mid-range that helps clean tones stay bold and cut through a mix. At the same time, they handle overdrive and high saturation well, so everything just sounds super big in a rock context. For me, I've just come to know when a song needs that Gretsch sound, whether I'm recording in a studio or supporting a singer onstage.

What is your approach to creating a solo guitar arrangement?

I do a lot of teaching, and I share that putting together a solo guitar arrangement is like putting together a puzzle. Because you have your melody piece and you have your chords piece that you assemble first. From there, you can add other pieces, too, like a bass line. To me, every chord just has so many possibilities. You can substitute other chords or add chords, or explore inner movements, because you don't need to just have the top line melody, you can have melodies happening inside of chords. And the chord changes themselves can have their own melodic movement, and you can always continue to add and develop more harmonically throughout. So, you have a lot of puzzle piece options, but the one thing tying it all together and happening all the time is how best to support and serve that melody.

You studied jazz guitar in college at Duquesne. How has it helped you as a studio musician and touring musician?

It's helped a lot. As a side man guitar player, I have to draw from many different genres of music. For one, the harmonies in jazz are so expansive and so beautiful, and there's just so much to learn and glean from it. I think it's given me a greater color palette when I approach pop music.

I read that Joe Pass had a big influence on you.

Yes, I really started to fall in love with solo guitar music when I was first introduced to Joe Pass's Virtuoso album in college. I was so amazed by that album, like, how is he creating this? How is he doing this? It just feels like he was reaching the limitations of the instrument just by itself. The bass lines, the harmony, and these crazy runs, but with the melody soaring throughout the song. It created a sense of wonder, and it was something I wanted to emulate. It made me want to transcribe his music and try to learn his approach to solo guitar.

You're also a big fan of Gretsch-great Chet Atkins. Tell us why.

I just love Chet's solo guitar sound, how he arranged songs, and how he was able to blend country and folk along with jazz into his playing. I also love how he played with so many popular, contemporary singers throughout his career. One of my all-time favorite recordings is Chet Atkins and Dolly Parton's "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?" For one, it's an awesome song with incredible chemistry between Dolly and Chet, but mostly I love how Chet's guitar has its own voice and melody throughout, while still supporting the song. Another favorite of mine is Johnny Smith, the great jazz guitarist who also leaned into country and folk. I was really taken when I heard Johnny's arrangement of "Shenandoah." I find that a blend of jazz harmony with melody taken from a more folk tradition is what speaks to me most.

How does it feel to be an influencer yourself?

Let me think about that, because I don't ever think of myself as that. I'm just out here trying to be the best player I can be and constantly developing. So, I'm not thinking so much about influencing, but if I am, I'm super honored that I can influence a younger generation and show them that women can do this.

You're also influencing other women musicians on how to juggle a career and be a new mom as well.

Well, I'm a relatively new mother, I have a twenty-month-old daughter, so hopefully I'm inspiring women to know that they can be mothers and also be creatives and pursue their dreams. For me, I had these unconscious preconceived notions about it being one or the other, that I'd ultimately have to choose between the two. But I was wrong. You can be both. And I believe it's good for children to see their parents succeeding on their own journey. It feels important for women to have visibility because you can see yourself in somebody else doing what they're doing. It can make it easier to pursue by making it seem achievable. So, I hope I'm influencing women musicians in that way. It's not easy and I'm still trying to figure it out. But I feel like my daughter will be proud of me one day that I continued to develop my own artistry and career at the same time I was raising her.

How do you keep motivating yourself to grow and get better as a musician?

For me, I think back to college and hearing Joe Pass's Virtuoso album for the very first time. Everything he was doing was so mysterious to me. How is he doing that? How is he coming up with that stuff? How is that achieved? And that mystery is part of why I keep going. Because when things start to become less mysterious, in some ways you start to lose the passion and wonder of the guitar, which is kind of sad. But when I see other people still trying to unlock these mysteries, that motivates me and makes me feel even more enthusiastic about the guitar.

What's on tap for the rest of 2025?

I'm finishing up a tour with Olivia Rodrigo and I also teach with an online academy named Sonora Guitar Intensive, where I'll be mentoring some talented guitar players. I'll also be working on my own music as well and putting out videos on solo guitar. I have my own YouTube Channel where I release my full-length arrangements.

You seem to really enjoy teaching and helping other guitarists.

I do. I love teaching because I just love sharing information and feel like I'm a forever student of the guitar myself. I hopefully will forever be growing and learning. And even though I'm teaching other people, I'm also learning from them. Someone might bring me a song they'd like to learn that I'm not familiar with, so I'll get to explore it myself. I love giving back and helping people enjoy the guitar as much as I do.

Be sure to follow Arianna Powell on Instagram and subscribe on YouTube.

A beautiful, moving arrangement inspired by Jeff Buckley's cover. What a showcase for Arianna's brilliant arranging and fingerpicking skills.