CMT Blog: Archive

As road-tested bass players, Pamela Cole and Leigh Maples have wandered through their share of guitar stores all over the country. But they believe they've stumbled upon a fresh idea with their new venture, Fanny's House of Music.

"We're not exclusively for women but we celebrate women, which is unheard of in a music store," Cole says. The women say that in the bigger music stores, you never see a photo of women playing guitar, and that the piped-in music is too distracting. Fanny's vibe is quite the opposite: Paintings of musical women adorn the walls and a vinyl album of Trio sends the harmonies of Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt throughout the noticeably uncluttered rooms.

Fanny's is located in East Nashville, an eclectic neighborhood filled with musicians, artists and many other creative folks. One such resident, Libby Callaway, rents out part of the house to show off her superb collection of vintage clothing. This month, the women picked out a few stylish outfits that Emmylou Harris would probably have worn and displayed them right at the entrance. Meanwhile, the back rooms are available for lessons and rock band practice. They can fix your guitar too. They also sell Luna guitars, which are designed by women, as well as Alexis guitar straps for girls and Couch guitar straps made from vinyl interior samples. Most importantly, they provide a quiet spot to get acquainted with an instrument, and being professional musicians themselves, they can offer unique insight to choosing the right model.

"When a female walks into a music store it's overwhelming and intimidating," Cole says. "Here, it's just about being comfortable. You don't have to feel like you're the best."