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Photo credit: Dirty Mondays
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In an era where guitar music constantly evolves, few young players have managed to fuse technical mastery, stylistic versatility, and sonic impact quite like Jasmine Star. At just 22, Jasmine has not only carved out a name for herself as a viral guitar sensation but as a serious artist shaping what it means to have a modern big guitar sound. That sound—bold, wide, and unapologetically present—is the result of both vision and precision. Jasmine approaches tone with the same intentionality that she brings to her playing. Her Ernie Ball Music Man guitars provide crystalline clarity and dynamic response, while her Victory amplifiers deliver a warmth and punch that fill every corner of a mix. Paired with carefully chosen pedals from Dunlop and Origin Effects, she achieves a sound that is as stadium-ready as it is studio-polished. But it’s not just about gear. Jasmine’s “big sound” comes from how she plays—an expressive command of dynamics, bending from glassy cleans to searing leads with effortless control. Drawing on blues greats like Stevie Ray Vaughan, rock icons like Eddie Van Halen, and neo-shredders like Jason Becker, she blends these influences into a sonic identity that is unmistakably her own. Whether it’s a blistering solo or a slow-burn melodic phrase, she plays with a fullness that feels cinematic.
Her work, including the self-produced debut single The Cliff, showcases that philosophy. Every note, every chord, every layer serves the purpose of creating an immersive listening experience. The mix is wide, the guitar is upfront, and the listener feels engulfed by a wall of tone that doesn’t just speak—it commands attention.
In the hands of Jasmine Star, the modern big guitar sound isn’t just about volume—it’s about presence. It’s about crafting a tone that can dominate a live room, captivate a digital audience in 15 seconds, and still have the emotional weight to move the listener. If her trajectory is any indication, Jasmine isn’t just following the path of guitar greats—she’s paving the next one.
ABOUT JASMINE STAR
Jasmine Star is a blazing young guitar virtuoso whose journey began as a classically trained pianist at just three years old, later teaching herself guitar by ear and developing a style that fuses blues-rooted shred with diverse genre influences. Rising to prominence through her electrifying short-form videos on TikTok—where she’s amassed over 113K (160K) followers / 26M views—Jasmine transforms platform constraints into creative fuel, with over 99% of her solos now being original compositions. Honored as a “Distinguished Artist” by the Orange County Music & Dance school and recognized as a finalist in Guitar World’s “Young Guitarist of the Year,” she has already released her debut single “The Cliff,” self-producing with just her and her brother and Jasmine performing every instrument on her upcoming EP. Drawing inspiration from legends like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eddie Van Halen, and Jason Becker, Jasmine wields her Ernie Ball Music Man guitars through Victory amps to craft a modern, big sound, and she’s setting her sights on selling out iconic venues like Wembley Stadium—proving that her rapid ascent in the guitar world is only just beginning
Guitar Thrills Magazine Opinion
At Guitar Thrills, we’ve seen time and again that the journey to becoming a truly exceptional guitarist often begins in the earliest years of life. The formative stages—when curiosity is boundless and the mind is wide open—are where technique, creativity, and musical identity take root. Starting young allows players to build not only technical fluency but also a deep, intuitive connection with their instrument that becomes second nature over time. It’s this early immersion that separates a casual player from an artist capable of shaping the future of guitar music.
Jasmine Star is a shining example of this truth in action. Having started as a classically trained pianist at just three years old and later teaching herself guitar, she’s already amassed a skill set and creative voice far beyond her years. Her mastery of tone, her compositional instincts, and her ability to captivate audiences online and on stage are the direct results of years of consistent, passionate practice.
At only 22, she’s not just learning the ropes—she’s building a career that stands on a foundation laid in childhood.
For young artists aspiring to follow in her footsteps, Jasmine’s story is proof that there’s no substitute for starting early, staying committed, and letting your art grow alongside you. The earlier you begin; the sooner you can hone your craft—and the sooner you can make your mark.
INTERVIEW WITH JASMINE STAR AND GUITAR THRILLS
MAGAZINE
Guitar Thrills: You began your musical journey as a pianist at age three and later taught yourself guitar. How did starting young shape the way you approach music today?
Jasmine: That is true. I think it made me more fearless to try anything and everything. I was so young that I actually learned how to read music before I could read English. I barely remember even learning most fundamentals, and I certainly never viewed any of it as “work”. That gave me the confidence to maybe foolishly think I could do anything if I put my mind to it, so now if I want to try a new style, a new technique, whatever, I just dive in headfirst.
Guitar Thrills: Your playing has been described as having a “modern big guitar sound.” How do you personally define that sound, and what does it take to achieve it?
Jasmine: To me when I think of “big guitar sound” I think immediately of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, of course Eddie! They are all my heroes and my biggest influences. I think one thing their playing all had in common was the ability to strike a perfect balance of both serving the song and the audience... just so good! At this point in my playing, every note I play live or in the studio, I want to satisfy at least “song” or “audience”, and hopefully both. Finding the balance between bringing out the best in a song, often by underplaying and at the same time bringing something energetic and exciting to an audience, often by overplaying, is critical for me.
Guitar Thrills: Many young guitarists start with covers before developing their own style, but over 99% of your solos are original. What motivated you to focus so heavily on originality?
Jasmine: Confession: I also started with covers, and I still have my favorites that I play to this day (think: anything Van Halen). I think that they are so helpful and important to developing your own playing chops and style. To learn what’s possible and then add something of your own. Honestly, I really started doing original solos for a couple of reasons. I wanted to play guitar on modern pop music that didn’t have any guitar because I liked how it sounded, and it was fun. Also, because whenever I hear a great solo from someone else or just a great song, I just get amped up and want to throw the solo I imagine I would play on it if they ever invited me onstage and let me go off! Sometimes it would take hours of listening to finally find that song or solo that I would be like “if I ever got the chance to play with these guys live this is what I would want to do” ...and then I would just write some wild solo in my head just imagining it live. That’s all fun and games until you must teach your hands to play it, but that is the process and it’s so fun and it just makes you better at both playing and writing. Use your imagination and picture yourself where you want to be and the notes will come to you!
Guitar Thrills: Your influences range from Stevie Ray Vaughan to Eddie Van Halen and Jason Becker. How do you blend these styles into something uniquely your own?
Jasmine: That’s true, those are my heroes for sure! I’m not sure if I have ever successfully blended their styles as they were all so good. I think that all three of them had their own distinct voice, and in so many ways their guitar playing was conversational. Conversational not due to a lack of shred tricks, but actually BECAUSE of those insane shred skills and that kept the conversation always exciting and new throughout their careers! With guitar, at some point just like with language, you begin to find your own voice, your own style of speaking, and your own slang and emphasis. I am the most satisfied with my own playing when I can find that conversational quality in myself.
Guitar Thrills: TikTok and Instagram have played a big role in your rise. How do you adapt you’re playing to fit into short-form content without sacrificing your musical vision?
Jasmine: This is maybe a controversial answer or maybe not. Short form video solos are really challenging because you must get your point across in a minute or less. This forces you to refine your ideas. Forcing yourself to refine your ideas makes you a better player and in turn helps to define your own playing into a very intense and memorable moment of a song for your audience both live and recorded. Don’t get me wrong, long live solos are sick, and I am SOOO guilty as charged, but once you are so used to refining your ideas, even your long solos improve.
Guitar Thrills: The Cliff marked a milestone in your career, with you producing and playing every instrument. What was the biggest challenge of bringing that project to life?
Jasmine: Tone is everything and getting the harmonics clean...ha!
Guitar Thrills: Gear plays a huge role in tone. What is it about your Ernie Ball Music Man guitars and Victory amps that helps you get that full, stadium-ready sound?
Jasmine: Music Man makes amazing instruments full stop period! They pair phenomenal playability with cutting edge technology, to make the ultimate guitar for a modern player that has a lot of demands for their instrument. I could go onstage only with Music Man guitars for the rest of my life, and I would be happy. In fact, that sounds like a dream. With Victory Amps it’s a quality sound thing, I just love the way they sound when they are quiet, and I love the way they sound when they are LOUD!
Guitar Thrills: As someone who started young, what advice would you give aspiring guitarists who want to make a serious career in music?
Jasmine: You must love it more than anything. Literally, you must LOVE it. There’re a lot of upsides and a lot of downsides to the music business, and your career will constantly be having ups and downs as well. The love for the music is what keeps you going.
Guitar Thrills: You’ve been honored as a “Distinguished Artist” and recognized by Guitar World. How do you stay grounded and focused with such early success?
Jasmine: Honestly, my dreams are so big that they always keep me focused on what’s next. Being honored as a “Distinguished Artist” is exactly that, a real honor, and when I got reached out to be in Guitar World the first time I may or may not have been jumping up and down and screaming...I think I may or may not have done that every time! That’s always a huge recognition but I also want to say that being interviewed by Guitar Thrills is also an honor and thank you so much!
Guitar Thrills: Looking ahead, what’s the ultimate dream for you—musically and personally—in the next five years?
Jasmine: I want to work with the nicest, most talented people on the planet, have my music heard around the world, and sell out Wembley Stadium, although Wembley may take a bit longer than 5 years haha. In the last few years, I have really focused on building my skill set as a complete artist as opposed to being focused as an instrumentalist. Many don’t know that I got into guitar because of pop music- using guitar as a tool for my singing and songwriting. Prince and Dave Grohl have both been huge inspirations to me- phenomenally talented multi-instrumentalists with mainstream careers through the strength of not only their musicianship, but their skills as writers and producers. I have been developing my writing, singing, and producing skills as well and I have my eye on what will hopefully be a bright future ahead!
