Susan Alcorn (born 1953) is an American composer, improvisor, and pedal steel guitarist active in contemporary music and free improvisation. Alcorn started out playing guitar at the age of twelve quickly immersing herself in folk music, blues, and the pop music of the 1960’s. A chance encounter with blues musician Muddy Waters steered her towards playing slide guitar. By the time she was twenty-one, she had immersed herself in the pedal steel guitar, playing in country and western swing bands in Texas.