Chordplay - The Chords Of Journey

Here's the next episode of Chordplay with 'The Chords Of Journey.'
Neal Schon is a founding member of this beyond-classic band that dominated the charts, radio, and touring circuits throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and beyond.
Interestingly enough, Journey continues to tour and release new music to this day, as their popularity, massive tours, and dominance on classic rock radio continue to thrive.
This lesson takes a look at a number of classic (and obscure) Journey songs where interesting chords and progressions are easily located and heard. This includes complete classic such as 'Lights' and 'Wheel In The Sky,' not to mention lesser-known deep cuts such as 'Mother, Father,' 'Majestic,' and much more.
Give this episode a view, leave some comments and feedback, and please subscribe to Late Night Lessons - THANK YOU!
Become a Patreon supporter of Late Night Lessons for only $5 (or more) each month and gain access to PDF notation/tab files for these lessons. Thank you!
www.patreon.com/latenightlessons

[@crisprtalk6963]

I saw them in 78, they were so unknown they weren't even listed on the poster for the show! I loved it. Infinity had just come out. All I knew was Wheel in the sky. Schon was mesmerizing.

[@mkilner]

Late to the party on this Gold!...always loved Neals chord and solo's, always had that firey grit along with searing soul thst could bring you to tears, what a gift to be around to hear this music!

[@mikestroud9969]

I was lucky to meet Neal Schon years ago in the 80s. At the airport. Spoke with him for 5 minutes or so. Really good guy. And down to Earth. Great guitar legend

[@johnjanoski3988]

Another great look at a legendary guitarist, Neil Schon this time. An enthusiastic thumbs up!

[@fbettr2627]

Neal SCHON and Rik EMMETT are my two favourite musicians. 'Beyond The Thunder' (1995) remains my favourite Neal SCHON solo album. JOURNEY was formed in 1973 by Herbie HERBERT around former SANTANA members, i.e., Gregg ROLIE's and Neal SCHON's talents as musicians. Herbie HERBERT once stated that Neal SCHON is one of those melody savants. This is the best description of Mr. SCHON. What a unique talent! Neal SCHON is a prolific musician that keeps evolving and who remains as passionate about his craft as he did upon joining SANTANA in 1971. Neal is a LEGEND!

[@joerobinson2538]

Thanks for this episode David! What struck me the most about Neal when I first heard him was his melodic playing. He had chops but really played what the song needed then sprinkled “flash” on top. I remember thinking that you can actually sing a lot of his solos (like Separate Ways). Definitely one of the all time greats! He’s definitely in my top 5 favorite guitar players. It was so awesome starting out in the early 80s playing guitar with EVH, Rhoads and Schon heavily on the scene!

[@mkilner]

So true, im with you on that!...and neals solo work still blows me away, got the 2 schon hammer albums as a teen, still play them every week! Rock On!!

[@billtice5057]

Neal Schon, is a big reason I play today after 40 years! Luv the mans playing! Thanks David, I could take some more. :)

[@scottromesburg7935]

His work on Can't Tame the Lion still motivates me. Awesome player.

[@jonswift4742]

Party’s over is a lick I’d love to see you break down! So elusive! Appreciate your content! \m/ !

[@spiderriff]

Agreed!

[@stringbender11672]

Yess this one has creative juices flowing! Very good chordplay 🤟😆👍

[@ryanw9492]

We need a neil schon lead lesson. Amazing guitarist

[@slimbeauharpo4687]

Dayyuummm .....just outstanding man !!! Thank you David !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Kamy.GG.Official]

*Journey was so unique in many ways. Nice vid*

[@musicmore8315]

Amen. Lol. Neal is one of the greatest. You sad it when you said he plays tastefully. Anything you pick by him will be educational and fun to play. I love his intro riff on “The party’s over”. Wish he would have played it 2 or 3 times before the band kicked in.

[@RyuHayabusa06]

Great video! Journey is one of my favorite bands. Neal Schon is an amazing melodic player. So many great outro solos like Stone in Love and Who's Crying Now.

[@voronOsphere]

As a pre-teen in the 70s, "Stone in Love" is one of the 1st songs to really draw my attention to what electric guitar is all about!

[@GnL2004]

This was going to be my exact same comment,.

[@brianruyack7632]

@@voronOsphere I'm just a few years ahead of you. My "wow - electric guitar" moment was Open the Door, the outro solo, and of course Wheel In the Sky!

[@Snostrebla1]

One of my all time favorite guitarist. So many great intro / outro melodies!

[@Scottocaster6668]

Ok, you've covered one of 3 guitarists I believe are overlooked, : Neal, (this lesson!) Paul Kossoff, and Lindsay Buckingham. Yes, these 2 are requests 😉👍. Great lesson!!

[@thomasaquinas601]

Thank you for covering one of the greatest, and overlooked, guitarist of all time. Evolution is one of my favorite Journey albums because Neal's guitar is so prominent in the mix, and integral to the compositions.

[@ryanw9492]

Neil brings so much to the table when it comes to guitar and music in general. His alternate picking is insane, use of combining major and minor all while sounding melodic. Definitely need a lead video!!!

[@HEADBANGRR]

Cool lesson. Journey is definitely awesome. Thank you

[@julianschulz1620]

The way you played "Separate Ways," had such a cool Van Halen flavor. "You're no good" meets 1984, kinda thing.

[@roscoepcoltrane23]

You have to be my brother from another mother. We like all the same guitar players. Neil is just awesome. The melody master.

[@joesalinas1990]

These videos are great. They help on expanding my vocabulary on chords. Thank you so much for keeping up with these videos.

[@TheCjbowman]

Neal's writing for Journey is just fantastic. Some of the most melodic and recognisable solos in Rock history, in my opinion. Great breakdown 👍

[@EllisGordon33]

Thanks a lot, some of my favorite songs. Neal is so underrated. Every guitarist in my high school could play You Really Got Me but none could play The Party's Over. Neal's bio is comparable w/Craig Chaquico from Starship. Both played in major groups while in high school. Thanks again Robert.

[@kxmrock]

Best Place For a lesson

[@mcmac1272]

Another awesome video!! Majestic and Mother, Father are two of my favorite Journey songs!!

[@mikeletterman726]

Another great lesson for a great band and awesome guitarist.

[@GMHG777]

Another killer video Dave, Neal is just a beast of a player and can do it all from tasteful melodic playing to shredding like a maniac and his tone is to die for, thanks for this one !!

[@harshlands]

Hmm, Hardline is a band that is rarely mentioned anymore, but Double Eclipse was a really good album, wonder what woulda happened if Schon had remained with them, their vocalist was really talented also.

[@cliffmentzer7406]

Great song choices-so enjoy these videos you create. So fun!!!

[@Hughami]

Loved it, well described and broken down, and excellent song choice. I especially love the first three albums with Steve Perry and Gregg Rollie, but I might pick, Look into the Future as my favourite Journey Album. Arrival, with Steve Augeri was excellent too. Thanks very much Mr. B.

[@matthalo89]

I was hoping you would do an episode about Journey. They’ve been my favorite band since I was a kid. Great discussion! Thanks for the cool videos.

[@jmata4237]

Great stuff! Wheel & Lights took me back to jr. High. As always thanks for the chordplay.👍🏼

[@davidsmith-jj4iq]

Neal Schons guitar parts here are very fluid and musical,and the chord shapes unusual,and melodic ,thanks for this ,Dave,its been informative and enjoyable.

[@johnnygault365]

Great work again david love the analysis.......incorporating loads into my own playing Thank you

[@andresdiaz2737]

So glad you did this Journey episode. Nice cobra kai t-shirt, by the way! Do more AOR (Survivor, Foreigner, Loverboy, REO Speedwagon, etc)

[@john749]

I'm addicted to your channel! Very nice everything you do.

[@godawg1023]

David, once again great insights! Thx for sharing!!

[@openlatedentistryandorthod7094]

10:30 separate ways sounds great!

[@JF-xx5kn]

Great lesson! Thanks!

[@zeusstudios4724]

You’re insight and expertise is awe inspiring! Thanks for the awesome lesson!

[@curlzwalk]

The Dr. is IN! Thanks for another great lesson. You know the teacher is great, when you can pick up on his cool timing, groove and feel when he is running through it. Thanks really enjoy this!!!

[@fishheadlemonsnack824]

This was fun!

[@normrichardson9305]

To much talk not enough playin

[@TheRiverRiseII]

Another fantastic lesson, LNL!

[@woodchuk1]

Love these lessons, Dave...I was just about to type about the D13 chord being part of Times Like These from Foo Fighters just as you said it! 😄 Neal Schon is an awesome player...great tone, and melody for days. I love the solos he drops on Anytime, Faithfully, and Stone In Love especially. Faithfully is probably in my top three Journey songs just from that outro solo alone. Neal definitely caught some fire from Santana!

[@yonikup2865]

As someone that knew maybe 2 or 3 Journey songs this was a great video to introduce me to more of their music. Thanks for the great videos man =)

[@jhalagan]

Pre Steve Perry Journey was awesome! Was hoping you would delve into a few early tunes like: Hustler, Karma, Topaz, Nickel & Dime, etc. Their first 3 albums were good too.

[@HenryMittnacht]

Great lesson, again! I missed the song and riffing of the song Escape from the same titeled album. Neal uses some "unusual" chords here as well!

[@cynaminstick6693]

I appreciate your videos. Thank you for putting them out!

[@davidsummerville351]

You did a great job that stuff my man! Thanks

[@ryanstaggs5956]

Dave, hope you're enjoying this as much as I am. Really enjoy your lessons man.

[@stlflyguy]

Loved the video. Thank you!

[@billwarkentin3630]

Another great Chordplay! I've been following you for about two months now and see your subscribers now total 18K. Your channel is growing fast! Congratulations! Well deserved.

[@bigdognance]

Great Lesson....Love the Live Version of........"Line of Fire"

[@dennydabbs9272]

Another Great Lesson. How about a John Fruciante.. Thanks Again Dave!

[@brushman20]

Just started learning guitar. I will come back to this in a year or so 😂

[@robertclarkguitar]

This really takes me back man.

[@austinmidwest7062]

congrats on hitting 18k and growing

[@billwilliams6338]

LATE NIGHT LESSON, steve hacketts solo albums have a lot of weird chord changes also. Steve hackett plays a lot of acoustic guitar using weird chords plus his solo guitar phrasing of notes. Make a steve hackett video one day would be nice

[@hazor777]

Yea, now that I think about it (re:the Journey / Van Halen competition) - both singers did solo record releases within a year a year of each other. And I remember reading the interviews where Ed said Joruney would mess with their soundboard etc. whenever they both played the same festivals/shows ...

[@CannibalCommunist]

Van Halen opened for Montrose and Journey on Journey's Infinity tour, and got into some serious debauchery. They were pent up because they went from headlining packed clubs making a thousand dollars a night, to playing 5 song sets with no soundcheck during the time when people were still getting into the venue, and then only making like a hundred bucks each. There was a good deal of food, drink, party favors, and girls poached from Journey's backstage area by the guys in Van Halen, since they had no catering, and virtually no entourage.

[@luisvillarreal5262]

Hello David. Neal Schon is one of my inspirations on guitar style. When you were talking about the keyboard part that you played on guitar, I always thought about saxophone solos transposed to a lead solo. To me, I hear sax solos as a second lead guitarist in the band except that it’s a wind instrument. Great lesson David. Thanks. By the way, I wish I had one his Schon Signature guitars he played during the Raised On The Radio tour. Awesome guitar.

[@Busyfingers24]

Wow Dave...absolutely killer chord play session! Can't wait to work on some of those. Neil is a monster rhythm player as well as a top shelf shredder. I know this is off topic for chord play but the "Hear-n-Aid" session that I believe Dio put together, I read somewhere that all the guitarists on that thought Neil's solo was the best! You're the best Dave, thanks again for this killer chord play👍

[@brandtstone2791]

Hey man thanks for the plug. Lol!! Great lesson . Hit me up soon😎

[@gaesardone7954]

Lincoln Brewster: guitar on Steve Perry 'sFor the love of a strange medicine ..melodic lines that conquered my heart.. Any relation? 🤔

[@Kenn1969]

Awesome!!!✌️😎🎸

[@mikesparks3398]

my fav guitarist!

[@kimchi2780]

Neil, Lynch, and Buck Dharma had the best solos in the "We're Stars" song.

[@Gloveberg1]

If I could make a suggestion, what would you think about doing an episode on Neil Giraldo? Talk about a completely underrated guitarist.

[@voronOsphere]

Neil Giraldo is a fantastic guitarist! The LIVE version of "Promises in the Dark" is soooooo good!!!!

[@freaksarise]

I learned this style from Neal Schon tunes BEFORE I learned it from Hendrix haha. Hey - I'm not a Whitesnake fan at all but last night, Still Of The Night, came on the radio and I noticed there were some cool chords coming out of that breakdown bridge, that reminded me of he kind of thing you would feature. Would be cool to see that style since the other things you've been opening my eyes to has cracked open a new area for my playing. People are diggin it live too, thanks!

[@kirkbolas4985]

The opening for Wheels in the Sky always struck me as very Renaissance-ish in how it sounds and feels. If ya don’t hear it, I can only suggest listening to some of the Renaissance era lite or guitar pieces that were not necessarily composed by the “masters” of the era, but rather the more folksy or “popish” pieces that have survived into the modern era.

[@matthweneldon8694]

Fascinating. thank you for doing this. Any chance you'd consider doing a video on Elliot Easton from the Cars? I think he is yet another less recognized gem of a guitar player; Also Neil Giraldo (Pat Benetar).

[@voronOsphere]

Cool! I have that GP issue! Neil Schon is amazing! When I hear early Tony MacAlpine albums, I always think Schon and Journey had at least some influence on Tony's melodies. He even has the mighty Steve Smith on drums! Thanks, David!

[@1086Guitarwanker]

Neill Schon influences on those journey Poppy tunes gotta love a kick ass guitar solo or intro. Didn’t forget about Hardline Thanks David Have you done iron maiden chord play harmonies????

[@jspartacus]

I don't think Neal and Ed ever had issues. Ed, Lukather, and Neal are still best friends to this day. But Perry and Roth are a whole different story.

[@fernandes5986]

I agree. Actually Neal an Ed are friends since their first joined tour in '78. Greetings from Portugal.

[@fernandes5986]

I agree. Actually Neal and Ed are friends since their first joined tour back in '78. Greetings from Portugal.

[@ct90twa]

Pretty sure I saw Paul Gilbert doing a lesson using that “Line of Fire” riff. You can also hear that riff on the Dio song “Wild Ones”. Another great lesson Dave.

[@martintruther5808]

Neal actually joined Santana when he was 15

[@HeadbangersLocal]

Another great vid👍🏻. Not sure I’ve seen it on your channel , but how about chord play of UFO? Totally underrated band that never gets talked about enough. Michael S is a beast !

[@krushgroovin7513]

I would have loved to hear Perry singing for Van Halen! But, many legends don’t have the “Can’t we all just get along vibes!” Though, mentioning Grohl, isn’t he known as a pleasant person with most, except Hole of course? Very nice vid. Cheers

[@masonmarshall8470]

thanks for another great vid sir "..its a D13..but this is chordplay.."

[@jimwinters3986]

Went on a deep dive of Journey a few years ago. Gotta say, those pre-Steve Perry records were kind of a tough listen. Haven't revisited them since. Haha. Not sure that I really considered his guitar playing, much beyond Journey at the time. With the radio hits he probably just struck me as a serviceable guitarist. Actually, it was Dixie Highway (from Captured) that piqued my interest beyond the standard AOR stuff. Then I bought Jeff Berlin's Champion (he had a song/solo), and Schon & Hammer - Untold Passion, where he just goes off.

[@barkeater9606]

My favorite Journey song is Stone in Love

[@marks.3934]

Great look at Neil Schon. How about a look at Robin Trower for a seriously underrated player.

[@danny7578]

Oh yesss!!!!!

[@scottdunn2178]

I learned from Rick Beato that Neal used a Roland Cube 60 for the solo on Don't Stop Believing. Which is surprising, because in 1980-81 most Solid State guitar amps sounded like dogshit, but Neal had a screaming tone on that solo. I think the Gallien-Krueger 250ML and RL (rack version, I have one) were available then... I know Alex Lifeson used a 250ML on Signals (1982), so... ? Best Regards 🎸

[@ChuckMarteau]

Journey - a guilty pleasure of mine but don't tell anyone ;-)

[@mikeburstein1146]

LIGHTS!

[@pickleyone4629]

great Tone & Full sound are yu going thru a cabinet ? i see amp lower right ? Great Lesson

[@fernandes5986]

Great video. Actually Neal was 15 when he played on the Abraxas sessions and turned down Clapton's offer. Could you please show the chords of Pat Thrall o Automatic Man or Hughes and Thrall?

[@henrys.6864]

Wish you could have done "Dead or Alive" eventhough it's not a "chordplay" song but the those runs are awesome!

[@billwilliams6338]

LATE NIGHT LESSONS, I prefer the journey albums in the 70's before Steve Perry. If you ever get the chance to listen to a band named Spirit because Randy California uses some weird chord changes that are abnormal to formula but jimmy page was a big fan of Randy California. Do a video on his chords changes would be nice one day.

[@seanmiller7889]

🔥

[@barkeater9606]

First song was Lights

[@rodrigofrigo4509]

Infinity is the best album of all times in Journey...

[@delete.102]

Your badass!

[@robbievalentine8239]

Steve perry : "hey Dave, our album.sales took a bit of a dip, what's your suggestion to bumping em up?" Dlr:"say no.more fam, I got.you" (starts a "beef")

[@gaesardone7954]

Uh.. And ... A fave? EDGE OF THE BLADE

[@scottwilson6138]

Please someone else ask for some Iron Maiden, AC/DC, The Cult, Judas Priest, Killing Joke and Ramones lessons I can’t be the only person interested in lessons on these bands

[@124612]

When the lights go down in my Si..........tay!

[@darrelldunn4618]

Only the First Chord of Majestic??