Styx Breaks Down “Come Sail Away” On The Piano

Who could be better at teaching you Styx's classic hit "Come Sail Away" than the maestro himself?
Join us as Lawrence Gowan, keyboardist and lead vocalist for Styx for the past 25 years, guides you step-by-step through the chords and melodies that make up this iconic track.
Learn Gowan's signature style, blending technique and emotion as he teaches you his version of this timeless tune. If you're a Styx fan, a beginner pianist, or simply a lover of great music, you will love this tutorial.
Join us on this musical journey, and bring one of rock's most loved anthems to your own piano.
#Styx #ComeSailAway #PianoTutorial #LearnPiano #LawrenceGowan #MusicLesson #PianoLesson #RockClassics #Pianote
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Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:41 - Song Intro/Verse
3:14 - Learn The Song With Pianote.
3:53 - Verse 2
4:23 - Chorus
6:17 - Bridge
8:36 - Performance
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[@PianoteOfficial]

Get a breakdown of the song on our blog >> www.pianote.com/blog/come-sail-away-piano-tutorial-lawrence-gowan/

[@felikspodolak2983]

Hey could u do a cover of the chain by mac fleetwood please

[@Ilurk247]

I actually had to give that ending a standing ovation. Bravo to Mr. Gowan and thank you Pianote for featuring him.

[@MKPiatkowski]

Been a Gowan fan for 40 years. This was such a treat!

[@chicagofan76]

I just saw him and Styx around a month ago. Enjoyed his breakdown. Gowan is the most energetic keyboard player I’ve seen.

[@ferdieortega3937]

Thank you, Mr. Dennis DeYoung.

[@bakerfx4968]

Holy crap he’s amazing. So humble for being so legendary. This might be one of my favourite videos on KZbin lol Now if only I could play it…

[@pepperdog2039]

he did not write this dennis deyoung did

[@bakerfx4968]

@@pepperdog2039 ok cool. What does that change about what I said lol

[@jonkrispeterson6678]

He isn’t really legendary. He plays with a band that was made famous by songs not written by him. Very few people know him by name or sight. Dennis DeYoung is legendary.

[@bakerfx4968]

@@jonkrispeterson6678 boy do I have some news for you about most famous musicians… Never heard of Dennis deyoung so I guess it depends on age/crowd etc

[@jonkrispeterson6678]

@@bakerfx4968 well, he wrote over 1/2 the songs that Styx is known for. Lady, Babe, Come Sail Away, Paradise Theater, Mr Roboto, Don’t Let it End, and The Grand Illusion.. Gowan is a 20 year fill in because someone got in a fight. There isnt a single song he has written that has gotten significant radio airplay. All those listed are either certified Gold or Platinum.

[@EdMelendez]

Wow! Whoever wrote this song is a total and complete genius.

[@pepperdog2039]

dennis deyoung

[@renecents]

@@pepperdog2039hiya. I suspect Ed was being ironic. Have a goodun! 👍

[@PikesvilleAl]

Hard to believe he isn't in a band.

[@jcarrolljr3052]

Dennis DeYoung was the composer/songwriter and original vocalist

[@Struthio_Camelus]

This. is. AWESOME! I've loved this song for four and a half decades.

[@tonyalberto4075]

Spectacular Gowan !! Thanks Pianote

[@Thierryoutdoors]

Wow. Just wow. Undisputable mastery of the Keyboard, a fantastic voice, a great personnality and a humility and will to teach us. A great man. Thank you!!!

[@Dshizzle78]

Gowan is amazing!!

[@jfoberg]

Wow, great that Gowan gave us the gift of breaking down the keyboard performance for us. One of the best songs ever

[@ericfirkey9860]

What a special lesson...Thank you

[@gtyrone83]

I just came here confirm I've been teaching my daughter the intro correctly. I didnt expect a master class on the whole song :-) Gowan is the only one who could properly fill Deyoung's shoes in Styx.

[@brywool]

Such a cool guy and great musician. Humble as hell, too. Bravo to Lawrence, not to mention Dennis DeYoung who wrote and sang the orignal. Very cool lesson.

[@lostinspace2026]

Just saw this live in concert nothing better the voices were 100%

[@w0mblemania]

This is so good. You can just see the professionalism and showmanship and craft at work. I'm a computer programmer by trade, but this is by far the hardest thing I've ever seen. I just don't understand how people do it, how they can read, memorize, improvise those chords, melodies. It seems like magic. I've tried to learn, but I'm just not cut out for it. :(

[@khx73]

Just imagine how many times he's played those notes... the muscle memory would be so ingrained. It is amazing

[@bakerfx4968]

@@khx73you also have to appreciate that he knows all the theory behind too though, I definitely don’t lol

[@renecents]

Hello. Um, he is a fine musician, clearly, and probably a nice man, but if someone just copied you code and demonstrated how clever it was without acknowledging you as the author, I assume you’d be annoyed? Well, that is pretty much what he did here: he didn’t write it, he is demonstrating Dennis DeYoung’s craft, not his own. Have a goodun.👍

[@PikesvilleAl]

@@renecents Low class move taking credit by omission. Image someone playing Beethoven or Mozart and pretending they wrote it. He knows damn well most people under 30 or so have no knowledge this is a Dennis Deyoung song

[@user-hs4ni4hk8j]

Wow !!! that's GOWAN !!!! Amazing Musicians !!

[@1TheShawnster]

Pretty superb piano, considering Dennis started as an accordion player! A nice tribute to his genius by Gowan!

[@robfrydryck127]

Thank you so much for this in depth gift. I wish more bands did this. Styx rocks

[@darkfallfx]

Great video. My only grip is it would have been nice to say who wrote this beautiful song in the beginning of the video.

[@katherineryanmusic]

Actually insane that we get to hear his thought process and see him play!!! Everything is so intentional according to his vision, what he sees and the feeling he is going for. Absolutely even more appreciation for his musicianship & creativity and so thankful for this super rare opportunity to learn a piece from the artist themself!! Thank you!🤩😄❤️🔥🙌🙌🙌

[@billyjenkjr]

Well technically, Dennis Deyoung ( The founder of the band STYX) is the One who originally wrote and sings this song. He still sings it in his Solo Band since he was forced out by members in the band Styx.

[@raymondpierson595]

Nice job! There's a lot of technique there that I lack, but it inspires me. I haven't seen Styx in 42 yrs but I will see you guys in April in Connecticut..! Till then!

[@beatorres2019]

Had the pleasure of seeing STYX.. You, Mr. Gowan, LIVE in Kelowna, BC..OCT. 2022. The show, and this song was magical! It's always been a favorite as a teen and thru the years. I have attempted to learn on my own. Thank you for this breakdown. It's perfect!

[@rwharrington87]

What a fun guest to have on. I was always neutral about Styx. Only once I saw them live did I appreciate just how epic this song actually is.

[@catherine6653]

Pretty advanced for me, but I will try. This is an epic Styx song. Love it ❤.

[@miketomasini346]

One of the greatest voices in Canada 🇨🇦

[@i_am_the_ember]

My song❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤. I love this song so much

[@RodStewartFaness]

This was very informative, and loved the way Gowan let us into his mind a bit on the way he interprets the melodies, lyrics, and performance as a whole. (I also had to dig out my 1970s double decker Lowrey organ to learn along with this - worth it!)

[@aaronp0324]

Oh my God. So good!

[@altpraize6708]

This is one of my favorite songs. I've tried for years trying to figure this out. Thanks for this video!!!!!

[@PianoteOfficial]

A pleasure! Tag us as soon as you learn it please :) We would love to see you play this.

[@catman1050]

Like a fine wine...better with age! Magnifico!

[@Lcngopher]

I still remember my part for this song from our marching show my sophomore year of high school, fall of 2009. The theme was styx. I played clarinet and we had the eighth note figures in the opening. We had to practice those quite a bit so thats likely why its still there.

[@eliasmenasse2837]

Bravo, Bravo, Bravo ! Gowan the tutorial and the solo performance !!!

[@michaelcasey7057]

Incredible! Absolute legend! Thank you, sir.

[@bbotzong]

Wonderful video! What a blessing to hear him perform. Styx has been a favorite of mine for many years. I saw Dennis DeYoung sing as Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar which was phenomenonal. Every member of that group is an awesome musician. Thanks Mr. Gowen for sharing your talent! I look forward to seeing you live again!

[@ryno6101]

Absolutely love this ❤❤ Pianote has out done itself

[@PianoteOfficial]

We love Gowan!!!

[@MrFlintlock7]

I've always loved this song, but until I saw Gowan play it, I had never FELT it. What a MASTER!

[@RobsonNogueira29]

Awesome!!! Thank you, Mr. Gowan! Thank you, Pianote!

[@elainel8321]

I’ve always loved this song and now I love it even more!! This is an amazing video. Saving this to my playlist so I can watch it over and over ❤⛵️🌌🚀🪽

[@boldizzle]

This is one of my all time favorite songs and I was considering trying to learn it on Piano and Drums and then this video drops! Couldn't be happier!!!!

[@augustaborn9034]

Thank you for the breakdown of this timeless masterpiece. I actually wondered, how you actually played the trills in this song...cant believe i found this!!

[@kellypacheco2671]

Lucky me, first piano lesson taught by Mr Gowan!! Inspiring! Thank You for sharing your incredible talent 😀

[@MKPiatkowski]

OMG, that's amazing!

[@dogshit2112]

You have been a fave for so long. Thank you for this stunning performance!!!

[@MournfulMystic]

This is great! One of my favourite 70s songs

[@livefree6455]

Standing ovation! Thank you.

[@ImpliedMusic]

Rock royalty laying down a classic tutorial. awesome.

[@mtiefen62]

This was awesome! I sure hope you engaged Mr Gowan for more than this one project?

[@gabrielerod]

Que chingón! gracias por compartirlo con nosotros, una gran inspiración

[@Leo-lp4zh]

Thank you for sharing. Such a great explanation (theory and demonstration)...learned alot from this video!!

[@karenfal8448]

Wow! Love all Styx music. Still a beginner piano player though. Rock on!

[@TogonzoMedia]

What I find amazing here is how a lowly accordion player from Chicago cobbled together this song one night and it has made classically trained pianists the world over like Larry sit forward and take notice. He broke it down brilliantly here because Dennis simply couldn't. Denny has been consistent about explaining how he has always composed songs by ear and keeps noodling along until it sounds right.

[@igna01]

I'd never listened to this song and I just discovered it's beautiful

[@outcastcwd]

It seems impossible to me that there are people who've never heard this!🤯 Now you have to listen to all of the rest of their music! 👊😁👍

[@SuperYrch]

Lawrence is a legend.

[@MysterDoktor]

Thank you for this ❤

[@matthewfischer4338]

Absolutely incredible and inspiring!

[@curtisbrown3847]

That was brilliant and fantastic for sure! A great song excellently done Mr. Gowan 😊🙌🎶

[@pepperdog2039]

dennis deyoung wrote it and played it

[@curtisbrown3847]

@@pepperdog2039 yes I knew that but Gowan does a great job with it

[@nettynette8697]

LOVE this song!!

[@moreme40]

Awesome ! I’ve always loved this song

[@WAYNESVILLE]

I just saw them in Shipshewana and they were amazing!

[@bayusukmadwiputra]

Sehat selalu untuk semuanya. Salam dari saya di indonesia. Terima kasih. ❤❤❤

[@kirremtremmeh6495]

Thank you pianote I wanted to learn this for my family 😭

[@larrykutz2405]

Love it!! Thank you Pianote! Caroline

[@pepperdog2039]

amazing that piannote didn't contact dennis deyoung to do this explanation. he performed and wrote it.

[@MKPiatkowski]

Dennis has always said he creates by ear, just noodles around until it sounds right. He wouldn't have been able to break down the chords and theory the way Gowan did.

[@pepperdog2039]

@@MKPiatkowski deyoung wrote them what on earth are you talking about.

[@MKPiatkowski]

@@pepperdog2039 It's like how some great hitters in baseball can't break down their swing because it's all instinctual. I understand that's how Dennis writes. So while Dennis could talk about the pieces he put together, Gowan was able to apply music theory (which he studied) to explain it in more detail. Which is more what this channel does.

[@pepperdog2039]

@@MKPiatkowski deyoung has a degree in music and taught in public schools for 3 years. you are right the truly great ones do not have to offer a tutorial because they are creatively superior. plus gowan's singing deyoung's songs does great disservice to them.

[@MKPiatkowski]

@@pepperdog2039 I disagree. I think Gowan does a great job of making a great song his own. Then again, I've been a fan of Gowan's long before he joined Styx and actually feel him singing Dennis' songs are a step down from his own material. But to each their own.

[@tinkarobert]

ComeSailAwaycellent

[@Craig2760]

After successfully playing this on the air piano for 45 years, maybe I'll give it a go on a real piano for a change!

[@lanerehms24]

Recently saw Styx in concert and I have to say all the disdain I’m seeing for Gowan is uncalled for. He’s incredibly talented and brings an energy to concerts unlike any I’ve seen. Of course DeYoung deserves all the credit in the world for the song but that shouldn’t take away from the talent of this man and the amazing performances he gives.

[@PikesvilleAl]

Fine, but he and the others have no moral ground tp use the name Styx.

[@marylouisehagan2786]

Amazing! Love this!

[@Rumbleweed]

Both Styx and Scarborough are lucky to have this man.

[@lukeskywalker4944]

Who could be better at teaching you Styx's classic hit "Come Sail Away" than the maestro himself? How about Dennis DeYoung, You know the guy who wrote and performed the song and the original founder and leader of Styx.

[@maval4537]

Beautiful performance!

[@2022TJ]

Loved it!!

[@bondjapan]

Envy the ease with which you play.

[@minimalistmaverick]

THat's crazy to be taught the song by the person who ACTUALLY plays it. Thanks so much!

[@fhhubbard]

AWESOME!

[@youellfamilytube2022]

This is great! Can I request Criminal Mind as a tutorial encore?

[@mule71]

Yes! This! Some of Gowan’s own material demonstrated please. 🙏🇨🇦

[@michaelbeeministries2020]

Wow! If you wrote this stuff, then you are Truly Blessed. 😀👍

[@jcarrolljr3052]

Dennis DeYoung is the composer/songwriter and original vocalist

[@michaelbeeministries2020]

Okay. Thank you 👍

[@jcarrolljr3052]

I have the privilege of jamming with the original band on Saturday mornings when the twins and I attended UW- Whitewater. I was still a teenager when my band fuzzy opening act for REO Speedwagon in 1972 at Road America. Of course I had to perform Come Sail Away with my cover band as leave vocalist and rhythm guitarist. Are you play keyboards but I don't think I can play it as well as you can. Where did 50 years go?!

[@PikesvilleAl]

how many lies? Dennis did not write the song until 1977

[@q12305]

Спасибо

[@renecents]

Had Mr Gowan taken a moment to acknowledge that this brilliant tune was written and performed by Dennis DeYoung-a side-note by the webmaster doesn’t really count-I would have had a little more respect for him. Whilst he didn’t explicitly say it was his tune, he certainly gave the impression that it was. A little humility by the current owners of the Styx name, who, after all, largely owe their career to Dennis, would be a nice change of course. A pity that people have such short memories.

[@tmw3489]

Had you actually spoken about the content, you would come off as someone who had actual appreciation for music instead of some old salty boomer.

[@renecents]

@@tmw3489 Hello. Had you some intelligence and good manners you might not have sounded so ignorant. Grow up, there’s a good chap. A lovely day to you.

[@tacotony1000]

Take it for what it's worth my hat is off to GOWEN for taking the time to show everyone how his improvising of the song.

[@renecents]

@@tacotony1000 Hello, and I have no problems with LG, seems a nice man, and it isn’t that the video isn’t good, just that it would have been classy of him to have acknowledged the actual writer/singer of the song. The original members of Styx have been denigrating DDY for twenty years despite largely living off his achievements. Gowan has also been living off DDY’s work, so, as I said, I would have had a little more respect for him if he had acknowledged it. Nice day to you.

[@tmw3489]

@@renecents salty ass boomer

[@DrKeyz777]

How does he layer in the lead synth patch? Is this a patch on the Roland or another Midi'd source? Obviously the piano is layered four times here but I'm curious. I did see the VK module sitting on top for the organ stuff. I also wondered about his live rig and setup.

[@MKPiatkowski]

I was wondering about that too.

[@eaglepass5170]

Amazing!!!!

[@chrismusso6569]

Thank you!

[@jackkoszela8868]

Too bad we couldn’t have the original composer in this video, especially since it was his hard work that brought the inspiration and heart of this song to the band. No one know this song better than Mr Deyoung. It was this song that brought the band to super stardom. This song was his story of hope and perseverance through tough times.

[@billyjenkjr]

AMEN!!!!!!!

[@billyjenkjr]

Gowan needs to be the best, at acting like Gowan. There's only one person who should have been in this video, and thats the one and only Dennis Deyoung! Anyone can make a video so compelling, when all the hard work happend years ago by another artest!

[@pop130]

Yes yes yes yes

[@stevenchristianupton]

“People who complain about something that they cannot do anything about are as irritating as those who complain about something that they can do something about.” - Mokokoma Mokhonoana

[@TheDevnul]

Well the band had lives to live, mouths to feed. They could not wait for him. I’m sure they would have liked to continue with him but getting Gowan who is a fantastic musician.

[@vincentlau8876]

Epic.

[@user-sj8zd6qc2n]

Класс!!! Это просто Космос!!!

[@davidbalan6571]

I liked that's Melody's Chords 🎹 lyrics songs ' Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton . When I having a job's worked as ♎ government I want to buying Yamaha Keyboards 88 - keys , Roland Keyboards 88 - keys and KORG LS - 88 keys ..

[@randyschmuki3173]

Love ❤it!

[@steveboydstun3124]

Thank you can you teach Renagade?

[@PikesvilleAl]

Who could be better at teaching you Styx's classic hit "Come Sail Away" than the maestro himself? -THE GUY WHO WROTE IT

[@newstreamtv]

Love Gowan!! Never knew he was the Dennis replacement. Now I want to see Styx 2024. He’s great

[@madonobel]

Respect, 45 Cairo, Egypt

[@rajsteven1440]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@patosandoval]

eric theodore cartman is a happy kid

[@thecannabisgarden3240]

It's like when I hear that song Come Sail Away by Styx I have to sing the whole thing, I can't leave it unfinished.... Kyle "I'm sailing Away......."

[@waltersimmons946]

Sad part is "Come sail away" isnt Gowans song. Its completely Dennis Deyoungs. I was able to play "Come sail away" by 1980 by sight reading and I wasn't even 20 yrs old yet. Either way thats Deyoungs song 🎵 period.

[@user-im5dc4rf4c]

Trynto collabs with Rod Argent the zombies

[@nerahm249]

Too bad fkn KZbin throws ads in the middle of the song destroying the immersion.. good vid otherwise. Learned a lot

[@robertmichalscheck3072]

He’s playing rd 2000 I think

[@samuelchandler9485]

Answering the question "Who could be better at teaching Styx's classic hit "Come Sail Away" than the maestro himself?" It seems to me that the ACTUAL maestro, the one who wrote the song, who sang the lead vocal and played the iconic keys part on the original hit, would be a much better choice. Gowan is a fine musician, but if we're drawing comparisons, he's barely more than a cheap knock-off of Dennis DeYoung, the immensely talented TRUE voice of Styx.

[@endtroln5139]

Dennis frying is dead find him and then put him in a video if u want Gowan is awesome

[@robertmichalscheck3072]

So cool to get a lesson from an actual rock star,the source.

[@renecents]

Um, rock star he may be, the source he certainly isn’t. 😁 enjoy your day.

[@robertmichalscheck3072]

@@renecents Um,he wrote the song and sang the original hit version,so how would he not be considered the source,duh!,

[@renecents]

@@robertmichalscheck3072 Hiya. No: Dennis DeYoung-Styx’s primary singer and songwriter-wrote and sang the song, 21-odd years before Lawrence Gowan even joined the band as his replacement, that’s why. Always best to know what you’re talking about before you “duh” someone, huh? Look it up. Have a goodun.👍