Any Way You Want It: Authentic Guitar TAB

These transcriptions capture some of the most recognizable guitar work in rock history, and they're accurate enough to be genuinely useful for players serious about mastering the songs. The collection spans Journey's peak years, so you get a masterclass in '80s rock phrasing, tone control, and how to build a solo around a strong melodic idea rather than pure technical display. Students studying this material will internalize how great guitar writing serves the song.

Anthemic and emotionally direct. These songs live in the sweet spot between technical ambition and genuine hooks; the guitar work shines brightest when it's serving the melody. You'll hear confidence without arrogance, and restraint paired with sophistication. There's an openness to the sound that feels both powerful and intimate, whether the moment calls for a soaring solo or a delicate, clean-toned interlude.

Guitar students who want to understand how to write and perform solos that complement rather than overshadow a song's melodic identity. Players in rock bands will find immediate applications, whether they're learning these songs for a setlist or studying how Schon constructs his parts. Serious students of '80s rock guitar style will discover consistent techniques and sensibilities across 15 tracks.

• Pay attention to Schon's vibrato technique on the sustained notes; it's essential to the emotional weight of songs like 'Faithfully' and 'Open Arms.' A wider, slower vibrato gives these moments their characteristic warmth.
• The rhythm guitar parts are as important as the solos. Lock in the chord voicings and palm muting patterns on tracks like 'Any Way You Want It' before you layer in lead work.
• Study the dynamics within each solo. Schon often builds intensity through phrasing and bend control rather than speed, especially in the climactic moments of 'Don't Stop Believin' and 'Separate Ways.'
• Use the TAB to map out finger positions, but listen closely to identify the subtle gain and EQ changes between sections. The tone shifts are part of the composition.

Build a rock elective or guitar ensemble around these transcriptions, pairing them with band arrangements of the same songs so students can see how the parts interact. They also work beautifully as supplemental material for any guitarist studying 1980s rock vocabulary and songcraft. Consider programming one or two of these as showcase pieces in a recital that demonstrates how rock composition and classical guitar techniques can inform each other.

• Reading and executing guitar TAB with attention to dynamics and phrasing
• Vibrato technique and tone control on sustained notes
• Building solos around melodic ideas rather than scalar runs
• Palm muting and rhythm guitar voicing clarity
• Bend control and intonation in lead passages
• Understanding how different gain and EQ settings shape tone within a piece