Only the Young: Authentic Guitar TAB

This collection captures the essential Journey catalog in TAB form, letting guitarists understand exactly how Schon voiced chords and constructed solos across 15 of the band's most iconic recordings. The transcriptions span their commercial peak, giving students direct access to some of the most influential rock guitar work of the 1980s without relying on guesswork or incomplete online sources.

These songs carry the energy and optimism of arena rock at its peak: soaring vocal melodies supported by lush guitar harmonies, building momentum through well-crafted chord progressions, and showcasing moments of technical brilliance without sacrificing emotion. The collection balances accessibility with sophistication, delivering the anthemic feeling that made Journey's music timeless.

This book serves guitarists who want to master Journey's catalog with precision and understand the techniques behind Schon's most recognizable work. It works equally well for intermediate to advanced players tackling complete arrangements and beginners who want to learn individual solos and rhythm parts at their own pace.

• Pay attention to Schon's use of open strings and upper-register voicings; they create the brightness and resonance that define these arrangements, so accurate fret placement matters as much as timing.
• Work through the rhythm guitar parts before tackling the solos; understanding the harmonic context makes the lead lines feel connected rather than abstract.
• Use a metronome for passages with syncopated rhythms, particularly in the verse sections where subtle timing shifts distinguish the recorded versions from simpler interpretations.
• Listen to the original recordings while reading the TAB to hear how dynamics and tone shape the melody; Schon's touch and amp settings are part of the composition.

Use individual transcriptions to build a classic rock unit in your guitar curriculum, pairing easier songs like 'Lights' with more demanding arrangements like 'Faithfully' to show progression of difficulty. Consider assigning specific songs to students based on their level, or have the group learn rhythm parts to a single song and rotate through solo sections as a collaborative challenge.

• Reading and executing accurate TAB notation across multiple string ranges
• Recognizing and playing barre chords, suspended chords, and extended voicings in a rock context
• Developing technique for smooth chord transitions in fast-moving changes
• Understanding rhythm guitar parts that support vocal melody lines
• Learning lead guitar phrasing and bending techniques from iconic solos
• Building finger strength and dexterity through varied technical demands across the collection