Journey - Any Way You Want It - Guitar Lesson

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Journey - Any Way You Want It - Guitar Lesson

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Key G major
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Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Departure (Bonus Track Version) album cover
Departure (Bonus Track Version)
1980 3:22
Journey Rock 1980 G major
Capo Advisor 0 G major · Original key

Any Way You Want It


"Any Way You Want It" is a rock song by Journey, released in February 1980 as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Departure. Co-written by guitarist Neal Schon and vocalist Steve Perry, the track reached number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100. For electric guitarists, it offers an excellent study in Neal Schon's melodic hard rock style, featuring memorable riffs, clean rhythm work, and expressive lead lines that remain approachable yet rewarding to master.

  • Neal Schon co-wrote the song, making it a direct window into his signature melodic hard rock guitar approach.
  • Released in February 1980, it served as the lead single from Journey's sixth album, Departure.
  • The track peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100, reflecting Journey's growing mainstream reach in 1980.
Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Neal Schon's go-to instrument for Journey's classic era, the Les Paul Standard delivers the warm sustain and thick midrange his melodic lead style demands. The mahogany body and stock PAF-style humbuckers preserve his picking dynamics while providing the singing tone that defined hits like 'Faithfully.'

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Schon favored the Les Paul Custom for its enhanced sustain and slightly different voice compared to the Standard, offering richer harmonic saturation for his soulful solos. The thicker body provides the dense, creamy lead tones essential to Journey's power ballads.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

The JCM800's tight, responsive breakup is fundamental to Schon's tone, delivering rich harmonic saturation when driven moderately without excessive fizz. This amp's midrange presence and smooth top-end rolloff allow his guitar's volume control and picking nuances to shape his legendary sustain.

DigiTech Whammy
Pedal

DigiTech Whammy

While not a core part of Schon's minimal pedalboard, the Whammy provides expressive pitch shifting for dramatic solo moments, complementing his restrained effects philosophy. He uses it sparingly to add texture and dynamic range rather than relying on it as a primary effect.

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)