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Journey - Who's Crying Now Guitar Solo Lesson - Neal Schon - Guitar Lesson

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Journey - Who's Crying Now Guitar Solo Lesson - Neal Schon - Guitar Lesson

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Journey - Who's Crying Now Guitar Solo Lesson - Neal Schon guitar lesson video
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Who's Crying Now Guitar Solo Lesson - Neal Schon

"Who's Crying Now" is a power ballad by Journey, featuring a melodic guitar solo by Neal Schon that has made it a classic study piece for electric guitarists. The song blends clean, expressive lead playing with a strong sense of phrasing and dynamics, making the solo both accessible and musically rewarding to learn. Schon's restrained yet emotive approach showcases how tone and note choice can carry more weight than speed or complexity.

  • Neal Schon's solo in this track is a strong example of melody-first lead guitar, ideal for players developing expressive phrasing skills.
  • Journey featured Jonathan Cain on keyboards and rhythm guitar, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 2017.
  • The song is a staple for guitarists looking to study smooth, lyrical soloing within a classic rock ballad structure.
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
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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.

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