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Journey - Open Arms - Guitar Lesson

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Journey - Open Arms - Guitar Lesson

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Journey - Open Arms guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

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Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Journey Rock D major
Capo Advisor 0 D major · Original key

Open Arms

"Open Arms" is a power ballad by American rock band Journey, released on their 1981 album Escape and co-written by Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain. The song reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1982, holding that position for six weeks, making it the band's biggest US chart hit. For electric guitar players, it offers a great study in melodic ballad phrasing, clean-tone chord work, and the restrained, emotive style that defined arena rock of the era.

  • "Open Arms" peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks in early 1982, a chart run that reflects its massive radio reach.
  • The song was co-written by keyboardist Jonathan Cain and vocalist Steve Perry, showcasing how a piano-driven ballad translates beautifully to guitar.
  • "Open Arms" appears on Journey's album Escape, which is considered one of the defining arena rock records of the early 1980s.
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.

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