How to Play 'Don't Stop Believin' by Journey (Piano Lesson + PDF sheet music)

"Don't Stop Believin'" is one of the most iconic songs of all TIME! It was released in October 1981 as the second single from Journey's seventh studio album, Escape." A mid-tempo rock anthem, "Don't Stop Believin'" is memorable for its distinctive opening keyboard riff.

At the dawn of the 1980s, Journey was becoming one of the most successful rock acts of the era. The band added Jonathan Cain on keyboards before entering the studio to record Escape. The song title came from Cain and the encouragement his father gave him as a struggling musician living on Los Angeles' Sunset Boulevard. The song is unusual in that its chorus does not arrive until the song is nearly finished; its structure consists of two pre-choruses and three verses before it arrives at its central hook. The band recorded the song in one take at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California.

A top-10 worldwide hit in 1981, "Don't Stop Believin'" became the group's signature song and has continued to endure over the years. Decades after its release, it became the best-selling digital track from the twentieth century, with over seven million downloads. Critics acclaimed its anthemic qualities and music magazine Rolling Stone ranked it among its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2022, the single was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

Now you can learn this incredibly popular and fun song on the piano! Your Pianote Coach Kevin Castro is here to teach you the whole song from beginning to end.

*** Note: to play the song the exact way that journey does you would need to play octaves. Or you could just use some very basic chords to get through the song:

Verse:
E / B / C#m A /
E / B / G#m / A

Chorus:
A / A / E / E / x3
A / A / B E / B E A

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:22 - Learning the iconic intro: Right hand
3:05 - Learning the iconic intro: Left hand
5:37 - Putting it together
6:48 - Tips n tricks
8:30 - The Guitar Solo
9:28 - The build-up
10:35 - Playing with the backing track
12:27 - Learning the chorus: Left hand
13:04 - Learning the chorus: Right hand
13:39 - Putting it together
14:42 - Lesson breakdown
16:21 - Complete performance with backing track

Ready to Get Started on the Piano? Learn how with 4 free and easy lessons!

Learn to play piano quicker with chords! Enjoy 6 free lessons here:

Lyrics:
Just a small town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train going anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train going anywhere
A singer in a smokey room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on
Strangers waitin'
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searchin' in the night
Streetlights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin', somewhere in the night
Workin' hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice
Just one more time
Some'll win, some will lose
Some are born to sing the blues
Whoa, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on
Strangers waitin'
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searchin' in the night
Streetlights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin', somewhere in the night
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights, people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on
Streetlights, people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights, people

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[jason]

This was the first song my dad taught me on piano. Needed both my small hands to play the right hand part, so he'd play the bass line. I moved on to guitar after that, but now I'm getting back into piano decades later, so this seems like a perfect place to start.

[FlightEagle]

The best piano tutorial for Don't Stop Believing. Brilliantly put together and presented. The play through at the end with the sheet music is so helpful, even if you just want to learn how to sing along. Thank you! 👏❤👍

[steve]

Hi Kevin. Absolutely fantastic lesson buddy. I brought a piano in 2012 but struggled with it so left it alone for a while. In 2019 I brought a pianote course and now 5 years on I have 2 pianos and play daily!! I also play guitar ukulele and banjo but piano is my passion. I'm now 58 so anyone reading this let me tell you its never too late! Pianote really gave me that confidence to get where I am now and nobody can believe Ive not had a physical lesson. To anyone reading this go for it!! Steve from the UK.

[sandrasmith]

Pianote is the best piano teaching YouTube channel by far. I discovered it about 2 yrs ago. You guys have the best piano teachers that are so knowledgeable and break everything down in easy to learn bite size slow demonstrated sections with sheet music as well. Excellent. I especially like Lisa and Kevin. Also love Singeo.

[stevenwargo]

Play the left hand using octaves throughout the entire song. Such as E note two octaves below middle-C and E note one Octave below middle-C, at the same time. Then progress with the left hand playing octaves for the entire intro of the bass line. Yes, it's harder if you don't have a strong left hand. It's how it was originally played. You'll then hear the dynamics of the song's intro and bass melody line. Just a boy from South Detroit.

[frankbuchholz]

This guy is fabulous! That said, this is not “Beginner”. 😂 I am trying to learn after 50 years have gone by since last piano lesson, and, even though I played hand percussion in a small band, playing the left hand on the “and” beat versus the 1, 2, 3 or 4 is tough!!!! Kevin, you make it look so easy! Thanks Pianote.

[howtobeacarioca]

You are the BEST teacher!! Excellent tutorial. Many thanks!

[Tygise]

How does this video have less than 1 million views?😭
Thank you so much what an amazing tutorial! I have been wondering why nobody shows the hands and the sheet music in the video… It helps a Thank you so so so so much. I’m working on the boogie boogie right now. But once I know it, I’m moving onto this! Can’t wait. Thank you so much!!’

[PirateMTH_ToddH]

I am a new player. A child of the 80's, DSB is the first song I decided to learn. I have watched several good tutorials but I think this is the best so far. Thanks for the content. Great videos!

[PeterJelaca-efoc]

Excellent tutorial. You are a very good teacher. I’m a guitar player but you presented this at a pace in sections I was able to digest. Many thanks.

[alan]

Great tutorial! The main thing I would stress, as an over the hill play by ear keyboardist, is that the "push" where the bass note gets to the chord before the chord hand does is the hardest part of this. Don't try to play the whole thing over and over. Play a little and get part of it then move on to another section. I have been on this 2 days and only have the first 3 chord changes but, I will get this all eventually.

[canalgabeplays]

That oughta be one of the best piano tutorials I've seen, great work man!

[RenataMittnacht]

Thank you for the great tutorial! The last note of the third measure in the right hand should be an A not a B in the sheet music. He anticipates the chord change early. Sharing in case it helps anyone else :)

[Leatherjacks]

The melodies in this chorus ALWAYS makes me cry in happiness and hope... OMG! What a beautiful choice of chords they did!

[StephenComerford-go]

Learned to play this myself by ear, many years ago, and relearn every now and again. Glad to say i have the left hand almost perfect, but i use different notes (within the cord) on the right hand, ill have to warch again and see where im different and how much this makes yo the final sound. Thanks for the good tutorial....

[marksmith]

I love the way you organize this video with the teaching in the beginning and then you play the song

[dumitracheionut]

This is really the best piano tutorial for don't stop believing. Thank you very much sir❤🙋‍♂️

[flashy]

I don’t know how you piano guys play, it’s amazing. I can do tapping on an electric guitar like Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai, but I would never remember the keys of a piano … but it’s fun to watch and listen to.

[DavidSilk]

Brilliant! I haven't really touched my keys in favour of my guitars for far too long. This has inspired me to lift the lid on my piano again - thank you. Regards, Dave

[Martin-bhoq]

Hello from Slovakia :) its really amazing tutorial. I bought digital piano for the kid 5 and 7 to learn but I am getting to spend more and more time behind the piano :D