‘Send Her My Love’ by Journey

‘Send Her My Love’ by Journey is a beautifully crafted rock ballad taken from their hugely successful album Frontiers. Known for its emotive chord work, soaring melodies, and tasteful lead guitar playing, this track offers a fantastic opportunity for guitarists to develop both rhythm and lead techniques in a musical, expressive context.

In this lesson, Sam Bell breaks the song down section by section, guiding you through the chord progressions, melodic embellishments, and expressive lead ideas that define the track. From delicate arpeggiated passages to soaring bends and melodic phrasing, you’ll gain valuable skills that translate directly into your own playing.

Understanding the Song Structure

The arrangement of ‘Send Her My Love’ is built around strong chord progressions and dynamic movement between sections. The verses rely on clean, open-sounding chords that allow the melody to breathe, while the choruses expand harmonically to create that signature Journey lift.

You’ll explore how subtle changes in dynamics and picking approach can transform simple chord shapes into something much more expressive. This is a key takeaway from the lesson—learning how to make your rhythm playing more musical rather than just mechanical.

Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

One of the defining features of this song is the use of arpeggiated chord progressions. Instead of strumming full chords, individual notes are picked to create a flowing, piano-like texture.

Learning this technique improves your timing, note clarity, and control. It also helps develop your ability to outline harmony in a more sophisticated way, which is essential for both rhythm guitarists and songwriters. By mastering arpeggiation, you’ll be able to add depth and emotion to your playing across multiple styles.

Finger Picking

Finger picking plays a crucial role in capturing the feel of this track. Using your fingers instead of a pick allows for greater control over dynamics and articulation, especially in quieter sections.

This technique enhances your independence between thumb and fingers, helping you maintain steady bass notes while articulating melody lines on the higher strings. It’s an invaluable skill for players looking to expand beyond standard pick-based playing and develop a more nuanced touch.

String Bending

The lead guitar work in ‘Send Her My Love’ features expressive string bending that adds vocal-like phrasing to the melodies.

Practising string bending improves your pitch accuracy and ear training, ensuring that your bends hit the intended notes cleanly and in tune. It also helps you develop stronger finger control, which is essential for expressive soloing in rock and blues styles.

Vibrato

Vibrato is a key expressive tool used throughout the lead parts of the song. It gives sustained notes life and emotion, helping them stand out in the mix.

Developing a controlled vibrato allows you to add personality to your playing. It also strengthens your fretting hand and improves your ability to sustain notes effectively, making your solos sound more polished and professional.

Slides

Slides are used to connect notes smoothly and add a sense of fluidity to both rhythm and lead parts.

This technique helps you move efficiently around the fretboard while maintaining a legato feel. It also improves your positional awareness and contributes to more expressive phrasing, allowing you to transition between notes seamlessly.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

Legato techniques such as hammer-ons and pull-offs are used to create smooth, flowing lines without picking every note.

These techniques build finger strength and coordination while allowing you to play faster, more fluid passages. They also help reduce tension in your picking hand, making your playing feel more relaxed and controlled.

Double Stops

Double stops appear in the song to add harmonic richness and melodic interest, particularly in the lead guitar parts.

Learning to use double stops improves your understanding of harmony on the fretboard and enhances your phrasing. It’s a versatile technique that can be applied across rock, blues, and country styles.

The Guitarist and Their Influence

The guitar work on ‘Send Her My Love’ is performed by Neal Schon, whose melodic and expressive style has been a defining element of Journey’s sound. Drawing influence from players like Santana and blending rock with a soulful, almost vocal phrasing approach, Schon prioritises melody over technical excess.

His playing on this track demonstrates restraint, taste, and emotional depth—qualities that every guitarist should strive to develop. Studying his approach will help you focus on phrasing, tone, and musicality rather than simply speed or complexity.

Bringing It All Together

By working through this lesson, you’ll not only learn how to play ‘Send Her My Love’ accurately, but also gain a deeper understanding of how to apply these techniques musically. The combination of arpeggiated chords, expressive lead phrasing, and dynamic control makes this song an excellent study in tasteful rock guitar playing.

Whether you’re looking to improve your rhythm work, refine your lead phrasing, or simply expand your repertoire with a classic track, this lesson provides a well-rounded and rewarding challenge.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Vibrato
• Arpeggiated Chord Progressions
• Finger Picking
• String Bending
• Slides
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs
• Double Stops
• Chord Progressions
• Sustain