Don’t Stop Believin’ — String Quartet Sheet Music
Journey’s timeless anthem arranged for professional string quartet — including the iconic guitar solo — by Paul Lorenz
Edition facts
Don't Stop Believing by Steve Perry, Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain, arranged by Paul Lorenz for string quartet: full score (10 pages) and separate parts (12 pages), delivered as a PDF (A4) for instant download, €29.90.
- Instrumentation
- Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello
- Pages
- 22 pages — full score (10) + separate parts (12)
- Tempo
- ♩ = 118
- Format
- PDF, A4, instant download
Read from the PDF you download.
Eighteen times Platinum. The most-streamed song of the 1980s. Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” has soundtracked The Sopranos finale, led forty years of stadium singalongs, and tops more wedding recessional request lists than any other rock anthem. That kind of cultural weight demands an arrangement that measures up — and for most of the string quartet editions available today, the moment falls short. Community-posted arrangements offer staff sizes that blur at stand distance, no editorial oversight, and — most critically — no provision for the Neal Schon guitar solo that defines the song’s emotional peak.
The Paul Lorenz string quartet edition was built to a different standard. Professionally engraved to MOLA specifications with 8.5mm staff sizes, optimized at 600 DPI for seamless iPad and print performance, and arranged with the complete guitar solo transcribed idiomatically for first violin — this is the arrangement for musicians who take the moment seriously. Whether you’re leading a wedding recessional, a corporate gala, or a chamber concert, the score delivers the full arc of the song: opening riff, verse, chorus, guitar solo, and anthemic outro. Nothing abbreviated. Nothing compromised.
Hear the arrangement
A 30-second excerpt from Paul Lorenz’ own studio recording of this arrangement.
Listen to the full recording Artyfile Stream · lossless Hi-FiChoose your “Don't Stop Believing” edition
String Quartet Arrangement
€29.90String quartet · 22 pages: score + parts · PDF (A4)
Every part also for other instruments – included ↓
The complete arrangement for Violin I, Violin II, Viola, and Cello — score and all four parts included. The guitar solo is transcribed for first violin, giving your ensemble every defining moment of the original recording.
- Instant PDF download
- Secure checkout
- Licensed edition
Parts for your instrumentation
Every instrumental part of this edition is also available for other instruments – included in the price. Transposed, in the right clef, checked for range and breathing.
| Original part | Also available for |
|---|---|
| Violin I | Flute 1+2, Oboe 1+2, Clarinet 1+2 in B♭, Trumpet 1+2 in B♭, English horn 1+2 in F, Viola |
| Violin II | Viola |
| Viola | Violin, Cello |
| Cello | Double bass |
“1+2”: a part divided for two players. Where the original part has double stops or chords, two wind players share the notes – marked “div.” and “a 2”.
Buy. After your purchase you receive your personal link to the Part Configurator by e-mail.
Choose part and instrument. For example the Viola part as Cello.
Download the PDF. The first time a part is requested it takes about a minute to set; after that it is ready at once – with your name as the license notice.
How the Part Configurator works →Need a different instrumentation? After your purchase you can send Paul Lorenz a request.
Quality in detail
- Complete Song, Start to Finish: Opening piano riff, every verse and chorus, the guitar solo, and the full anthemic outro — nothing cut, nothing simplified.
- Guitar Solo for Violin I: The Neal Schon guitar solo is professionally transcribed for first violin — the detail that separates this edition from every community arrangement.
- MOLA-Compliant Engraving: 8.5mm staff sizes, measure numbers at every system, and optimized page turns — engraved to concert-hall standards.
- 600 DPI Tablet-Ready PDF: Every page sharp at any zoom level. Works flawlessly on iPad with forScore or Newzik — no pixelation, no squinting.
- Score & All Four Parts Included: One download: full conductor score plus Violin I, Violin II, Viola, and Cello, individually paginated.
- Bespoke Customization Available: Every part is also available for other instruments — the viola part for cello, for example — through the Part Configurator included with your purchase. Need a different key? Contact Paul Lorenz Music — every arrangement can be tailored to your ensemble’s exact requirements.
Don’t Stop Believing sheet music at a glance
| Song | Don’t Stop Believin’ — Journey (Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain), 1981 |
| Arrangement | String quartet — Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello |
| Arranger | Paul Lorenz — arrangements recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road |
| Scoring | Full conductor score plus all four parts, individually paginated — including the guitar solo transcribed for Violin I |
| Difficulty | Grade 3–4, advanced intermediate — professional and advanced student quartets |
| Format | High-resolution 600 DPI PDF — instant download, print- and tablet-ready |
| Licensing | Licensed arrangement; standard PRO reporting (ASCAP/BMI/PRS/GEMA) |
| Reference recording | Paul Lorenz’ own studio recording — sound sample on this page, complete on Artyfile Stream |
| Price | €29.90 |
Is this edition right for you?
This is the arrangement to reach for when the moment calls for the anthem played in full — opening riff to final chorus. This edition is written for:
- Wedding recessionals — the recessional request that tops more lists than any other rock anthem
- Corporate galas and receptions where a recognizable crowd-pleaser earns its place
- Chamber concerts looking for an encore or crossover set piece
- Advanced student quartets ready for a confident showpiece
Need a transposition or a different voicing? Paul Lorenz adapts it on request — just ask before you buy.
What you receive
- The full conductor score, all four voices on one page
- Violin I, Violin II, Viola, and Cello parts, individually extracted and paginated
- High-resolution PDFs, delivered instantly and yours to keep — no rental
Programming Don’t Stop Believing
Programmed well, this piece lands as the release point of a set — the number the room has been waiting for without knowing it. Let the opening piano riff, restated in the strings, settle before the first verse; hold your dynamic in reserve so the guitar solo in Violin I can open into the anthemic outro rather than peaking early. It sits naturally as a recessional, an encore, or the crossover moment that bridges a classical programme to something the whole room recognizes. Explore the related arrangements below to build the rest of the programme.
Own this arrangement? Share your review →
Don't Stop Believing sheet music — frequently asked questions
Can I hear this arrangement before I buy?
Yes. The sound sample near the top of this page plays a 30-second excerpt of Paul Lorenz’ own studio recording of this arrangement, and the complete recording streams on Artyfile Stream — his lossless hi-fi service, where full playback requires a subscription.
What is included in the download?
You receive the complete performance package as high-resolution PDFs: the full conductor score (all four voices on one page) plus four individually paginated parts — Violin I (with guitar solo transcription), Violin II, Viola, and Cello. All files are 600 DPI, optimized for professional printing and tablet use.
What is the difficulty level of this arrangement?
Grade 3–4, Advanced Intermediate. Professional quartet players will be performance-ready in one to two rehearsals. The Violin I guitar solo passage requires confident upper-position technique and is the most technically demanding section. Advanced student quartets can also perform this with proper preparation.
Do I need a performance license?
Your purchase includes the licence for performances by the purchasing ensemble (your quartet) at weddings, ceremonies, and concerts — including printing the parts for your own ensemble. As usual, the public performance itself is reported to the responsible performing-rights society — GEMA in Germany, AKM in Austria, SUISA in Switzerland (ASCAP/BMI/PRS elsewhere) — by the organiser or ensemble. For commercial recordings or broadcast use, please contact us directly.
Can the arrangement be customized for my ensemble?
Absolutely. Paul Lorenz Music offers bespoke customization — a capability unique in the industry. Whether you need a key transposition, a substitute part, or an adjustment for a non-standard ensemble configuration, we can accommodate your requirements. Contact us directly to discuss your needs.
What is your refund policy?
Due to the digital nature of our products, we cannot offer refunds once the download has been accessed. We encourage you to review the score preview carefully and contact us with any questions before purchasing — we are happy to answer specific questions about the arrangement.
Can I play the Viola part on Cello?
Yes. The Part Configurator is included in the price: the Viola part is also available for Violin and Cello – transposed, in the right clef, checked for range and breathing. You receive the link by e-mail after your purchase.
Which parts are available for other instruments?
4 instrumental parts for 9 instruments in all. The overview “Parts for your instrumentation” on this page lists every original part with its instruments. For a different instrumentation you can send Paul Lorenz a request after your purchase.
Am I allowed to use the re-scored parts?
Yes. Parts from the Part Configurator belong to the edition you bought and are covered by the same license – for your ensemble, with the same rights of use. Every part carries the notice “Licensed to …” in its footer. For public performances the organiser registers the performance with the collecting society as usual (e.g. PRS, ASCAP/BMI, GEMA).