• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Az Samad Lessons

Guitar, Ukulele and Music Lessons

  • About
  • Lessons
  • Music Reviews
  • Book, Video & Course Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Creative Fridays
  • Store
  • Contact

Transcription Set Review: Atomic Improv Vol. 1 by Nick Johnston

December 16, 2019 by azsamadlessons Leave a Comment

Atomic Improv Vol. 1 is the first of six transcription sets (or improv package, as they call it) currently available from Nick Johnston. This set collects transcriptions of 3 different improvisations. All the transcriptions are by Ryan Fisher. This particular volume was released in February 2015.

The package includes:

  • Videos of the 3 improvisation (MP4 video files)
  • Transcriptions in Standard Notation & TAB (PDF & Guitar Pro files)
  • Introduction & Improvisation Insights by Nick Johnston (PDF files)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BslHU3UAdoi/

Improvisation #1 is a mix of legato, sweep picking & tapped lines along with chords breaking the lines. There’s a mix of nice harmonic minor ideas through this improvisation.

Improvisation #2 begins with nice jazzy sounds before going into some virtuosic fast lines and then into an assortment of different minor ideas. As I listened to this improvisation, I noticed many different smaller motivic ideas that would be great to study individually in small fragments.

Improvisation #3 is a highlight of Atomic Improv Vol. 1 (to me at least) as it contains a wealth of hybrid picked and legato ideas. From blues to harmonic minor (and other minor sounds), there’s a lot to unpack here.

All in all, this first Atomic Improv pack is a good collection of ideas for fans of Nick Johnston’s playing.

Pros: Great modern rock & blues based lines, transcribed for study. The additional “Improvisation Insights” PDF is valuable & yes, very insightful.
Cons: Does not include any video instruction or breakdown/demonstration of the lines. This is strictly a transcription pack. However, the additional notes are very helpful to understand the thinking behind the improvisations.
TLDR: If you’re a fan of Nick’s playing, this series provides a valuable tool to dissect and understand his playing.

You can get Atomic Improv Vol. 1 here: https://nickjohnstonmusic.com/atomic-improv

[Review Archive]
I wrote a lot of other book, course and video reviews too.
Check out the rest here:
[Read more reviews]

[Submissions for Review Consideration]

  • Are you an author who wrote a jazz, guitar or music book?
  • Have you created a DVD or an online video course or subscription based website?
  • Would you like me to review your book/course?

Please send me a message at azsamad2 at gmail.com with:

For courses: a link to the course/video/product + access info etc.
For books: a link to the book (Dropbox) or PDF attachment (if it’s small) for review consideration.

Depending on whether I dig the book/course, I’ll let you know if I do plan to review it!

I cannot guarantee a review for every submission & if I’m not too into it, I may opt not to review it. I mean, it’s better to get a good review that for me to write a bad review just because it’s not a match for the kind of stuff I dig right? :p

NOTE: All reviews reflect my honest personal opinion so be aware that I will point out both cool Pros and Cons that I see in the work. You dig? 

Filed Under: Music Theory, Transcription Set Review Tagged With: atomic improv, guitar pro transcriptions, instagram guitar, instrumental rock guitar, nick johnston, rock guitar improvisation, rock guitar virtuoso, TAB, transcription, virtuoso musician

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Sign Up For Free Guitar & Music Tips!

Search for a topic, review or lesson:

Recent Posts

  • Video Review: Perfect Practice Makes Perfect with Sheryl Bailey (Chase’s Guitar Academy)
  • Video Review: Martin Miller Mechanics Workshop by Martin Miller (Cracking The Code)
  • Video Review: Comping Fundamentals with Rodney Jones (Chase’s Guitar Academy)
  • Video Review: How to Learn Tunes with Rodney Jones (Chase’s Guitar Academy)
  • Video Review: Practice Essentials with Rodney Jones (Chase’s Guitar Academy)

Categories

  • Ask Az (2)
  • Beyond Music (122)
  • Blues Guitar (15)
  • Book Reviews (228)
  • business book (27)
  • Chord Melody (46)
  • Composition (33)
  • Course Reviews (20)
  • Creative Fridays (14)
  • Film Review (1)
  • Fingerstyle Guitar (30)
  • grant cardone (1)
  • Guitar Chords (134)
  • Guitar Scales (124)
  • Guitar Shopping (3)
  • Guitar Technique (320)
  • Gypsy Jazz (13)
  • Interviews (23)
  • Jazz (109)
  • Jazz Guitar (241)
  • Jazz Guitar Harmony (169)
  • Jazz Guitar Harmony (79)
  • Licks (218)
  • Music Business (14)
  • Music Review (49)
  • Music Theory (217)
  • News (4)
  • Philosophy (155)
  • Practice Secrets (347)
  • Reviews (12)
  • Rhythm Lessons (26)
  • Strategi Bina Kerjaya Muzik (6)
  • Transcription Set Review (6)
  • Ukulele (3)
  • Ulasan Filem (1)
  • Ulasan Muzik (2)
  • Ulasan Video (1)
  • Uncategorized (21)
  • Video Games (3)
  • Video Lessons (143)

Recent Posts

  • Video Review: Perfect Practice Makes Perfect with Sheryl Bailey (Chase’s Guitar Academy)
  • Video Review: Martin Miller Mechanics Workshop by Martin Miller (Cracking The Code)
  • Video Review: Comping Fundamentals with Rodney Jones (Chase’s Guitar Academy)
  • Video Review: How to Learn Tunes with Rodney Jones (Chase’s Guitar Academy)
  • Video Review: Practice Essentials with Rodney Jones (Chase’s Guitar Academy)

Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Sample on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in